Turning tips into memories

Get started Login
  • Home
  • Going Out
    • Things to do
    • Food & Drink
    • Theatre
    • Visual Arts
    • Cinema
    • Kids
    • Festival
    • Gigs
    • Dance
    • Classical Music
    • Opera
    • Immersive
    • Talks
  • Staying In
    • TV
    • Books
    • Cook
    • Podcast
    • Design
    • Netflix
  • Life & Style
    • Beauty
    • Fashion
    • Gifting
    • Wellbeing
    • Lifestyle
    • Shopping
    • Jewellery
  • Explore
  • Kids
  • Benefits
  • Membership
  • Get Started
  • Membership
  • Benefits
Get the Best of London Life, Culture and Style
By entering my email I agree to the CultureWhisper Privacy Policy (we won`t share data & you can unsubscribe anytime).
Classical Music

The best opera and classical music to enjoy at home this autumn

By Claudia Pritchard on 22/10/2020

As the nights draw in, an evening at home with the world's finest singers and players is more appealing than ever. For our favourites, click on 'read more'. Some events can be viewed on demand, but look out for one-off performances among dates listed below.

Culture Whisper constantly updates this list as more initiatives launch, keeping Londoners abreast of new ways to enjoy the best music at home.

ENO La Bohème, drive-in live

ENO La Bohème, drive-in live

Last chance to catch English National Opera's innovative and highly praised short-form La Bohème, performed live in September. Puccini's tragic opera took its vehicular look from the car-bound audience, lovers Rodolfo and Mimì falling and failing in love from their trailers. Cast includes soprano Natalya Romaniw, pictured. Streamed on NOW TV, which is full of such goodies, and offers a free seven-day trial.

Read more ...
WHEN
Streamed until 23 October
WHERE
NOW TV; Sky Arts
 Shh! We Have A Plan, English Touring Opera

Shh! We Have A Plan, English Touring Opera

Children's opera based on the Chris Haughton's popular book, and composed by Noah Mosely. Free to view, the 16-minute opera features puppetry as four cartoon hunters endeavour to catch a beautiful, colourful bird. Ideal for three- to five-year-olds.

Read more ...
WHEN
Monday 26 October, from 10am
WHERE
Online
OAE Player: live concerts online

OAE Player: live concerts online

The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment launches its own streaming site, with concerts, masterclasses and backstage insights. Performances include, from Monday 9 November, Roderick Williams (pictured) directing the OAE and as baritone soloist in works by Telemann, Bach and Handel, for whose fleet-of-foot chamber opera Apollo and Daphne he is joined by soprano Rowan Pierce. Also, music and science meet in Bach, the Universe and Everything. Support the OAE with an annual subscription, and access the best early music on demand.

Read more ...
WHEN
From Thursday 22 October
WHERE
Online
Guildhall Music live

Guildhall Music live

It takes more than a pandemic to stop the brilliant younger singers, players and technical crew at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Look out for concerts by the Chamber Orchestra (Friday 23 October, 7:30pm), conducted by Joshua Weilerstein (pictured) and Symphony Orchestra (Saturday 7 November, 7:30pm), using low latency technology – the different sections of the orchestras contribute from different rooms. And catch this operatic triple bill: Mascagni's Zanetto; Wolf-Ferrari's Il Segreto di Susanna (Susanna’s Secret) and Donizetti's Rita (Two Men and a Woman) (four performances, from Monday 2 to Monday 9 November, 7pm).

Read more ...
WHEN
Regular events throughout the autumn
WHERE
Online
Eight Songs From Isolation

Eight Songs From Isolation

Conductor Oliver Zeffman commissioned, curated and conducted the Academy of St Martin in the Fields in this portfolio of new music, composed in response to our changed lives. Contemplations sung by an all-star line-up include Nico Muhly's New-Made Tongue setting words by Thomas Traherne, sung by counter-tenor Iestyn Davies, Helen Grime's setting of Prayer by Carol Ann Duffy, sung by mezzo-soprano Sarah Connolly and Huw Watkins's How, to words by Philip Larkin, sung by tenor Toby Spence. Soprano Sophie Bevan sings Julian Anderson's Le 3 mai, a letter he received during lockdown from composer Ahmed Essyad, sung in French by Sophie Bevan. Enthralling.

