Tchaikovsky’s celebrated music combined with the reimagined dark fairy-tale in the powerful performance by Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures company; stream from anywhere
SWAN LAKE by Bourne, 2018, Plymouth, Royal Theatre Plymouth/ Photo Credit: Johan Persson
Director Matthew Bourne’s reimagined centuries-old fairy-tale set to the timeless music by Tchaikovsky dazzles, entertains, and shocks with the audience eagerly responding to each cue extended by the dancers. Created for the New Adventure company in 1995, Bourne’s libretto combines recognizable classical themes with not so subtle references to the public obsession with Windsor royals and the old-society members’ struggle with finding their place in the modern life. From the vantage point of 2020 viewer, the story turns from an entertaining account into a complex psychological drama of mother/son relations, suppressed self-realization, and the burden of traditions.
However, there is an interesting twist to the narrative. The original tale put to music by Tchaikovsky and Swan Lake ballet’s first choreographer J. Reisigner believed to reference the life of Bavarian King Ludwig II. When visiting Schwansee in his childhood, Ludwig II was preoccupied with the swans, was emotionally weak and deemed insane later in life. He was renowned for building bigger than life castles such as Neuschwanstein. It is conceivable that King’s life inspired Prince Siegfried’s character in Swan Lake. Watching Bourne’s interpretation, it is easy to find several parallels to Ludwig’s story in the libretto.
The production is universally known for its replacement of the gentle and tense female swan ensemble with the muscular, forceful, and vindictive flock of all-male dancers. Accentuated by the strong wings and loud hissing sound, their power and domination over feeble and thickly prince is in full swing in Act II and III. Yet, with all their wild freedom, even the swans are unable to accept and accommodate the outsider in their ranks. It’s a grim reminder of the stronghold of prejudice and a drive to preserve the homogeny.
The ballet has everything from puns and jokes to the touching despair and frightening indifference of those around us. For this run, the production was skillfully updated with a rather streamlined soundtrack in place of the live orchestra among other changes. Recognized as the longest-running dance show, the plot still has its potency and bitterness. The cast delivers its lines with the grace and power expected from the renown company.
You can stream the ballet from anywhere. STREAM NOW
The Israeli pianist Inon Barnatan presents a program of Schubert and Rachmaninoff in Lifestream from Caramoor on July 2, 2020 at 7 pm
Inon Barnatan, pianist; Photo: Marco Borggreve
Inon Barnatan, recognized by WQXR as one of its “19 for 19” influential musicians to watch last year, is “one of the most admired pianists of his generation” (New York Times). Known for his thoughtful and inventive programming, impeccable technique, and utmost expressiveness, Barnatan opens Caramoor 2020/2.0 season with a recital in the Music Room which will be live streamed on Thursday, July 2, 2020. Tickets ($10) go on sale 5 days before show.
Program
Schubert Sonata in A Major, D959 RachmaninoffSymphonic Dances (World Premiere of solo piano arrangement by I. Barnatan)
Stream Saint-Saens’s biblical epic with Elina Garanca and Roberto Alagna in the title roles from the MetOpera stage on June 24, 2020
Roberto Alagna and Elina Garanca in Saint-Saëns’s “Samson et Dalila.” Photo: Ken Howard / Met Opera
Darko Tresnjak’s production of sensual French Grand Opera by Camille Saint-Saens on the biblical story of Samson et Davila can be streamed from anywhere on June 24, 2020 from 7.30 pm. The stream is available for 23 hours.
The explosive duo of tenor Roberto Alagna, Samson and soprano Elina Garanca, Dalila, and the rest of the powerful cast in this brave production make for an exciting opera night. Tellingly, it opened the 2018-2019 season of MetOpera on a very high note.
Darko Tresnjak, a 2014 Tony Award Winner for best direction of a musical, debuts at the Met Opera with a monumental staging that brings us to ancient Gaza of 12th century BC from the Old Testament’s Book of Judges. Sensual music, an electrifying performance, and vivid stage design promise a memorable experience for every opera fan.
Fifth Annual New York Virtual Opera Fest Continues June-July-August
Presented by the New York Opera Alliance, with support from OPERA America, the 2020 New York Opera Fest has become the 2020 New YorkVirtualOpera Fest due to the social distancing restrictions put into place by the state government. To help companies navigate the realities of the COVID-19 crisis and also encourage responsible social isolation, NYOA has constructed a comprehensive online center at NYoperafest.com where opera fans can visit for an updated list of virtual events hosted by local, New York City-based opera companies. NYOA will continue to update and share the opera community’s activities throughout its website, social media, and e-blast communication platforms. Leading the vanguard of the local opera community, NYOA continues to monitor the fluid situation around COVID-19 by providing helpful resources for financial aid which may be found at http://OPERAamerica.org/covid19. NYOA is also hosting weekly virtual meetings for NYOA members to discuss, monitor, and provide solutions for the changing landscape for opera in New York.
