BSO
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Like many of you, we miss gathering with other music lovers in anticipation of hearing something extraordinary. While it may be a bit longer until we hear those first notes in person, you can still experience the awe and excitement of listening to orchestras and world-class musicians from your stereo at home. We’ve compiled a list of streaming services and online programming from music institutions near and far who have adapted to keep our relationship with music alive during the pandemic.
Boston Baroque is releasing full-length opera productions, along with choral and orchestral concerts on their new streaming platform. Recordings are available for free on their website for 30 days, after which they are released on Amazon Prime Video free for members and available to rent—coming up soon: Mozart’s Requiem and Symphony No. 40. You can also check out their Baroque Radio service, where selections of music are broadcast live and available to enjoy at any time.
The DSO is offering a free, Netflix-level streaming platform of past performances called Live from Orchestra Hall. You can browse meticulously organized categories to find something new to fit your mood whenever the feeling strikes. The recording of their 2019 performance with John Williams is sure to lift your spirits!
The Metropolitan Opera’s Nightly Opera Streams has a schedule packed with masterpieces. You can expand your experience with the performance with articles and program notes from playbills accompanying the piece. Their work is also included in the larger umbrella of Lincoln Center At Home, which compiles online offerings from The New York City Ballet, film screenings, and more.
Stay Home with Juventas is a series that has been taking place since March, with new live-streamed solo performances every Wednesday evening. This Wednesday, May 20, hear Minjin Chung on the Cello for a night of hope and beauty that is free and open to all. Juventas’ website also includes videos of past performances and links to stream and purchase albums of their work.
With a mixture of live chamber music archival orchestral recordings, the Berlin Philharmonic unites the work that they showcase with a specific theme that you can purchase with a one-time fee or monthly subscription for unlimited access. Also, their free playlists are created by their esteemed conductors and guest artists of the orchestra.
Sydney Opera House’s offerings include weekly live recordings, never-before-seen footage, as well as podcasts, articles, videos, and more. Their digital season includes Iceland’s award-winning pianist-composer Ólafur Arnalds with the Sydney Chamber Orchestra, and Nooks & Crannies, a unique live music series that celebrates the iconic architecture of spectacular unseen spaces inside the Opera House.
The H + H Listening Room is a virtual space that holds links to a new podcast, radio, and performances from musicians from their own homes. Their past performances include their iconic Messiah (recorded Novemeber 2019) conducted by Baroque master Masaaki Suzuki. Accompanying that recording is a fantastic digital exhibit that will enhance your experience of the piece.
The Seattle Symphony has at-home content to fit all of your music needs. If you’re looking for new music to help start your day, their Morning Notes series features a short solo piece recorded by a musician at home. The Meet the Instrument series provides music education for adults, while Tiny Clips for Tiny Tots showcases the same instruments for children.
Boston’s beloved Symphony is broadcasting live performances for a limited time through their website, as well as behind-the-scenes videos about life in the orchestra, messages from their musicians, and a special series featuring the Sonatas and Partitas of Johann Sebastian Bach.
This group has been broadcasting a daily stream of themed music and live performances, exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews with musicians and composers, and family-friendly educational content. In their series, Mozart Mondays, LMP musicians, and guest artists unpack a new work by Mozart each week.
Available for purchase on June 15 and streaming on July 1, the spirit of Tanglewood lives on through a series of digital offerings including free archival recordings and new material. You can look forward to The Best of Tanglewood On Parade hosted by James Taylor, Friday evenings with BSO Musicians in Recital, and Saturday evenings with the spotlight on the artists who were to appear in the Shed in 2020 and additional guests: Daniil Trifonov, Yo-Yo Ma, and more!
Elena Morris (she/her/hers) is ArtsBoston’s Patron Services Manager. She is a dramaturg and arts administrator passionate about forward-thinking in the arts. Elena holds a BFA in Theatre Arts from Boston University, focusing her studies on dramatic literature and movement.
@elena_pearl 
@elena_pearl