{"id":69960,"date":"2020-12-14T10:51:49","date_gmt":"2020-12-14T15:51:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=69960"},"modified":"2020-12-14T10:51:49","modified_gmt":"2020-12-14T15:51:49","slug":"critics-picks-classical-opera-streams-absolutely-need-see-week-december-14-20","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2020\/12\/14\/critics-picks-classical-opera-streams-absolutely-need-see-week-december-14-20\/","title":{"rendered":"CRITIC’S PICKS | Classical And Opera Streams You Absolutely Need To See This Week: December 14 \u2013 20"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Classical
Classical music and opera events streaming on the web for the week of December 14 \u2013 20.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Critic\u2019s Picks (December 14 \u2013 20)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cWe live in an extraordinary Age\u201d \u2014 Carl Sagan<\/em>. Sadly, COVID-19 pandemic continues to wrack havoc in our musical world. Semperoper Dresden, previously scheduled to reopen on Dec. 28, will now be closed until March 2021, its planned Ring Cycle cancelled. According to Opera Wire, Alexander Neef of the Op\u00e9ra National de Paris just announced that the plan to reopen on Dec. 15 is now scuttled \u2014 \u201cNo Classes en Sc\u00e8ne<\/em>, concerts and recitals at the Palais Garnier, Carmen, La Traviata<\/em>, and La Bayad\u00e8re<\/em> at the Op\u00e9ra Bastille.\u201d But, it is offering a newly recorded Wagner\u2019s Ring<\/em>, to be broadcast in its entirety from Dec.. 26, 2020 to Jan. 1, 2021 on France Musique.<\/p>\n

Against all odds, the Gran Teatre Del Liceu (Barcelona), after cancelling two performances in early December, is resuming its La Traviata<\/em> on Dec. 14. According to an official statement, the opera house will reopen with a 50 percent seating capacity. Two new performances will be added to the run, on Dec. 22 and Dec. 23. The opera is set to run until Dec. 30, 2020, for a total of 15 performances, with multiple casts. Meanwhile La Scala, despite a reported 50 COVID cases in its chorus, orchestra and staff, reopened on Dec. 7 with a gala concert, without an audience, and featuring big stars. The opera company spared no expense and offered a show of exceptional production values, while taking pandemic precautions. Livestreamed and telecast on RAI, it was region-restricted, but now available on demand \u2014 don\u2019t miss it!<\/p>\n

In North America, with COVID rates hitting new highs, performing arts venues are virtually shuttered. The National Ballet of Canada cancelled its entire season, as has the Metropolitan Opera and the COC. The Met is going ahead with a livestreamed pay-per-view New Year\u2019s Eve Gala, to take place not in New York but 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. With Germany facing unprecedented COVID rates, let\u2019s keep our fingers crossed. The Sonya Yoncheva concert is now postponed till February 2021. Sadly, cancellations keep mounting, including Carnegie Hall, Cleveland Orchestra, and Lincoln Centre.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, music lovers can find solace on the internet. The Met\u2019s free nightly stream continues, starting at 7:30 p.m. ET and available for 23 hours. The theme this week is \u201cEpic Proportions,\u201d focusing on the grandest of grand operas, the likes of Les Troyens<\/em> and G\u00f6tterdammerung<\/em>. The Met also announced its first online Family Holiday Festival<\/a><\/span> (December 17 -21). The annual Holiday Open House for families of previous years will be a free, all-virtual festival this year. A performance of a holiday favorite, Humperdinck\u2019s Hansel and Gretel<\/em>, will be available to stream for free beginning Thursday, Dec. 17, at 5:00 p.m. ET until Monday, Dec. 21, at 5:00 p.m. ET. The family-friendly opera has inspired a lineup of online events to celebrate the season, including arts and crafts, baking, and composing carols. The venerable Tafelmusik Singalong Messiah<\/em> is virtual this year, and we\u2019re getting a performance from 2010 \u2013 never mind, it\u2019ll be just as festive.<\/p>\n