Read more ...
WHERE
Apple Music
The Sixteen

The Sixteen & Simon Russell Beale, A Choral Odyssey

Words and music from the top choir, under Harry Christophers, and National Theatre actor Simon Russell Beale, created in five scenic locations and streamed at intervals from Wednesday 18 November. Highlights from London venues include evenings at Our Lady of the Assumption & St Gregory (Wednesday 25 November), the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’s Globe (Wednesday 2 December) and Hatfield House (9 December), concluding with Christmas music (Wednesday 16 and Wednesday 23 December).

Read more ...
WHEN
Wednesday 18 November to Sunday 31 January
WHERE
Online, with subscription. Or pay to view single concerts
Live music lights up the Royal Opera House again. Photo: Luke Hayes

Live opera from ROH Covent Garden

The Royal Opera House continues its live performances from Covent Garden with increasingly ambitious programmes of ballet, instrumental music and song. Catch new and favourite operas and concert pieces with 4/4 for 30 days from Saturday 17 October and New Dark Age from Saturday 24 October.

Read more ...
WHEN
On demand to subscribers, for 30 days after live performance
WHERE
Online
London Symphony Orchestra

LSO St Luke's live concerts

An ambitious season of live concerts given to a small, live audience at LSO St Luke's. If you can't attend in person, watch and listen from home. Highlights include a rush-hour concert at 6pm on Friday 6 November by violinist Christian Tetzlaff (pictured) and friends.

Read more ...
WHEN
Constantly updated and available to all, on various platforms
WHERE
Online
Garsington's 2017 The Marriage of Figaro, Mozart at his finest, and now online. Photo: Mark Douet

Garsington Opera online

Several of the finest productions at Garsington Opera are available online, including Mozart's effervescent comedy The Marriage of Figaro (pictured) one of the big hits of the 2017 season. Don't miss the mysterious The Skating Rink or Benjamin Britten's ghostly The Turn of the Screw.

Read more ...
WHERE
Online
Aurora Orchestra under Nicholas Collon enjoy the drama of Berlioz. Photo: BBC/Mark Allan

Aurora Play: orchestral concerts online

Aurora Orchestra is one of London's most dynamic orchestras. Under conductor Nicholas Collon, it constantly rethinks masterworks in the classical repertoire and explores the best new music. Here the musicians launch a new digital concert season, featuring Beethoven, Mozart and Beethoven, alongside modernists Nico Muhly, Anna Meredith and Brett Dean. Don't miss Beethoven's Eroica Symphony No 3 played from memory.

Read more ...
WHEN
On demand
WHERE
Online
Opera and Concerts on Arte

Opera and Concerts on Arte

Opera houses and concert halls Europe-wide are within reach though EU-funded Arte, an ever-changing treasure trove of performances and documentaries in English or another European language of your choice. Register free, and build your own library, or dip in to new programmes. Currently on offer, a witty, modern-dress Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte from Salzburg.

Read more ...
WHEN
Continuing
WHERE
Online
OperaVision

OperaVision

Sign up free to this Belgium-based international opera library, and you can help yourself to productions from all over the world, with new ones added almost daily. Coming soon, Garsington Opera's Fidelio, recorded live this autumn, with Katherine Broderick and Toby Spence (pictured).

Read more ...
WHEN
Constantly updated and available free
WHERE
Online
Nicola Benedetti is one of the many world-class artists playing on the classical jukebox Concert Roulette. Photo: Chris Christodoulou

Concert Roulette: your classical jukebox

Solo artists and ensembles all over the world have come together as if on a single platform, playing concert favourites, overlooked music and contemporary sounds. 'Spin the wheel' and discover something new or spend time with an old friend.

Read more ...
WHERE
Online
Radio 3

BBC Radio 3

Round the clock, BBC Radio 3 features live and recorded performances, music-based interviews, features and documentaries. Our favourite: Composer of the Week, weekdays, 12pm-1pm, revealing a life and its work, and In Tune, weekdays, 5pm-7pm, with studio performances from exciting young artists such as Thomas Gould (pictured).

