Having returned home less than a week ago from London and New York, I found myself facing the corona virus shutdown. Life has turned itself upside down and inside out in ways we have never experienced in our lifetime.
I’m not sure that I can bring much encouragement nor solace to the picture. Maybe attempting to maintain those parts of your life that are normal, and that you are capable of controlling, are important. So I have decided to continue communicating what I can through this website, for those of you who are interested.
If you are feeling isolated, here are a few interesting suggestions that I have discovered on Twitter feeds. A number of opera companies are offering live streams of past performances.
New York Metopera
In an effort to continue providing opera to its audience members, the Met Opera will host “Nightly Met Opera Streams” on its official website to audiences worldwide.
These free streams will present encores of past performances from its famed Live in HD series. The encore presentations will begin at 7:30 p.m. each night on the company’s official website and will then be available for an additional 20 hours thereafter. Each showcase will also be viewable on the Met Opera on demand apps.
“We’d like to provide some grand opera solace to opera lovers in these extraordinarily difficult times,” said Met General Manager Peter Gelb in a press release. “Every night, we’ll be offering a different complete operatic gem from our collection of HD presentations from the past 14 years.”
The first week of the schedule is as follows:
Monday, March 16 – Bizet’s “Carmen”
Conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, starring Elīna Garanča and Roberto Alagna. Transmitted live on January 16, 2010.
Tuesday, March 17 – Puccini’s “La Bohème”
Conducted by Nicola Luisotti, starring Angela Gheorghiu and Ramón Vargas. Transmitted live on April 5, 2008.
Wednesday, March 18 – Verdi’s “Il Trovatore”
Conducted by Marco Armiliato, starring Anna Netrebko, Dolora Zajick, Yonghoon Lee, and Dmitri Hvorostovsky. Transmitted live on October 3, 2015.
Thursday, March 19 – Verdi’s “La Traviata”
Conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, starring Diana Damrau, Juan Diego Flórez, and Quinn Kelsey. Transmitted live on December 15, 2018.
Friday, March 20 – Donizetti’s “La Fille du Régiment”
Conducted by Marco Armiliato, starring Natalie Dessay and Juan Diego Flórez. Transmitted live on April 26, 2008.
Saturday, March 21 – Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor”
(Per Operawire feed)
Munich Opera
If you want to see Munich opera offerings, check out https://operlive.de or staatsoper.de
Joyce diDonato
Joyce DiDonato and Piotr Beczala will present excerpts from Massenet’s “Werther” from Didonato’s living room.
DiDonato and Beczala announced that on March 15 they will sing excerpts accompanied by harpist Emmanuel Ceysson and pianist Howard Watkins.
DiDonato announced the news via Instagram and Facebook and added, “Tune in and consider throwing some support to artist funds (to be listed!) http://www.facebook.com/JoyceDiDonatoOfficial”
Both singers were expected to perform the work at the Metropolitan Opera on March 16 through March 31. However, due to the coronavirus performances were canceled.
The live stream will be shown on Facebook and Instagram and will begin at 3 p.m Eastern. (That means west coasters will have to catch it at noon).
(From Operawire feed)
You can also use joycedidonato at her Instagram site.
Teatro Massimo, Palermo
I found another website that has free livestreams operas and ballet, at http://www.teatromassimo.it/eng/teatro-massimo-tv-495/. I just finished seeing excellent productions of two of my favorite operas, Cavallera Rusticana and Pagliacci, as well as a delightful production of the Nutcracker.
As we are about to enter uncertain times, I hope some of these offerings will help to calm the soul with beautiful music. It helped me!
Note: I haven’t verified whether these links work until after I post, so apologies in advance!! Some material above has been extracted from the Operawire twitter feed, with thanks to David Salazar, the editor.
Addendum (3/15/20): just received from Operawire: you can see many of Vienna State Opera’s past performances at:
http://www.staatsoperlive.com/
For details of schedule, go to:
Vienna State Opera to Offer Daily Live Streams From its Opera Archives
Travels with Myself and Others 
Hi Vickie,
I find it very encouraging and
soothing to hear from you. Your last Blog from London reached me in the middle of battling Corona on the home Front. Good to be reminded that the things, places, and people we love are still all there. That’s why I’m on my way to my Taiji class. Keeps you more balanced and calm. Things will improve, as it has in China, just takes time. WHO has been expecting a next pandemic since about 20 years. So if it had to happen, then better Corona than some of the others that have been around sind disappeared again. Love, Helena
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Hi Helena, yes these are extraordinary times that remind us to cherish family and friends. Peace to you, your family, and your patients.
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Thanks!
Sent from my iPhone
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You’re welcome!!
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This is a great schedule, thanks for sharing!
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Sure. These video offerings are a great way to try out opera if you aren’t familiar with the stories. Many of them have historic precedents. I try to download the libretti in advance to follow along in the original or translated form. And all for free in the comfort of your own living room (or in Joyce diDonato’s livestream, from her living room to yours)!
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