Just came back from the AMC Hoffman (Alexandria VA) after the performance. I'm kinda addicted to this and somewhat biased. Even within the confines of a movie theater, the live performance is preferable to a filmed opera. Getting to the Met is just nor in the cards both in terms of cost or time.
I thought the performance was spectacular. Go to the Met website for the story behind the set and the singers. They were in very fine voice. To be fair, I've heard many more performances than I've seen. I thought the bass, Andrea Mastroni, would make an excellent Scarpia from Tosca. His performance was very special. The primary roles of Gilda, the Duke, and Rigoletto, played by Rosa Feola, Pitor Beczala, and Quinn Kelsey, were outstanding. The voices blended so well together.
How did it sound? Well my vinyl rig is better. I know there is technology to capture and play back a live opera that allows the listener to experience the spatial experience of the hall. A Phillips recording from the mid 70's of Die Meistersinger recorded live from the Bayreuth Festival is my reference point. Unfortunately the best this could be described as as good mid-fi. I didn't hear any spatial imaging of either the singers or orchestra, it was in mono. There was no "air" between the notes, the sparkle was missing.
Visually it was very good. Resolution could have been better but after all it is a very big screen.
Overall it's $25 very well spent. An outstanding live performance, interviews by Isabel Leonard, and its' OPERA!
