DVDs are good for movies but they are utterly fantastic for opera. Take, for example, Bernard Haitink's terrific Glyndebourne version of The Marriage of Figaro. All right, I will concede that it's probably better to actually be at Glyndebourne. But I've just checked and one ticket for the only production at Glyndebourne that still isn't sold out will cost you £175. (The only price on offer.) You can buy the DVD for £14.
And it has various advantages:
It has subtitles.
With noise-excluding headphones, you can watch it on your laptop on the train with CD-level quality.
You can watch it in bits and when you put your disc back in,your clever computer will start from where you left off.
And what was the old joke about masturbation? Unlike going to Glyndebourne, the good thing about watching it on DVD is that you don't have to dress for it.
I only need about two more inventions and I'll never need to leave the house again.
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