Opera Online - Our Lockdown Highlights

Written by Josephine Walbank

Having previously secured tickets to see your favourite show on stage, you might now be looking for something to ease your disappointment. Or, you might be trying to kill some time in an afternoon and want to try out something new (it's what lockdown's for, after all).

In the place of getting to go out and watch a performance in person, the internet has, yet again, pulled through in these challenging times. A huge number of organisations and performers are currently spinning a positive on the present situation, to provide something beautiful for everyone stuck at home. 

Pick your place to get your online culture fix with this line-up of wonderful shows, performances, documentaries and platforms. Grab a cuppa plus a plate of biscuits and settle down for a makeshift opera viewing - lockdown style.

Royal Opera House

The Royal Opera House has announced that it will be offering a huge online programme of broadcasts, behind-the-scenes peeks, masterclasses and insights, plus a schedule of live content, all freely available. Check out their YouTube channel for a haul of performances (with titles including Acis and Galatea, Cosi fan tutte and Gloriana) in full.

Opera Magazine

The world's leading opera magazine has announced that it will be opening up its online archive for its subscribers, with digital editions of its magazine (dating all the way back to 1950) now available to read online at your leisure.

Rogue Opera

Keep your eyes peeled for Rogue Opera's next free live stream event, available for all to watch online from the comfort of home. 

OperaVision

OperaVision has received support from the European Commission to provide an online library full of superb-quality performances. Plus, its bank of features and interviews are sure to provide you with an interesting read. 

The Met Opera

Keeping all of us entertained at home with their Nightly Met Opera Streams. Their aim is 'to brighten the lives of our audience members even while our stage is dark.' Check out their website every night for a new addition from their Live in HD series. 

Opera North

Opera North have stated that, in the face of this pandemic, they are 'determined to use music to enhance the lives of our audiences wherever they may be.' They are, thus, sharing a range of their performances online with their audiences and 'connecting people through the powerful shared experience of music and opera.'

Love Never Dies

The Love Never Dies theatre company's website is providing free access to three of its archived performances. 

The National Theatre

From the sofa, you can now watch a huge range of shows from The National Theatre, thanks to its newly introduced platform designed for lockdown-viewing. Just check out their YouTube channel (titles include Twelfth Night featuring Friday Night Dinner's Tamsin Greig).

The Globe

The Globe is striving to encourage us to make the most out of being trapped indoors. It has released a whopping 40 titles (including 34 from the 'Globe to Globe' international series) for you to watch online, absolutely free. 

The RSC

The RSC have teamed up with the BBC to provide recordings of six of their fantastic stage shows for free through BBC iPlayer. 

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Andrew Lloyd Webber remains the showman, even amidst lockdown. He is providing both personal at-home shows and recordings of his musicals, all for free online.

Northern Ballet

As part of its 'Pay as you Feel Digital Season', The Northern Ballet company is uploading its performances online. Shows available to watch include 1984, Little Red Riding Hood and Geisha - granting audiences a free ticket to these classic, prestigious shows. 

Just as an important note to add, if you do take the opportunity to watch these stunning performances for free, please consider donating to the wonderful organisations behind them, where possible, in order to help support the arts through this extremely challenging time.