Concert halls have been closed due to the coronavirus emergency, but music doesn’t stop: opera houses around world and theaters large and small are transferring their concerts online and inviting a virtual audience to attend for free. It’s a way to help people feel less lonely in these times of home confinement, and use the power of music to uplift spirits. From the Metropolitan Opera House in New York to the Philharmonic of Berlin to the Teatro Fenice in Venice, and more, you can now enjoy many music shows from the comfort of home.
Let’s look at some Italian theaters and music academies offering this opportunity.
Teatro La Fenice, Venice - Since the coronavirus emergency began, the world-famous La Fenice Theater in Venice has worked to bring music to people’s homes, posting a concert every day on its YouTube channel, within the playlist named “Io resto a casa”, like the popular hashtag, meaning “I’m staying home.” On YouTube, you can find operas by Antonio Vivaldi, Gioachino Rossini, Giuseppe Verdi, and the recent Dafne Quartet concert (Ludwig van Beethoven), which had been streamed live last March 4 before an empty theater.
In addition, posters, photographs, opera and symphony scores, even autographed works of great composers can be consulted and downloaded from the Historical Archive page of La Fenice’s official website, for a glimpse into 200 years of history of music, ballet and opera at the prestigious theater.
Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Rome - The Accademia di Santa Cecilia, one of the oldest and most prestigious music academies in the world, founded in 1585, is continuing its season of concerts virtually on its website, YouTube and Facebook page, offering free online weekly appointments on the same days and times as its scheduled live symphonic concerts.
Tune in every Thursday at 7:30 pm, every Friday at 8:30 pm and every Saturday at 6:00 pm for the chance to enjoy three different concerts every week.
Incidentally when you go to the YouTube page you can see a small segment of the concert inaugurating of the newly restored Spanish Steps in Rome - just marvelous!
And on Facebook you have the chance to meet and listen to the academy’s artists.
Accademia Musicale Chigiana, Siena - The Accademia Chigiana, a historical music institute founded in 1932 as an international centre for advanced musical studies, offers, on its Youtube channel, first-time concerts by great masters, young performers and up-and-coming figures of the opera concert scene. These are posted every few days on YouTube, or streamed on TV and radio. For the program, click here.
Teatro Comunale, Bologna - Bologna’s opera house, the Teatro Comunale, one of the most important opera venues in Italy, has offered the chance to listen and view via its YouTube channel three opera concerts staged last season. Two have already been posted: Rigoletto and La Traviata, both by Giuseppe Verdi, available for viewing here; on March 28 at 9 pm, Il barbiere di Siviglia by Gioachino Rossini will be streamed. You can also watch Stata Mater by Gioacchino Rossini performed at the Archiginnasio, the historic first seat of Bologna’s University, for the 150th anniversary of the composer’s death.
