Since the beginning of Montreal's lockdown on March 14th, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra been helping us class up our days and nights by offering free online performances that can be viewed on their website.
It's called Rendezvous with the OSM, launched shortly after public forums like it for arts, sports—you name it—where large gatherings could collect were shut down until further notice. Free broadcasts are posted that include anything from duets to past symphonies that were recorded at the Maison symphonique de Montréal.
Past performances have included the likes of John Adams (above), Richard Strauss, Ravel and Dukas, as well as solo and duet performances by members of the orchestra and the occasional post where we can check in with what artists are up to. Take the cellist Brian Manker for example, showing us how he warms up, tunes his cello and staying sharp until it's time to perform again:
For lovers of classic music, this can be a tough time, but the timing of the lockdown couldn't be any worse: The OSM's conductor Kent Nagano was to make the 2019-2020 season his last. Maybe he'll be postponing putting down his baton until he can get one last full, in-person season under his cumberbund.
It's hard to imagine the next time we'll be able to gather under the same roof to see some high-class art and entertainment in the Quartier des Spectacles of Downtown Montreal, but until then, we'll be putting on our best and chilling out on the couch with a pizza; c'mon, we can't keep things too classy at a time like this.
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