{"id":70024,"date":"2020-12-21T10:57:55","date_gmt":"2020-12-21T15:57:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=70024"},"modified":"2020-12-21T10:57:55","modified_gmt":"2020-12-21T15:57:55","slug":"critics-picks-classical-opera-streams-absolutely-need-see-week-december-21-27","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2020\/12\/21\/critics-picks-classical-opera-streams-absolutely-need-see-week-december-21-27\/","title":{"rendered":"CRITIC’S PICKS | Classical And Opera Streams You Absolutely Need To See This Week: December 21 \u2013 27"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Classical
Classical music and opera events streaming on the web for the week of December 21 \u2013 27.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Critic\u2019s Picks (December 21 – 27)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cWe live in an extraordinary Age\u201d \u2013 Carl Sagan.<\/em> The upcoming Holiday Season is unlike any in memory, given the impact of COVID-19. The joyous sounds of Christmas will be mostly limited to cyberspace, in the form of various types of streams, live or on demand. Let\u2019s hope for a better 2021, when we can once again gather together to experience the joy of music. In the meantime, I want to take this opportunity to wish all Critic\u2019s Picks<\/em> readers a peaceful and healthy Holiday Season.<\/p>\n

Given the ever-increasing infections in Europe and North America, many venues are once again forced to close. As of now, the announced New Year\u2019s Eve Gala by the Met to take place in the Parktheater in Augsburg, Germany will take place, even with the whole country experiencing a virus surge. Remarkably, the Gran Teatre Del Liceu in Barcelona is soldiering on with its La Traviata<\/em>, albeit with a 50 percent seating capacity. There\u2019s also a cast change, with tenor Arturo Chacon-Cruz replacing Pavel Breslik as Alfredo. Another casualty is conductor Fabio Luisi, who has been tested positive for COVID and is in quarantine. He will not lead the Concertgebouw Orchestra in their Christmas Matinee on Dec. 25 in Amsterdam.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, there\u2019s still music 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 \u201cHoliday Fare,\u201d with several feel-good pieces the likes of Magic Flute<\/em>, Merry Widow<\/em>, and Hansel & Gretel<\/em>. For those tired of the ubiquitous Handel\u2019s Messiah<\/em>, Camille Saint-Sa\u00ebn\u2019s Oratorio de No\u00ebl<\/em> from Munich is a great alternative. A fascinating show from Carnegie Hall is Music as Medicine<\/em>. It features performances by those medical professionals on the frontlines in the fight against COVID-19 who also happen to be gifted musicians. Finally, don\u2019t forget many of the musical events in Canada announced in last week\u2019s Critic\u2019s Picks, such as the TSO and Tafelmusik, continue through the Holiday season.<\/p>\n

Monday 21<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Bayerische Staatsoper | Montagsst\u00fcck VII: Oratorio de No\u00ebl<\/strong> \u2014\u00a02:15 p.m. ET. Livestreamed from Munich on Dec. 21, it features a terrific cast of Ailyn P\u00e9rez, Tara Erraught, Okka von der Damerau, Benjamin Bernheim and Canadian baritone Etienne Dupuis, in Camille Saint-Sa\u00ebns\u2019s Oratorio de No\u00ebl. Antonello Manacorda conducts. Free, but later on-demand viewing is 9.90 Euros. | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Met | Mozart\u2019s The Magic Flute<\/strong>. Starring Ying Huang, Erika Mikl\u00f3sa, Matthew Polenzani, Nathan Gunn, and Ren\u00e9 Pape, conducted by James Levine. From December 30, 2006. This is an abridged version of the Mozart opera sung in English, that started the current Met Live in HD series in cinemas around the world. | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Essential Opera | Monica Pearce\u2019s December<\/strong> \u2014 7 p.m. ET. Catch the world premiere of a new one-act opera by Monica Pearce. Features sopranos Erin Bardua, Maureen Batt, Danielle Buonaiuto, with Tara Scott conducting. | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Tuesday 22<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Met | Massenet\u2019s Cendrillon.<\/strong> Starring Kathleen Kim, Joyce DiDonato, Alice Coote, Stephanie Blythe, and Laurent Naouri, conducted by Bertrand de Billy. From April 28, 2018. | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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

Met | Rossini\u2019s Il Barbiere di Siviglia<\/strong>. Starring Isabel Leonard, Lawrence Brownlee, Christopher Maltman, Maurizo Muraro, and Paata Burchuladze, conducted by Michele Mariotti. From November 22, 2014. | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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

Bayerische Staatsoper\/Staatsballett | Hansel und Gretel and Swan Lake<\/strong> \u2014 4 a.m. ET to Dec. 26 at 6 p.m. ET. Free streams of Hansel and Gretel and Swan Lake, but subsequent viewing for the next 30 days at 9.90 Euros each. Hansel and Gretel features Emily Pogorelc (Gretel), Kevin Conners (Crunchy Witch), and Tara Erraught (Hansel). Friedrich Haider conducts the Bayerisches Staatsorchester. In Swan Lake, Ksenia Ryzhkova is Odette\/Odile. Prince Siegfried is Jinhao Zhang, and Emilio Pavan dances the Rothbart. Tom Seligman conducts. | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Met | Puccini\u2019s La Boh\u00e8me (Classic Telecast)<\/strong>. Starring Teresa Stratas, Renata Scotto, Jos\u00e9 Carreras, Richard Stilwell, Allan Monk, and James Morris, conducted by James Levine. From January 16, 1982. | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Canadian International Organ Competition | CIOC Celebrates Christmas<\/strong> \u2014\u00a07:30 p.m. ET. Celebrate Christmas Eve with the Canadian International Organ Competition direct from the Maison Symphonique in Montreal. You\u2019ll hear a selection Christmas carols and other festive music. Tickets $10. Stream available through Dec. 30. | Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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

Royal Opera Covent Garden | The Magic Flute<\/strong> \u2014\u00a011 a.m. ET. David McVicar\u2019s magical production is perfect for the Holiday Season, transporting us to a fantastical world of dancing animals, flying machines, and dazzling starry skies. Available on demand from Dec. 25, 2020 \u2013 Jan. 6, 2021.<\/p>\n