HOW TO BEST WATCH VIDEOS WITH OPERA ON VIDEO – A GUIDE and OVERVIEW
HOW TO BEST WATCH Videos with Opera on Video.
I get frequent questions about how to best watch videos with Opera on Video.
Let me explain how videos are posted with Opera on Video.
As you may know, NO full videos are posted on the Opera on Video webserver at all.
Instead the information about the video performances is posted in the Opera on Video database.
The actual video of a performance is published somewhere else on the Internet.
We provide links to these videos.
Video Links are found as embedded video on top of the post,
with the RED BUTTON FULL VIDEO, with the GREEN BUTTON STREAM IT,
or with VIDEO in MORE VIDEO FILES.
Many of the linked videos are free to view, full length performances (indicated with FULL in the title), some are shorter clips/playlists
Videos are hosted
– on commerciaal video platforms such as YouTube, Vimeo, vk, ok and many more
– on streaming platforms such as medici.tv, ARTE, Stage+ and many more
– on broadcaster websites such as ORF, ZDF, ARD, 3sat, FranceTV, RAI, PBS, SVT and many more
– on opera companies websites such as Royal Opera, Paris Opera, Staatsoper Wien, Met, SFO, La Scala, and many more
Some of these websites may require that you register or pay a fee.
We NEVER link to any obscure, private or dangerous websites.
When available we also provide links to where a video can be purchased on DVD/BD or as streaming.
The videos linked to can be archived videos, VOD or live transmissions.
A live transmissions may be available after the live stream from an archive/VOD, or it may not be available at all any more.
To enable you to plan to watch an important live performance, we often post it some time (1-2 days) before the live transmission.
Once the live transmission starts we attempt to show it as the embedded video on top.
This is not always possible technically or legally, in which case the RED BUTTON FULL VIDEO should link you to the site with the life performance (may require registration or fee).
As you are probably aware some/many videos on the Internet are often only available a certain limited period.
As Opera on Video links to these, links to some videos on Opera on Video will become broken and not available.
We do our best to find these unavailable videos and correct our database links if possible.
Still if you find a non-working video link please send an email to operaonvideo@gmail.com about it.
Some video publishers on the Internet limit the availability of a video to certain countries (region restricted or geo-blocking).
We still mark the performance FULL (freely available at no cost) because it is free to watch for users from the permitted countries.
You may know there is a technique/product called VPN which could help to bypass region restrictions in many instances – but not always.
Some video performance are published in several parts by the original publisher.
In such cases we put the link for the first part in the embedded video on top.
The second part is available with the RED BUTTON FULL VIDEO.
Part three, four … are linked with VIDEO in MORE VIDEO FILES
Sometimes we link to a YouTube playlist which has many video clips which are played consecutively and automatically.
You can see that it is a playlist in the top right corner of the embedded video where it has this icon
If you click on this icon, you get a complete list of all clips in the playlist.
There you can skip or choose the clips you want to watch.
Please be aware that any video you call (link) from Opera on Video, is actually played solely in your browser/app.
The Opera on Video server is not involved at all when you play a linked video !
Therefore any restrictions, technical problems playing/watching a video stem from your computer, pad, mobile, applications, software or Internet connection/provider,
OR from the publisher/server of the video. Video quality and video faults are from the same sources.
Since September 2025 you have to be a registered donor in order to be able to see the video links on the Opera on Video website.
I hope these explanations give you a better understanding of how videos are accessed and played.
If you have further questions, please email me on operaonvideo@gmail.com
Flamand
