The snow must go on! With new lockdowns going into effect in countries all over the world just before Christmas 2020, many of us will need to celebrate at home with our closest family and friends – or even alone. However, this need not mean that we cannot enjoy some good entertainment from the comfort of our couch. With a good glass of champagne in hand. Here a small collection of online treats streamed just for you to enjoy festive holidays and a happy new year.
1) Zurich Opera, Switzerland
The Zurich Opera has, over the past few months, already offered amazing productions to view online free of charge. The Christmas holidays are no exception:
Streaming until Sunday, December 27, 2020.
The Iranian harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani and conductor Riccardo Minasi, together with the Orchestra La Scintilla, trace the fascinating compositions of Bach’s descendants.
Streaming until Sunday, December 27, 2020.
Star violinist Augustin Hadelich plays with the Philharmonia Zurich under the direction of General Music Director Fabio Luisi.
2) ARTE, France
(There are many more shows to stream. This is just a small selection)
Streaming until January 5, 2021.
On December 6, 2020 the premiere of Simon Boccanegra was steamed live on ARTE. The celebrated premiere of Giuseppe Verdi’s melodrama directed by Andreas Homoki is still available on ARTE concert.
Ella Fitzgerald live at Montreux Jazz Festival 1975
Streaming until February 28, 2021.
Ella Fitzgerald once again proved her formidable talent performing at the prestigious Swiss Jazz festival of 1975, accompanied by the Tommy Flanagan Trio.
Streaming until October 7, 2021
Mourad Merzouki’s work brings together dancers and graphic projections in a playful choreography of pixels.
3) Royal Albert Hall, London, UK
Official Website Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Home brings exclusive sessions from artists’ homes to yours whilst the Hall is shut. Christmas time is no exception. By now there is a huge archive of performances and cultural events for you to enjoy.
For example:
The legendary Cliff Richard delivers an exclusive session of music and stories from his home in Barbados.
These shows are available for free but, if you can, please donate to the Hall which is also suffering due to the pandemic.
4) Vienna State Opera, Austria
Official Website Vienna State Opera
The streams are available internationally free of charge.
Coming up are:
- Sylvia, ballet, Friday, 25 December 2020, 7.00 pm CET
- Hansel and Gretel, opera, Saturday, 26 December 2020, 7.00 p.m., CET
- The Rose Cavalier, operetta, Sunday, 27 December 2020, 7.00 p.m., CET
- The Magic Flute, opera, Monday, 28 December 2020, 7.00 p.m., CET
5) Pink Martini “Good Riddance 2020”, US Eastern Seabord
Register for the concert HERE
Streaming on December 31st, 2020.
Pink Martini are livestreaming a show aptly titled “Good Riddance 2020.” Though the set was pretaped, members of the band will be participating in a live chat and offering commentary.
The show begins at 9 pm ET. Tickets start at USD 15,-.
6) Finnish National Opera and Ballet
Official Website Finnish Opera and Ballet
The Finnish National Opera and Ballet offers full performances online for free. There is a lovely catalogue to choose from to fill your living room with beautiful artistic highlights for the holidays.
Some examples from their list:
Cosi Van Tutte, Pippi Longstocking, Sleeping Beauty, La Boheme, Jekyll & Hyde, etc.
7) Konserthuset Stockholm, Sweden
Official Website Konserthuset Stockholm
Enjoy music from the Konserthuset (Concert House) Stockholm for free. World-class performances with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, concerts for children, and much more…
For example:
Christmas Concert
This dazzling show includes many classic Christmas carols. Warm musical greetings for an unusual Christmas, hosted by Stefan Forsberg and with singers like Elin Rombo and Malena Laszlo.
Christmas Jazz with Jessica Pilnäs Quartet
Jessica Pilnäs in an intimate concert together with trumpet player Karl Olanderssson, Mattias Ståhl on vibraphone and Fredrik Jonsson on bass.
Chamber Music, Shared Loneliness
107 composers express their shared loneliness.
8) Luciano Pavarotti week, The Metropolitan Opera, New York
Official Website The Metropolitan Opera
Nightly free opera streams from December 28, 2020 to January 3, 2021
This week of free streams celebrates the great Luciano Pavarotti, one of the greatest singers of all time. Featuring seven of the beloved tenor’s most memorable performances — from the inaugural 1977 Live from the Met telecast of La Bohème to broadcasts of Un Ballo in Maschera and L’Elisir d’Amore from 1991 — the lineup traces Pavarotti’s extraordinary Met career.
9) Ng Pei-Sian plays Shostakovich, Singapore
Book your tickets HERE
Streaming 8-22 January, 7PM (TH/ID Standard Time) or 8PM (PH/SG/MY Standard Time)
Start your year on a thrilling note with Singapore Symphony Principal Cello Ng Pei-Sian’s performance of Shostakovich’s supreme First Cello Concerto, a work of “unrelenting edge-of-your-seat energy and awe-inspiring darkness”. The program will also entail Beethoven’s mighty “Heroic” Third Symphony, making sure there is never a dull moment throughout the length of the show!
Tickets are available on a pay-as-you-wish basis at S$10, S$20, S$30, or S$50 until 22 January, 5PM (TH/ID Standard Time) or 6PM (PH/SG/MY Standard Time).
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!
More from Liam Klenk:
The Art of Overcoming Stereotypes and Boundaries – Claire Bournet
An Interview with Xavier Yu, Entertainment Producer in Hong Kong