FREE Classical Concerts You Can Listen to or Watch Online


With many arts organizations and concert halls closing their doors due to concerns about the coronavirus, there has been a surge in performances offered for free online during the closures. Here is an updated list of great classical concerts and concert libraries that you can enjoy from home. (Updated 4/12/20)

For more listings of classical and other concerts, please head on over to the regularly updated NPR online concert calendar.

SCHEDULE – CLASSICAL CONCERTS

Monday, April 13

11:00 a.m. central — IDAGIO Live: Ivan Fischer: Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 1

Noon central — IDAGIO Live: Premiere of Kirill Gerstein’s #ViewAcrossTheKeyboard

Tuesday, April 14

Noon central — IDAGIO Live: Tuesdays with Thomas Hampson

5:00 p.m. central — From the Top’s Daily Joy: Watch young musicians from around the country perform daily LIVE on From The Top’s Facebook page.

6:30 p.m. central — 92nd Street Y: Marc-Andre Hamelin, piano

Thursday, April 16

Noon central — IDAGIO Live: Thursdays with Thomas Hampson

5:00 p.m. central — From the Top’s Daily Joy: Watch young musicians from around the country perform daily LIVE on From The Top’s Facebook page.

Classical Concerts

Friday, April 17

12:30 p.m. central — IDAGIO Live: Michael Tilson Thomas

5:00 p.m. central — From the Top’s Daily Joy: Watch young musicians from around the country perform daily LIVE on From The Top’s Facebook page.

6:30 p.m. central — 92nd Street Y: Pedja Muzijevic, piano

Saturday, April 18

11:00 a.m. central — IDAGIO Live: Yoel Gamzou: When I feel…

5:00 p.m. central — From the Top’s Daily Joy: Watch young musicians from around the country perform daily LIVE on From The Top’s Facebook page.

8:00 p.m. central — The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra Live Release: Ruth Reinhardt Conducts Schubert’s Fifth Symphony

Sunday, April 19

10:00 a.m. central — Academy of Ancient Music Streaming Sundays: ‘Bach & Haydn’ with Viktoria Mullova and James Hall can be watched on their YouTube channel.

5:00 p.m. central — From the Top’s Daily Joy: Watch young musicians from around the country perform daily LIVE on From The Top’s Facebook page.

Piano

Monday, April 20

11:00 a.m. central — IDAGIO Live: Ana de la Vega

5:00 p.m. central — From the Top’s Daily Joy: Watch young musicians from around the country perform daily LIVE on From The Top’s Facebook page.

6:30 p.m. central — 92nd Street Y: Renana Gutman, piano

Tuesday, April 21

11:00 a.m. central — IDAGIO Live: Tuesdays with Thomas Hampson

5:00 p.m. central — From the Top’s Daily Joy: Watch young musicians from around the country perform daily LIVE on From The Top’s Facebook page.

Thursday, April 23

5:00 p.m. central — From the Top’s Daily Joy: Watch young musicians from around the country perform daily LIVE on From The Top’s Facebook page.

6:30 p.m. central — 92nd Street Y: Julia Hamos, piano

Saturday, April 25

10:00 a.m. central — The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra Live Rebroadcast: Family Concert: Race for the Reef

5:00 p.m. central — From the Top’s Daily Joy: Watch young musicians from around the country perform daily LIVE on From The Top’s Facebook page.

Sunday, April 26

10:00 a.m. central — Academy of Ancient Music Streaming SundaysThe Marriage of Figaro can be watched on their YouTube channel.

5:00 p.m. central — From the Top’s Daily Joy: Watch young musicians from around the country perform daily LIVE on From The Top’s Facebook page.

Cello

Tuesday, April 28

5:00 p.m. central — From the Top’s Daily Joy: Watch young musicians from around the country perform daily LIVE on From The Top’s Facebook page.

6:30 p.m. central — 92nd Street Y: Pamela Frank, violin & Stephen Prutsman, piano

Thursday, April 30

5:00 p.m. central — From the Top’s Daily Joy: Watch young musicians from around the country perform daily LIVE on From The Top’s Facebook page.

6:30 p.m. central — 92nd Street Y: Angela Hewitt, piano

Sunday, May 3

10:00 a.m. central — Academy of Ancient Music Streaming Sundays: ‘The Art of the Lute’ with Thomas Dunford can be watched on their YouTube channel.

5:00 p.m. central — From the Top’s Daily Joy: Watch young musicians from around the country perform daily LIVE on From The Top’s Facebook page.

CONCERT LIBRARIES

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

Stream classical concerts from the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra from the past year, including works by Brahms, Mahler and Beethoven.

Berlin Philharmonic

The Berlin Philharmonic is offering a month of free access to its Digital Concert Hall with code BERLINPHIL. The code is redeemable until March 31.

Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center

Watch hundreds of archived videos and livestreams in their Watch & Listen library.

Classical Concerts

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Watch past performances and videos from musician’s homes on their CSO at Home portal.

Colorado Symphony Orchestra

The ensemble launched their #PlayOn videos on their YouTube channel.

Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Watch videos from the DSO’s extensive video library, which they have made free for the next month.

Eric Christian von Fricken, pianist

Pianist and composer Eric Christian von Fricken has been posting videos daily on his Instagram (@ericchristian).

Google Arts & Culture Virtual Tours

Immerse yourself in amazing venues and performances with Google’s Virtual Tours. Highlights include the Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall and the Royal College of Music.

Israel Philharmonic Orchestra

Watch select classical concerts and videos from the the orchestra’s musicians as they social distance.

Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra

The musicians of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra are virtually creating videos together while social distancing.

Living Room Live

Canada’s classical house concert network is livestreaming concerts every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. central.

London Philharmonic Orchestra

Watch videos from the orchestra’s concert archive, as well as videos created by musicians while social distancing.

London Symphony Orchestra

London Symphony Orchestra’s YouTube channel has over 500 videos of performances and informational lessons.

Classical Concert

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has full concerts on their YouTube channel.

The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Musicians

The musicians of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra have been sharing videos from their homes.

Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra

Watch performances from the ensemble’s watch at home portal.

New York Philharmonic

The ensemble launched NY Phil Plays On, a collection of video broadcasts of past performances.

Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra

The Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra has been posting archived concerts on their Curtain Call video library.

Philharmonie de Paris

Stream archived videos from the Philharmonie de Paris.

Pianist Eric Christian von Fricken

Pianist and composer Eric Christian von Fricken has been posting videos daily on his Instagram (@ericchristian).

Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra

View archived performances on the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra’s Vimeo Channel.

Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra

The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra has a free online concert library, with audio recorded by Classical MPR. Browse past performances and watch with a free account.

Vienna State Opera

The Vienna State Opera is offering a free 30 day trial for their video library.

If plays and musicals are more your things, you can go here for a list of them.