Top Musical Moments During the Covid-19 Pandemic
Cancelled concerts, closed venues, and social distancing certainly hasn’t stopped artists, musicians, and performers from finding new and unlikely ways to spread the power of music. Below, we have put together a list of eight uplifting musical moments from these past few months to add some joy and hope to your day.
Italians Performing from their Balconies
On March 13, quarantined Italians joined in an organized “sound flash mob,” making music from their balconies using whatever instruments they could find. Some sang the Italian national anthem and banged on pots and pans, while other talented musicians recorded themselves playing a variety of songs out their windows. This flash mob reminded communities of music’s ability to lift spirits during times of struggle.
Musician Surprises 2020 Grads
Since many graduates were not able to physically attend a graduation ceremony, one trumpet player in California found a creative way to celebrate them and their accomplishment. He looked for graduation signs on lawns then surprised the grads living there by playing “Pomp and Circumstance” outside their front doors.
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From Us, For You by the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
“Creative forces help us, let’s think outside the box and use innovation to keep our connection and make it work, together,” said members of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. In March, this Dutch orchestra succeeded in thinking outside the box when they came together to put on one of the first virtual concerts during this time, performing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Nineteen musicians recorded their part from home using a click track which unified to create this glorious ode to joy.
Kids Perform from their Porch in Columbus, Ohio
In Columbus, Ohio, two young siblings took it in their own hands to spread the joy of music. The six and nine-year-old kids performed a short cello concert for their elderly neighbor on her front porch, a musical act of kindness that put a smile on our faces.
“Social Distance-SING” Opera Concerts
Through their “Social Distance-SING” concerts, Leah Edwards and Dimitri Pittas of the Holy City Arts & Lyric Opera are reminding their Charleston, South Carolina community of the importance of the arts and live performances. According to their website, they bring their neighbors “as intimate a program as possible using unamplified voices and instruments in an open air setting.”
Easter Performance in an Empty Cathedral
Italian music figure Andrea Bocelli streamed a stunning solo performance in the empty Duomo cathedral of Milan to send an Easter message of healing and love to the world. “Thanks to music, streamed live, bringing together millions of clasped hands everywhere in the world, we will hug this wounded Earth’s pulsing heart,” Bocelli said.
Nashville Couple Performs Balcony Concerts in Italy
A Tennessee couple, formerly musicians for the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, moved to Italy in the fall of 2019 to pursue a simpler life and their travel consulting business. When the national quarantine hit, the couple began playing music from their window and streaming their performances on Facebook every night, providing their neighbors and friends with something to look forward to each day.
Utah Symphony Performances
Of course, we couldn’t forget some of Utah Symphony’s own virtual performances that have kept the music going, including two virtual world premieres: Augusta Read Thomas’ “Fanfare of Hope and Solidarity” and Dai Fujikura’s “Longing from Afar.”
Our musicians are also creating informal Quarantunes concerts, including these wonderful performances of Beethoven’s 5th and 7th Symphonies.
Check out our Listening Room to find more inspiring musical moments, including other Quarantunes, archived recordings, curated playlists, performance clips, and The Ghost Light podcast.
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