The Week in Hope-Inspiring Spontaneous Music Online, Op. 1

March 17, 2020, 1:02 PM · With symphony performances almost universally on hiatus, we are also going to put "The Week in Reviews" on hold and instead bring you a weekly roundup of performances to be found online. With so many people told to stay at home and keep a distance, artists around the world have been posting videos of spontaneous music performances and more. We invite you to also share your links to the most inspiring, comforting or humorous musical content you've found online during this time, so that we can all benefit from the power of music.

Violinist Renaud Capucon offered this performance of "Dvorak Mélodie" and seems to be posting daily with more pieces on his Twitter and Instagram:

Dvorak mélodie pour adoucir notre confinement à venir...
????@Nomadplay_app?
Ou comment jouer seul...mais bien accompagné #COVID?19 pic.twitter.com/tMFNaw5z9d
— renaud Capuçon (@RCapucon) March 15, 2020

The Berlin Philharmonic is offering their Digital Concert Hall for free during this emergency stay-at-home period, if you wish to watch a symphony concert. They usually charge $170 per year, and they have hundreds of offerings. Click here to sign up for that.

Violinist Vijay Gupta has been giving us some J.S. Bach solo playing every day, click here to watch it on Instagram and follow him, it is just lovely.

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma also took to Twitter with the Sarabande from Bach’s Cello Suite No. 3.:

This is for the healthcare workers on the frontlines — the Sarabande from Bach’s Cello Suite No. 3. Your ability to balance human connection and scientific truth in service of us all gives me hope. #songsofcomfort pic.twitter.com/s9e35RW03N
— Yo-Yo Ma (@YoYo_Ma) March 16, 2020

Jazz violinist Megan Shung has been providing some cheer with her "Tune a Day" improvisations on Instagram, click here for her Instagram.

Plus there are the images coming from Italy, of musicians playing instruments on their balconies, as in this one:

And for a little levity: two violinists play "Nearer My God to Thee" - the tune they played as the Titanic sank - in the toilet paper aisle:

If you would like to share links to performances you have found, please do so in the comments or e-mail me to include in next week's edition. Keep calm and practice and listen to good music!

Replies

Michael Browder

March 17, 2020 at 07:50 PM · Thanks to all these wonderful artists for doing this!

24.40.128.192

March 17, 2020 at 09:01 PM · It is an important new phase of teaching and may become more and more necessary!

Katarina B.

March 17, 2020 at 09:20 PM · Thank you so much - your art really has a great impact. And here is another one: Pianist Igor Levit is streaming daily live concerts via social media. Check out his twitter feed @igorpianist

71.236.61.87

March 17, 2020 at 11:11 PM · Wonderful, Laurie!! This is so inspiring! Thank you for sharing!!

David Zhang

March 18, 2020 at 12:07 AM · Thank you.

Ashley Rescot

March 20, 2020 at 05:20 AM · I’m encouraged to see musicians still performing. Although it’s devastating to temporarily lose live in-person performances, at this time musicians have the chance to reach a global audience through virtual performance!

Peter Williamson

March 20, 2020 at 08:54 AM · I believe Paris opera and NY Met have offers on at the moment. I don't have the links but they should be easy enough to find.

96.87.74.57

March 20, 2020 at 02:36 PM · I love this feature!! Thank you!!

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