Streaming culture
COVID-19, a novel strain of the coronavirus, has grown into a full-fledged global pandemic, and ‘social distancing’ is the new normal. It’s not always easy, but being stuck at home doesn’t have to be completely isolating. You can partake in the arts and music from anywhere. Many museums and concert halls have opened their archives to bring you the best in culture and entertainment, delivering it right to your TVs and laptops.
So today, instead of curling up for another round of classic re-runs on Netflix, visit one of the great art museums in Europe or stream a professional opera. Here’s your list of some of the best and brightest virtual tours and concerts available now.
The Louvre
Paris is under lockdown, but you can still virtually roam the halls of its most iconic art museum. The Louvre is offering three online tours, including Egyptian Antiquities; Remains of the Louvre’s Moat; and Galerie d’Apollon, a recently restored gallery of decorative arts. Highlights of the Egyptian room include a statue of Akhenaton and Nefertiti standing hand in hand and an ancient amulet that belonged to Paser, the son of the high priest of Amon.
New York’s Metropolitan Opera
The Met’s season was scheduled to end May 9, 2020. But as schools and workplaces closed across the country, the Met, in New York City, followed suit. Along with a message from General Manager Peter Gelb, the prestigious venue announced, “During this extraordinary and difficult time, the Met hopes to brighten the lives of our audience members even while our stage is dark. Every day a different encore presentation from the company’s Live in HD series is being released for free, on-demand streaming.” The nightly performances began on March 16 with Bizet’s Carmen. The full upcoming schedule is available at MetOpera.org.