“Life would be flat without music; it is the background to all that I do,” Beethoven famously said. And indeed, the soundtracks of our everyday lives can make all the difference to an atmosphere or ambience. We’ve compiled a selection of the finest, most exhilarating operatic and classical performances for you to experience at your leisure, as well as enchanting ballet performances to see online.
The Berliner Philharmonie
Founded in Germany’s capital in 1882, the virtuosity of world-class ensemble The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra can be felt in each and every of its concerts, usually performed at the Berliner Philharmonie, within easy reach of Hotel de Rome. Enjoy performances both live-streamed and dating back to 2008 through its Digital Concert Hall, including works by Mahler, Beethoven, Stravinsky and more.
The Royal Opera House
Covent Garden’s collonaded landmark, The Royal Opera House, home of The Royal Opera, The Royal Ballet and The Orchestra of The Royal Opera House, is one of London’s principal venues for aficionados of the arts. Whilst its doors are closed, and the red curtain drawn, discover exquisite performances from all of its companies, including Così fan tutte and The Metamorphosis, streamed across a range of online and radio channels. Explore the regularly updated programme here.
Munich National Theatre
Home of the Bavarian State Opera company, a highlight of Munich’s flourishing operatic scene, this theatre sees over 40 operas spanning five centuries performed annually, as well as diverse ballets, concerts and recitals. Though its 2,101 seats are empty for now, its online schedule is a thrilling alternative for those wishing to savour the celestial strains of these celebrated musicians at home. Tune in for concerts featuring lieder, solo instrumentalists and chamber music, to whet your appetite for future performances upon a visit to The Charles Hotel.
The Mariinsky Theatre
Occupying prestigious address 1 Theatre Square, Imperial landmark the Mariinsky Theatre (formerly the Kirov) is home to the Mariinsky Ballet, Opera and Orchestra, arguably three of Russia’s finest companies. Playing a key role in the Festival of the Stars of The White Nights and many others, regularly hosting stars including Placido Domingo and performing timeless classics daily, it’s the heart of the cultural capital and easily reached from Hotel Astoria. In the meantime, enjoy its online streaming service for live and recorded operatic, orchestral and ballet performances.
The Berlin State Opera
This prestigious company calls the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, just across the square from Hotel de Rome, it's home. Whilst it’s not currently possible to experience the gilt grandeur of its storied auditorium, the company is streaming live performances online, with a monthly programme including time-honoured classics such as Carmen and Medea, ballet productions including The Nutcracker and symphonic performances such as the Brahms Cycle from Buenos Aires.
What began as a single neoclassical building grew into a collection of five world-class museums, set on an island in the heart of the city. Today, Berlin’s Museum Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Europe’s most celebrated cultural destinations, home to masterpieces ranging from the 3,000-year-old Bust of Nefertiti to the Romantic canvases by German icon Caspar David Friedrich.
In the early 20th century, Munich was a hotbed of artistic innovation. Amid shifting social landscapes, a new school emerged from an intense exchange of ideas that would shape the trajectory of modern art: Der Blaue Reiter, or The Blue Rider. This avant-garde collective left an indelible mark on modern art with their radical departure from tradition and bold exploration of colour and spirituality.
Agrigento’s roots run as deep as the gnarled olive trees that dot its landscape, stretching back over 2,500 years to its founding as Akragas, one of the greatest cities of the ancient Greek world. Set against a breathtaking coastline, this once thriving cultural and political hub was praised by the Greek poet Pindar as “the most beautiful city of mortals”. Today, this splendour is immortalised in the Valley of the Temples.