HERE Arts Center in New York City hosts “HERE@HOME”: a Facebook Watch Party to stream a full-length production every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. EST. Shows are from the HERE Vault collected over the past 25 years. Following the online premiere, these full-length videos will be available for viewing on Facebook until HERE reopens. FREE. Watch: https://www.facebook.com/hereartscenter.
THU 6.25 @ 12:00 p.m.
Beth Morrison Projects features an “Opera of the Week” released every Thursday at 12:00 p.m. EST on the company’s website and broadcasts for one week. FREE. Watch: https://www.bethmorrisonprojects.org
THU 6.25 @ 6:30 p.m.
City Lyric Opera’s Summer Series of events continues with CLO Retro #ThrowbackThursdays discussing and showcasing past performances on June 25th and August 6th 6:30 p.m. For more information and to tune in visit CityLyricOpera.org. FREE.
THU 6.25 @ 7:00 p.m.
Every Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. EST, No Dominion Theatre Company hosts a Virtual Story Slam! On its Facebook page. Co-hosted by Art House Productions, this new virtual Story Slam series celebrates the power of live storytelling, resilience of the arts and human connection during tough times. Free. Suggested donation: $5. Watch: Zoom via https://www.facebook.com/NoDominionTheatre/.
FRI 6.26
HERE Arts Center in New York City hosts “#stillHERE Friday Artist Livestream Schedule: June 26: Nia O. Witherspoon. FREE. Watch: https://www.facebook.com/hereartscenter.
WED 7.01 @ 7:00 p.m.
HERE Arts Center in New York City hosts “HERE@HOME”: a Facebook Watch Party to stream a full-length production every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. EST. Shows are from the HERE Vault collected over the past 25 years. Following the online premiere, these full-length videos will be available for viewing on Facebook until HERE reopens. FREE. Watch: https://www.facebook.com/hereartscenter.
WED 7.08 @ 7:00 p.m.
HERE Arts Center in New York City hosts “HERE@HOME”: a Facebook Watch Party to stream a full-length production every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. EST. Shows are from the HERE Vault collected over the past 25 years. Following the online premiere, these full-length videos will be available for viewing on Facebook until HERE reopens. FREE. Watch: https://www.facebook.com/hereartscenter.
THU 7.09 @ 6:30 p.m.
City Lyric Opera’s Summer Series of events continues with a live Falling Flat Happy Hour July 9th 6:30 p.m. featuring live performances and stories of live mishaps on stage. For more information and to tune in visit CityLyricOpera.org. FREE.
WED 7.15 @ 7:00 p.m.
HERE Arts Center in New York City hosts “HERE@HOME”: a Facebook Watch Party to stream a full-length production every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. EST. Shows are from the HERE Vault collected over the past 25 years. Following the online premiere, these full-length videos will be available for viewing on Facebook until HERE reopens. FREE. Watch: https://www.facebook.com/hereartscenter.
WED 7.22 @ 7:00 p.m.
HERE Arts Center in New York City hosts “HERE@HOME”: a Facebook Watch Party to stream a full-length production every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. EST. Shows are from the HERE Vault collected over the past 25 years. Following the online premiere, these full-length videos will be available for viewing on Facebook until HERE reopens. FREE. Watch: https://www.facebook.com/hereartscenter.
THU 7.23 @ 6:30 p.m.
City Lyric Opera’s Summer Series of events continues with a Holding Space virtual salon conversation for the opera community to have honest and vulnerable COVID-related dialogue about, by, and for the field’s members on June 11th and July 23rd 6:30 p.m. For more information and to tune in visit CityLyricOpera.org. FREE.
HERE Arts Center in New York City hosts “HERE@HOME”: a Facebook Watch Party to stream a full-length production every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. EST. Shows are from the HERE Vault collected over the past 25 years. Following the online premiere, these full-length videos will be available for viewing on Facebook until HERE reopens. FREE. Watch: https://www.facebook.com/hereartscenter.
THU 8.06 @ 6:30 p.m.
City Lyric Opera’s Summer Series of events continues with CLO Retro #ThrowbackThursdays discussing and showcasing past performances on June 25th and August 6th 6:30 p.m. For more information and to tune in visit CityLyricOpera.org. FREE.
ONGOING (Dates Not Specified)
American Opera Projects American Opera Project is broadcasting past productions including Three Way, Harriet Tubman, and As One, with more to be released soon. They may be watched exclusively on AOP’s website. FREE. Watch: AOPopera.org.
