Once I was fortunate to have the best of both worlds. I was a student, and incidentally training to sing opera (although I switched career paths before going very far down that path), in the early/mid 90s. My singing teacher, who was in the chorus at the time, gave me a comp ticket to the (I believe last) Traviata which Georg Solti conducted there. It also happened to have a certain young Angela Georghiu singing Violetta, and a wonderful Germont in the form of veteran bass Leo Nucci. It was stunning. I don't know whether it's true, or urban legend, but I heard Decca weren't originally planning to record it. However, they did, and a live recording is available (and it looks like now a DVD too, of which I wasn't aware and must get!).

So I got the magic live and can now refresh my memory whenever I feel the need. Wish that happened more often!

HC: 861v4/ID40/LPS, DSP5000, DSP5000VC, DSP3100, SW1600, HD621, Oppo BDP-105, Sony VPL-HW55ES
2-Channel: Oppo BDP-105, TEAC VRDS-7/Trichord Clock 3/PSU, 551, Quad 303, Harbeth Compact 7ES-3, Kimber cables, Russ Andrews mains and supports.
Previous Meridian: 5000C, 5200SL, 7200.2, 6000, 562V.2, 568.2mm, 800v4, 808.2i, 818v2/v3, 861v8, 502