From the Archive: Now, More Than Ever
Video and Audio Collections Curated by Jeremy Geffen
During the initial period of challenges created by the global COVID-19 pandemic, Cal Performances launched multiple seasons of online streamed performances via Cal Performances at Home, which was extremely successful and reached audiences throughout the world when we could not have live audiences.
Even before we were able to mobilize Cal Performances at Home, though, beginning in March 2020, Executive and Artistic Director Jeremy Geffen began curating Now, More Than Ever playlists of video performances by great artists past and present. These provided audiences free ongoing contact with the performing arts during a time when gathering together was not possible. The series grew to over 60 issues featuring upwards of 300 performances.
Three playlists were contributed by guest curators: classical singer Julia Bullock, mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, and cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason. Now, More Than Ever served as a reminder of the performing arts’ unsurpassed ability to express the power and potential of the human spirit and encouraged viewers to make time each day for the arts.
While a number of the videos linked in this series are no longer active, we have preserved the original playlists and the associated introductions and commentary that accompanied them during their initial launch. You can view all of the issues below.
Now, More than Ever Archive
Issue 54 (February 11)
Celebrating Black History Month with Mozart’s “Durch Zärtlichkeit und Schmeicheln” performed by Reri Grist; Excerpt from Im schwarzen Rössl performed by Katherine Dunham; Balm in Gilead performed by Alicia Graf Mack [...]
Issue 53 (February 4)
Selections of Purcell’s “When I am laid in earth” (“Dido’s Lament”) from Dido and Aeneas featuring Janet Baker, soprano and London Philharmonic Orchestra; Jessye Norman, soprano and Orchestra of St. Luke’s; [...]
Issue 52 (January 21)
In this issue: Sibelius’ Nightride and Sunrise performed by Frankfurt Radio Symphony; After the Rain choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon and performed by Suzanne Danco and Guido Agosti; Bernstein/Lerner’s “Take Care [...]
Issue 51 (January 15)
In this issue: Georgs Pelēcis’ New Year’s Music performed by Timo Andres; Schumann’s “Aus alten Märchen winkt es” from Dichterliebe, Op. 48 performed by Suzanne Danco and Guido Agosti; Weill’s [...]
Issue 50 (December 30)
In this issue: Paganini’s La campanella from Violin Concerto No. 2 in B minor, Op. 7 performed by Ivry Gitlis and Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra; E. Marsalis’ “Twelve’s It” performed [...]
Issue 49 (December 18)
In this issue: Bach’s “Flößt, mein Heiland” from Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248; Corelli’s Concerto grosso in G minor, Op. 6, No. 8, Christmas Concerto performed by Freiburger Barokorchester; John Adams’ [...]
Issue 48 (December 11)
In this issue: “Waltz of the Snowflakes” from The Hard Nut in 360° choreographed by Mark Morris and performed by Mark Morris Dance Group; Debussy’s “The Snow is Dancing” (from [...]
Issue 47 (December 2)
In this issue: Sibelius’ Allegro moderato from Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47 performed by Camilla Wicks and Stockholm Radio Symphony Orchestra; Miriam Makeba and Jerry Rogovoy’s “Pata Pata” performed [...]
Issue 46 (November 20)
In this issue: Wolf’s “Auch kleine Dinge” from Italienisches Liederbuch performed by Diana Damrau and Helmut Deutsch; Mahler’s Adagietto from Symphony No. 5 performed by Lucerne Festival Orchestra; Johnson’s Adagio from [...]
Issue 45 (November 13)
In this issue: Bach’s Opening Chorus from Cantata 66, Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen performed by Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists; Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from Carousel performed [...]