The Indie Opera Podcast
To stay up to date with what the movers and shakers of the opera scene, listen to Indie Opera Podcast. Their insightful, in-depth shows have changed to a streamed video platform for the opera community. It’s a great way to stay up to date with developments given the unusual times that the industry is facing. Tune in to hear the experts discuss what our beloved art form is doing to weather COVID-19. FREE. Watch: http://indieopera.com.
The little OPERA theatre of NY
The little OPERA theatre of NY has launched a company YouTube channel featuring highlights from last season’s New York premiere of Benjamin Britten’s OWEN WINGRAVE. They will be adding new content to this channel on a rolling basis starting in June. In collaboration with New Vintage Baroque, little OPERA is creating a series of short streaming opera videos featuring excerpts from Mozart’s The Shepherd King.
Music of the Americas
Music of the Americas presents two new online series to bring its performances into homes across the world: En Casa (At Home), featuring original performances from musicians from around the Americas who frequently perform with the society, and Recuerdos (Memories), weekly releases of memorable past performances at the Americas Society, some for the first time. FREE. Watch: as-coa.org/music.
New Camerata Opera (ongoing)
NCO is hosting a handful of online events including: #theivesproject – an acclaimed series short film adaptations of Charles Ives songs, the release of CamerataWorks’ upcoming opera film, “Julie” on June 4th at 7:00 p.m. EST, and the popular handwashing aria series #20secondariachallenge, in which arias are sung to ensure one washes their hands sufficiently. Watch streamable content, here: https://www.facebook.com/newcamerataopera/ and “Julie” premiere here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCda0kpVTKpZjci4fRP1hnYg?view_as=subscriber.
Regina Opera
Regina Opera, which is celebrating its 50th season of great opera in Brooklyn, has curated a collection of its best performance videos to help ease the strain of these difficult times. It includes a complete performance of La Traviata; excerpts from Aida, Don Giovanni; Il Trovatore, and Hansel and Gretel; and the complete February 2, 2020 Winter Concert, featuring operatic and popular favorites as well as the world premiere of a quartet by 14-year-old composer Julian Raheb. FREE. Watch: www.ReginaOpera.org/onlineperformances.htm.
Rhymes with Opera (July-August 2020)
Join Rhymes with Opera online for a FREE series of contemporary chamber operas, community-building events, exciting new works, artist interviews, and some rockin’ parties.Upcoming schedule includes July (date TBA) Release Party of recording Rumpelstiltskin; and August (dates TBA) Soap Operas provides a platform for RWO artists to perform arrangements of your favorite songs. For more info and reservations for all RWO events, visit RhymeswithOpera.org.
Untitled Theater Company #61: A Theater of Ideas The Untitled Theater Company is making videos of past performances and workshops available on its website for free viewing. FREE.Watch: http://www.untitledtheater.com
Victor Herbert Renaissance Project
Despite having to cancel their entire season, VHRP continues to connect with its fans by broadcasting past performances on its social media platforms regularly. FREE. Watch: https://www.facebook.com/vhrplive/.
The Next Festival of Emerging Artists 2020 Goes Online with Free Events Open to All, June 9 – July 2
Participants Include: Ashley Bathgate, Derek Bermel, Fred Child, Anthony Davis, Rob Deemer, Vijay Iyer, Wang Jie, JACK Quartet, Aaron Jay Kernis, Anne Leilehua Lanzilotti, Jessica Meyer, Joshua Roman, S. Ama Wray
Festival faculty & guest artists Wang Jie, Lisa Bielawa, S. Ama Wray, Vijay Iyer, James Dargan, Ashley Baccus-Clark
Adapting to address the needs of a greater community of artists, The Next Festival of Emerging Artists 2020 is a four-week series of workshops, mini-courses, and collaborative projects taking place online June 9 – July 2, with most of the festival events, featuring over 20 guest artists and speakers, accessible online and open to the public. This year’s festival’s student participants – young musicians, composers, and choreographers – have had their tuition waived.
A unique contemporary music festival founded in 2013 by composer, conductor, and bassist Peter Askim, The Next Festival of Emerging Artists normally takes place over two weeks in May and June at Music Mountain in Connecticut as well as at National Sawdust and NYU Center for Ballet and the Arts in New York City, with 35 young musicians, composers, and choreographers taking part in lessons and chamber music coaching, rehearsals, masterclasses, and talks – culminating in performances and recordings of new works. In addition to offering a wide slate of talks and workshops, this year’s festivalwill culminate in performances by the festival musicians of new works created by remote collaboration.
Open to the Public (through Eventbrite registration via www.next-fest.org and Facebook Events.) Most of these events will be recorded and archived within 48 hours for viewing through the Next Festival website and YouTube channel.
