{"id":69731,"date":"2020-11-23T11:04:22","date_gmt":"2020-11-23T16:04:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=69731"},"modified":"2020-11-23T15:23:50","modified_gmt":"2020-11-23T20:23:50","slug":"critics-picks-classical-opera-streams-absolutely-need-see-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2020\/11\/23\/critics-picks-classical-opera-streams-absolutely-need-see-week\/","title":{"rendered":"CRITIC’S PICKS | Classical And Opera Streams You Absolutely Need To See This Week"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Classical
Classical music and opera events streaming on the web for the week of November 23 \u2013 29.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Critic\u2019s Picks (November 23 – 29)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

“We live in an extraordinary Age\u201d \u2013 Carl Sagan.<\/em> The COVID-19 pandemic continues to decimate our musical lives. The dreaded second wave is getting worse, forcing virtually all venues to close once again. The venerable Teatro alla Scala reportedly has 50 COVID cases in its chorus, orchestra and staff. It has canceled its fabled opening night on Dec. 7, 2020, when it was supposed to stage a new production of Lucia di Lammermoor<\/em> with Lisette Oropesa and Juan Diego Florez.<\/p>\n

According to Norman Lebrecht\u2019s Slipped Disc<\/em><\/a><\/span>: \u201cLa Scala will not remain silent this 7 December either. In the next few days, we will announce the program of a concert conducted by Riccardo Chailly in which some of the greatest international singers will participate together with our orchestra, choir and ballet. We will not be able to have an audience in the hall but RAI will allow us to be seen by a wider, international audience broadcasting our 7 Dicembre<\/em> on channel 1 and on some of the main international TVs. It will be a message of will and hope for Italy and for all the theatres and artists affected.\u201d That said, the day after this announcement, the La Scala Orchestra, which has its own concert series, announced that its autumn concerts are cancelled, including the opening night on December 14. What does this mean for the December 7 concert is unclear.<\/p>\n

In North America, performing arts venues are virtually shuttered. The National Ballet of Canada cancelled its entire season, as has the Metropolitan Opera and the COC. Just this week, it was announced that the National and Cineplex are joining forces to bring The Nutcracker<\/em><\/a><\/span> to your local Cineplex cinemas, beginning December 4. Sadly, Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Friday announced that Toronto and Peel Region will go into lockdown again, meaning all cinemas there will not open. Presumably, the plan of showing the Holiday classic in the rest of Canada will go ahead, and it is still available to stream.<\/p>\n

A piece of good news this week is the announcement of a live streamed pay-per-view New Year\u2019s Eve Gala presented by the Met \u2014 that will take place in Germany! It features Pretty Yende and Javier Camarena, replacing their originally scheduled concert. They will be joined by Angel Blue and Matthew Polenzani, performing from the Parktheater in Augsburg, Germany. Carnegie Hall announced it has canceled all live performances until April 5, 2021. The Cleveland Orchestra announced the cancellation of its Christmas concerts. Lincoln Centre has canceled all performances for spring 2021, which means its Great Performers<\/em> series and its 2020-21 David Rubenstein Atrium Season are gone.<\/p>\n

Thank goodness there\u2019s always music on the internet. Wiener Staatsoper has resumed its free streaming. Wigmore Hall continues with its marvellous lineup of recitals. The Met\u2019s free nightly stream starts at 7:30 p.m. ET and available for 23 hours. The theme this week is \u201cFamily Drama,\u201d which encompasses a huge segment of operatic plots! I can highly recommend Il Trovatore<\/em> starring the late, great Dmitri Hvorostovsky, and Die Walk\u00fcre<\/em> with Christine Goerke. Don\u2019t miss the 2020 Opera Canada Awards (\u201cThe Rubies\u201d) honouring four great Canadian artists, and lots more.<\/p>\n

Monday 23<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Wiener Staatsoper | Strauss\u2019s Elektra \u2014 1 p.m. ET<\/strong>. From September 11, 2020. Franz Welser-M\u00f6st, conductor. Doris Soffel, Ricarda Merbeth, Camilla Nylund, J\u00f6rg Schneider, Derek Welton, Marcus Pelz | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Opera Canada | \u201cThe Rubies\u201d<\/strong> \u2014 8 pm ET. The 2020 Opera Canada Awards honours soprano Barbara Hannigan, tenor Michael Schade, conductor Yannick Nezet-Seguin, and the late tenor Edward Johnson. Joyce El-Khoury (host), Ben Heppner (citations), performances by baritone Russell Braun, mezzo Rihab Chaieb, soprano Midori Marsh, tenor Matthew Cairns, and pianists Carolyn Maule, Topher Mokrzewski, and Alex Soloway. | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Met | Verdi\u2019s Il Trovatore<\/strong>. Starring Sondra Radvanovsky, Dolora Zajick, Marcelo \u00c1lvarez, and Dmitri Hvorostovsky, conducted by Marco Armiliato. From April 30, 201. | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Tuesday 24<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Canadian Music Centre | Take The Dog Sled (CD Launch) \u2014 7 p.m. ET<\/strong>. Composer Alexina Louie\u2019s Take The Dog Sled was commissioned by the Montreal Symphony Orchestra for their first tour of Nunavik in 2008. This CD launch includes a conversation between Louie and Inuit throat singer Evie Mark, excerpts from the recording, and a documentary of the original MSO tour of Nunavik in northern Quebec. |The event will be streamed on Twitch, Facebook, and YouTube. Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Wiener Staatsoper | Tchaikovsky\u2019s Swan Lake \u2014\u00a01 p.m. ET<\/strong>. From 16, March 2014. This perennial favourite stars Vladimir Shishov (Prince Siegfried) and Olga Esina (Odette\/Odile). Alexander Ingram, conductor. | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Met | Nico Muhly\u2019s Marnie.<\/strong> Starring Isabel Leonard, Iestyn Davies, and Christopher Maltman, conducted by Roberto Spano. From November 10, 2018. | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Wednesday 25<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Wiener Staatsoper | Strauss\u2019s Die Frau ohne Schatten \u2014\u00a01 p.m. ET<\/strong>. From May 25, 2019. Christian Thielemann conducts, with a great cast \u2013 Camilla Nylund (Kaiserin), Stephen Gould (Kaiser), Wolfgang Koch (Barak), Nina Stemme (Farberin), and Evelyn Herlitzius (Amme). | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Met | Thomas\u2019s Hamlet<\/strong>. Starring Marlis Petersen, Jennifer Larmore, Simon Keenlyside, and James Morris, conducted by Louis Langr\u00e9e. From March 27, 2010. | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Thursday 26<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Tafelmusik | Passions of the Soul \u2014\u00a08 p.m. ET.<\/strong> Elisa Citterio and Tafelmusik presents a program focusing on Telemann and the theme of \u201cPassions of the Soul.\u201d Ticket: $30. | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a sneak peek:<\/p>\n