I haven't watched a single streamed opera. I realise now that it's about GOING to see opera, as an event. The anticipation beforehand. The hush as the lights go down. The thrill of live performance. Interval drinks with friends. Coming out buzzing. Not a pale simulacrum.

This reveals my credentials as an acolyte of the Italian rather than the German school of opera, of course... ;)

I'm still watching opera on DVD and listening from time to time for work purposes, of course. But that's a different thing.

To put this more simply, I don't want to watch things on screens after being on a computer all day. I just don't want to live my whole life on screen.

Whatever one says on here now, if it doesn't bow down completely to the cult of the brave new online life, attracts trolls. Perhaps every tweet needs a caveat: "This is my view. Please feel free to ignore". Lots of lovely responses too, for which thanks.