Read more ...
BBC Culture in Quarantine: music, drama and art

BBC Culture in Quarantine: music, drama and art

A hugely increased appetite for classical music during lockdown is fed by the BBC's addition to its Culture in Quarantine programme on television, on radio and online. Orchestral, chamber music and solo recitals are featured, as well as documentaries and landmark archive performances. We love the Royal Festival Hall concert, recorded by Chineke! orchestra (pictured) in September.

Read more ...
WHEN
Constantly updated and available to all
WHERE
Online
Royal Opera House classics

Royal Opera House

Many of the finest productions at Covent Garden are available on DVD, on the Opus Arte label. Recent favourites include Ermonela Jaho in a five-star Verdi's La Traviata (pictured), but the list runs into hundreds. You can even compare and contrast different productions.

Read more ...
Glyndebourne Festival Opera's production of Donizetti's Don Pasquale is on Marquee TV

Marquee TV for opera and dance

A fantastic music library of opera and concerts features both British orchestras and companies such a Glyndebourne Festival Opera (pictured) and leading international productions and ensembles. New titles are added all the time, and you enjoy a free 30-day trial before committing to a subscription at around £9 a month,

Read more ...
WHERE
Online
takt1: live streamed and archive classics

takt1: live streamed and archive classics

For 30 days a free trial with streaming service takt1 will open the doors of the world's concert halls and opera houses, both for live performances and for memorable evenings from concerts past. We love Martha Argerich (pictured) and the Staatskapelle Berlin under Zubin Mehta in Ravel's Piano Concerto, and a dynamic Stravinsky Rite of Spring.

Read more ...
WHEN
Constantly updated and available on subscription
WHERE
Online
Share:

Royal Opera House

London Symphony Orchestra

BBC

You may also like:


  • English National Opera on stage for Mozart's Requiem. Photo: Clive Barda

    Mozart's Requiem, English National Opera, BBC Two review: ★★★★★

  • Back in business: concert venue St John's Smith Square. Photo: Jamie Lumley

    St John's Smith Square live concerts: autumn dates

  • The Academy of St Martin in the Fields plays to a live audience this autumn. Photo: Benjamin Ealovega

    Academy of St Martin in the Fields, live autumn concerts

  • Francesca Chiejina is the soprano soloist in Messiah on 15 Dec. Photo: Charles Chiejina

    Christmas music: live at the Royal Albert Hall

  • Apollo pursues Daphne in Handel's chamber opera. Photo: Tristram Kenton

    4/4, Royal Opera House: review ★★★★★

  • Aurora Orchestra move outdoors to play Beethoven on Mon 7 Sept. Photo: Mark Allan

    Live autumn concerts, opera and chamber music

Your update on what’s on in London from theatre to visual arts, from fashion to pop-ups and more…
minimum six characters
 
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
Your update on what’s on in London from theatre to visual arts, from fashion to pop-ups and more…
You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter. Stay tuned! (And check your email).


  • The Culture Whisper team
  • What is Culture Whisper membership
  • Corporate membership
  • Give a gift membership
  • Retrieve a gift membership
  • Contact us
  • Press
  • FAQ
  • Privacy
  • Terms and conditions
  • Cookies
  • Discover
  • Venues
  • Restaurants
  • Stations
  • Boroughs
✕ ✕
Turning tips into memories
Login
Signup

You have reached the limit of free articles.


To enjoy unlimited access to Culture Whisper sign up for FREE.
Find out more about Culture Whisper


Sign up by Email or Facebook.

Please fix the following input errors:

  • dummy

Each week, we sent newsletters and communication featuring articles, our latest tickets invitations, and exclusive offers.

Occasional information about discounts, special offers and promotions.


OR
LOG IN

OR
  • LOG IN WITH FACEBOOK

Thanks for signing up to Culture Whisper.
Please check your inbox for a confirmation email and click the link to verify your account.



EXPLORE CULTURE WHISPER
✕ ✕
Turning tips into memories
Login
Signup

Please fix the following input errors:

  • dummy
Forgot your username or password?
Don't have an account? Sign Up

OR
  • LOG IN WITH FACEBOOK

If you click «Log in with Facebook» and are not a Culture Whisper user, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and to our Privacy Policy, which includes our Cookie Use

Sign up to CW’s newsletter
By entering my email I agree to the CultureWhisper Privacy Policy (we won`t share data & you can unsubscribe anytime).
×