Monday 14<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Bayerische Staatsoper | Advent Benefit Concert<\/strong> \u2014\u00a01 p.m. ET. Vladimir Jurowski leads the Bavarian State Orchestra and Choir, joined by six soloists including soprano Mirjam Mesak and tenor Jonas Kaufmann in a performance of works by Corelli, Tartini, Mozart, Bach, and Christmas carols. | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Met | Saint-Sa\u00ebns\u2019s Samson et Dalila<\/strong>. Starring El\u012bna Garan\u010da, Roberto Alagna, Laurent Naouri, Elchin Azizov, and Dmitry Belosselskiy, conducted by Sir Mark Elder. From October 20, 2018. | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Brott Music | Brott to You: Messiah<\/strong> \u2014\u00a07:30 p.m. ET. Boris Brott conducts the National Academy Orchestra, the Arcady Chorus, joined by a quartet of soloists (Shantelle Przybylo, soprano; Andrea Ludwig, mezzo; Bud Roach, tenor; David John Pike, baritone) in Handel\u2019s Messiah. Tickets are $25 per household. | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Tuesday 15<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Met | Wagner\u2019s Lohengrin (Classic Telecast).<\/strong> Starring Eva Marton, Leonie Rysanek, Peter Hofmann, Leif Roar, and John Macurdy, conducted by James Levine. From January 10, 1986. | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Wednesday 16<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Met | Berlioz\u2019s Les Troyens<\/strong>. Starring Deborah Voigt, Susan Graham, Karen Cargill, Bryan Hymel, Eric Cutler, Dwayne Croft, and Kwangchoul Youn, conducted by Fabio Luisi. From January 5, 2013. | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Thursday 17<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Tafelmusik | Singalong Messiah on Screen<\/strong> \u2014\u00a07 p.m. ET. Herr Handel (aka Ivars Taurins): \u201cFor over three decades, George Frideric Handel (aka yours truly) has stepped onto the stage to lead Tafelmusik and an audience chorus of thousands through his timeless masterpiece, Messiah, in a sing-along version. This year we must come together in spirit rather than in person. So, until we can join our voices once again to “raise the roof,” I sincerely hope that our Messiah sing-along film presentation, and Handel\u2019s music, will rekindle the flame of all that is best within us, bringing joy, peace, and hope to your homes.” The film in question is from Koerner Hall in 2010, with Mr. Handel leading soprano Suzie LeBlanc, countertenor Daniel Taylor, tenor Rufus M\u00fcller, baritone Locky Chung, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir. | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Art Of Time Ensemble | To All A Good Night<\/strong>. For those looking for a more off-beat and irreverent take on holiday music, look no further than AofT\u2019s To All A Good Night. You\u2019ll hear songs by Stephen Colbert & Elvis Costello, John Prine, Steve Earle, The Pogues, Joni Mitchell, Alfred Schnittke, John Lennon & Yoko Ono and more. | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Soundstreams | Electric Messiah<\/strong> \u2014 8 p.m. ET. Even a pandemic can\u2019t stop what is Canada\u2019s original reimagining of Handel\u2019s holiday classic celebrating diversity, inclusiveness and unity. This year will be streamed as a \u201ccinematic love letter to the city of Toronto, where we reflect this well-known music through the filter of our contemporary world.\u201d Not-to-be-missed. | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Met | Zandonai\u2019s Francesca da Rimini (Classic Telecast)<\/strong>. Starring Renata Scotto, Pl\u00e1cido Domingo, and Cornell MacNeil, conducted by James Levine. From April 7, 1984. | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Friday 18<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Met | Mussorgsky\u2019s Boris Godunov<\/strong>. Starring Ekaterina Semenchuk, Aleksandrs Antonenko, Oleg Balashov, Evgeny Nikitin, Ren\u00e9 Pape, Mikhail Petrenko, and Vladimir Ognovenko, conducted by Valery Gergiev. From October 23, 2010. | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony | Yuletide Spectacular Online.<\/strong> Led by the dynamic Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, this concert features orchestral holiday favourites, Canadian Broadway star Chilina Kennedy performing seasonal hits, appearances by actors Mike Nadajewski and Glynis Ranney. This is a good one for the whole family. | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Saturday 19<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Performance Santa Fe | Christmas at the Cathedral<\/strong> \u2014\u00a09:00 p.m. ET. A livestream benefit concert with over a dozen musical luminaries including mezzos Susan Graham and Beth Clayton, soprano Patricia Racette, tenor Joshua Dennis, baritone Joshua Hopkins, and pianist Robert Tweten, performing holiday classics inside the beautiful Cathedral Basilica in Santa Fe, New Mexico. A free event, although \u201ca minimum donation of $50 per household is encouraged.\u201d Registration required. | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Elora Singers | A Festival of Carols<\/strong>. You can\u2019t beat the sound of a choir at this level. The Elora Singers present a collection of old and new Christmas carols. Tickets start at $15, and the stream available through Jan 3, 2021. | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Met | Verdi\u2019s Nabucco<\/strong>. Starring Liudmyla Monastyrska, Jamie Barton, Russell Thomas, Pl\u00e1cido Domingo, and Dmitry Belosselskiy, conducted by James Levine. From January 7, 2017. | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Sunday 20<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Met | Wagner\u2019s G\u00f6tterd\u00e4mmerung.<\/strong> Starring Deborah Voigt, Wendy Bryn Harmer, Waltraud Meier, Jay Hunter Morris, Iain Paterson, Eric Owens, and Hans-Peter K\u00f6nig, conducted by Fabio Luisi. From February 11, 2012. | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Video-on-demand performances:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

1) Wigmore Hall | Paul Lewis.<\/strong> Streamed on Dec. 9 and now on demand, British pianist Paul Lewis plays Haydn\u2019s Piano Sonata in C minor, and Beethoven\u2019s Diabelli Variations.<\/p>\n