Indeed.

Indeed.

I agree completely about following the story.  I have many CDs of operas that I already know well, but if I'm hearing something for the first time, I'd rather see it as well and follow the story.

I agree completely about following the story.  I have many CDs of operas that I already know well, but if I'm hearing something for the first time, I'd rather see it as well and follow the story.

It's not as though opera houses don't also have variations in quality.  If you watch a full season of performances (as I did, with the Met last year), there are always some stellar productions and some stinkers.  Inconsistent quality is hardly confined to television.

It's not as though opera houses don't also have variations in quality.  If you watch a full season of performances (as I did, with the Met last year), there are always some stellar productions and some stinkers.  Inconsistent quality is hardly confined to television.

"This is opera. This is not Italian opera. This is German opera. This is THE German opera. THIS IS THE OPERA".

"This is opera. This is not Italian opera. This is German opera. This is THE German opera. THIS IS THE OPERA".

I take your point, @avclub-993f6ac760ffd6c09413c22f4f4aa627:disqus, but I'm a huge opera fan (and longtime fan of the Met) and the review echoed many of my thoughts about the new production.  Sometimes the set really does overshadow (and distract from) the music, even for someone like me who is more familiar with…

I take your point, @avclub-993f6ac760ffd6c09413c22f4f4aa627:disqus, but I'm a huge opera fan (and longtime fan of the Met) and the review echoed many of my thoughts about the new production.  Sometimes the set really does overshadow (and distract from) the music, even for someone like me who is more familiar with…

I liked them, and am stealing that idea for Halloween.

I liked them, and am stealing that idea for Halloween.

At long last, another Cel-Ray Tonic fan!!   Let's start a clubhouse.

At long last, another Cel-Ray Tonic fan!!   Let's start a clubhouse.

They never prepared me for things like that in law school…

They never prepared me for things like that in law school…

"orange circus peanuts"

"orange circus peanuts"

I would eat candy corn as a kid, but more out of a dutiful sense that I should eat as much sugar as possible.  Not so much for actual enjoyment.

I would eat candy corn as a kid, but more out of a dutiful sense that I should eat as much sugar as possible.  Not so much for actual enjoyment.