Screenshot | DW YouTube Kanal Classical Music (YouTube/DW Classical Music)

Christmas came a little early for classical music lovers this year when Deutsche Welle (DW) launched a dedicated YouTube channel on December 4, 2019. DW Classical Music was initiated to coincide with the beginning of celebrations for Ludwig van Beethoven’s 250th birthday this month.

Videos are uploaded daily, and it’s no surprise that the majority of the content so far focuses on Beethoven. The first two movements of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, op. 67, have been uploaded so far, with Estonian conductor Paavo Järvi conducting the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, as recorded in the Beethovenhalle Bonn in 2009. Järvi was named Conductor of the Year 2019 by Opus Klassik, a leading German classical music awards organization.

Jukka-Pekka Saraste conducts the Philharmonia Zürich for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 in F major op. 68, the “Pastoral” in a performance from the Beethovenfest 2019 in Bonn in another video. The fourth concert video posted so far features Greek-Russian conductor Teodor Currentzis’ new interpretation of Verdi’s Requiem, with the MusicAeterna orchestra and a chorus.

Content on the channel will be offered primarily in English. Deutsche Welle is, however, the German state international broadcaster, so viewer/listeners can expect a steady stream of the nation’s favourite composers from Bach to Wagner, along with a mix drawn from the vast classical repertoire.

The channel’s exclusive content will be drawn from shows previously screened on DW TV, along with material that has been produced specifically for YouTube.

According to a media release, DW is taking a contemporary approach to presenting and promoting classical music and all its facets. Along with concert performances, video posts will include musician interviews, documentaries that take viewers right inside the experience as orchestras prepare and perform music, along with other more eclectic posts that explore classical music in today’s world. The goal is to provide information and entertainment for experienced classical music buffs, as well as newcomers to the genre, and everyone in between.

DW Classical Music offers a few playlists ready-made as of its launch. Horn player Sarah Willis of the Berlin Philharmonic takes viewers along for encounters with other musicians in “Sarah’s Music”; “Musica Maestra — with conductor Alondra de la Parra” takes viewers on an insider’s journey into the lives of professional musicians. “Listen and Watch — your private concert hall” offers music-only concert videos; “Artists — in their own words” features interviews and profiles of contemporary classical musicians; and “Music Documentaries” is self explanatory.

New playlists are added daily, and existing playlists are updated with new content. DW also maintains active YouTube channels focusing on documentary and news journalism, among others.