Met History

Abstract

[Visited May'09] Met History is part of the larger Metropolitan Opera family of Web sites, an umbrella covering The Metropolitan Opera, Met Opera Shop, Met Guild, and Opera News magazine. Met History subdivides into five sections: an introduction to the Met Opera, Timeline of Metropolitan Opera History, Sounds of the Met, MetOpera Database, and Stories of the Operas (featuring sound, images, and text from 1880 through the end of the 2003-04 season).

46-6713 [Internet Resource]

Met History

URL: http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/history/

[Visited May'09] Met History is part of the larger Metropolitan Opera family of Web sites, an umbrella covering The Metropolitan Opera, Met Opera Shop, Met Guild, and Opera News magazine. Met History subdivides into five sections: an introduction to the Met Opera, Timeline of Metropolitan Opera History, Sounds of the Met, MetOpera Database, and Stories of the Operas (featuring sound, images, and text from 1880 through the end of the 2003-04 season). The Introduction is extremely brief - about 850 words and five small pictures. The Timeline focuses only on significant moments, and users will find they cannot go directly to any given year or event. The 212 snippets of song in Sounds of the Met are identical to those linked to the Timeline pictures (this duplication seems unnecessary). However, the selections are interesting, and one can hear some of the greatest voices of the century. The Database, on the other hand, is a treasure for identifying performers, works, and composers at the Met; it includes some pictures. The Stories section also is notable for featuring external links, although it summarizes only operas performed at the Met. Unfortunately, no overall search engine exists, so users must browse and scan the offerings, except when using the Database. The sound quality is as good as can be expected, but the complete absence of video clips is deplorable. Despite its limitations, opera fans will find Met History enjoyable, though they will want to consider resources of much broader scope such as Operabase <http://www.operabase.com/> (CH, Sup'05, 42Sup-0150), OperaGlass <http://opera.stanford.edu/> (CH, Sep'08, 46-0192), and Operissimo Concertissimo <http://www.operissimo. com/>. Summing Up: Recommended. ** General audience. - A. J. Adam, Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical University