Opera at the Met, nightly streaming

Do you fancy a night in with an incorrigible rogue who is no match for a wily woman, or with a womaniser who similarly gets his come-uppance? Or perhaps after months indoors you are ready for an endless voyage on the open sea?

Whatever your mood, there is an opera that speaks your language, and it is possible to access at incredible library of classics through the prestigious Metropolitan Opera, New York.

Overnight, every night, the Met streams one of its classic productions, all ready for us to view the following evening and thereafter, building up a vast collection for subscribers whose modest contribution supports this vital opera hub now and in the future.

Coming soon, in a week entitled Antiheroes, that promised womaniser Don Giovanni, as immortalised by Mozart in his opera of the same name. The British baritone Simon Keenlyside takes the title role, and the 2016 cast also includes Malin Byström, Serena Malfi, and British bass Matthew Rose (Tues 26 Jan, from 00.30).

Faust (Jonas Kaufmann) proves a faithless lover in Gounod's opera. Photo: Metropolitan Opera

Culture Whisper favourite mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, Diana Damrau and superstar Juan Diego Flórez lead the cast of Rossini's romp Comte Ory (Wed 27 Jan), as recorded in 2011. Another great tenor Jonas Kaufmann stars in Gounod's Faust (Thurs 28 Jan) conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin in the same year.

Lisette Oropesa leads the women who outdo Falstaff in Verdi's opera based on Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor (Fri 29 Jan). And Valery Gergiev conducted an all-star cast in March 2020 in Wagner's Der Fliegende Holländer, the story of a restless soul released by love (Sat 30 Jan).

Damrau is back in the story of an innocent love betrayed, Rigoletto (Sun 31 Jan), the first of two Verdi operas over the weekend. His Macbeth is similarly heartbreaking (Mon 1 Feb).

With monthly subscriptions at around £11 even viewing a production or two a week makes for a bargain, and helps keep the show on the road.

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Operas are sung in their original language with English surtitles. The Metropolitan Opera, New York, is expected to continue updating its streaming library until the new season in September 2021. Click here to register.