Royal Opera to New York Met: the best live-streamed classical concerts this week

19 May 2020, 14:22 | Updated: 20 May 2020, 11:52

As lockdown continues in many corners of the globe, we’ve compiled the best free online opera and classical concerts to keep you entertained this week.

From Puccini operas to Shostakovich concertos, there’s a whole host of virtual performances coming our way over the next few days, helping to bring some musical joy amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Although the New York Metropolitan Opera’s 2019-2020 season would usually be over at this time of the year, we’re now being treated to a tenth week of free daily shows. These will take place daily at 7.30pm EDT (00.30pm BST) and will be available to watch for 23 hours only (see line-up below).

The Royal Opera House will also be live-streaming a spectacular production of Massenet’s Cinderella, to bring a touch of magic to your home (and keep the little ones happy).

Read on for this week’s full roundup...

Read more: The best classical music and opera live streams available online >

The Metropolitan Opera Trailer

Monday 18 May

Mozart’s Idomeneo, Metropolitan Opera Live in HD – Starring Nadine Sierra, Elza van den Heever, Alice Coote and Matthew Polenzani.
Available: Until 6.30 pm EDT (11.30pm BST) on Tuesday 19 May
Visit: metopera.org and Met Opera on Demand app

Tuesday 19 May

Jennifer Pike in concert – the English violin virtuoso is posting pieces performed in concerts over the years, starting with Miklós Rózsa’s Variations on a Hungarian Peasant Song, recorded at Wigmore Hall with Martin Roscoe.
Available: Every Tuesday at 4pm BST
Visit: Facebook

Wagner’s Lohengrin, Metropolitan Opera Live in HD – Starring Eva Marton, Leonie Rysanek, Peter Hofmann, Leif Roar and John Macurdy.
Available: Until 6.30 pm EDT (11.30pm BST) on Wednesday 20 May
Visit: metopera.org and Met Opera on Demand app

RCM Symphony Orchestra: Thomas Zehetmair conducts Dvořák Symphony no 8

Wednesday 20 May

Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8 – join conductor Thomas Zehetmair as he leads the RCM Symphony Orchestra in the composer’s rousing 1889 symphony.
Available: From 7pm BST
Visit: YouTube

Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera, Metropolitan Opera Live in HD – Starring Sondra Radvanovsky, Kathleen Kim, Stephanie Blythe, Marcelo Álvarez and Dmitri Hvorostovsky.
Available: Until 6.30 pm EDT (11.30pm BST) on Thursday 21 May
Visit: metopera.org and Met Opera on Demand app

Isata Kanneh-Mason – the young Decca-signed pianist will be performing an online recital of Beethoven, Gershwin and Chopin in aid of the music education charity London Music Masters.
Available: From 7pm BST
Visit: londonmusicmasters.org

The Met Opera 2018

Thursday 21 May

Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 6 and Britten’s Four Sea Interludes – performed by the London Symphony Orchestra.
Available: 7.30pm BST
Visit: lso.co.uk

Puccini’s Turandot, Metropolitan Opera Live in HD – Starring Christine Goerke, Eleonora Buratto, Yusif Eyvazov and James Morris.
Available: Until 6.30 pm EDT (11.30pm BST) on Friday 22 May
Visit: metopera.org and Met Opera on Demand app

Friday 22 May

Massenet’s Cinderella, The Royal Opera House – As part of its #OurHouseToYourHouse series, the ROH is sharing a 2011 broadcast of the late French composer’s exquisite fairytale opera. Starring Joyce DiDonato in the title role, the show will also treat audiences to Laurent Pelly’s touching staging and spectacular storybook designs.
Available: From 7pm BST
Visit: YouTube and Facebook

Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Metropolitan Opera Live in HD – a 1978 broadcast of the late composer’s raucous opera, starring Gabriel Bacquier, Joan Sutherland as Donna Anna and James Morris as the debauched lead character.
Available: Until 6.30 pm EDT (11.30pm BST) on Saturday 23 May
Visit: metopera.org and Met Opera on Demand app

Alfie Boe joins musical theatre supergroup for song in appreciation of NHS

Saturday, May 23

Gounod’s Faust, Metropolitan Opera Live in HD – Starring Marina Poplavskaya, Jonas Kaufmann, Russell Braun and René Pape.
Available: Until 6.30 pm EDT (11.30pm BST) on Sunday 24 May
Visit: metopera.org and Met Opera on Demand app

Sunday, May 24

Massenet’s Manon, Metropolitan Opera Live in HD – Starring Anna Netrebko, Piotr Beczała and Paulo Szot.
Available: Until 6.30 pm EDT (11.30pm BST) on Monday 25 May
Visit: metopera.org and Met Opera on Demand app