Now More than Ever The Arts Need You
Beyond the Stage / Ideas and Insights

From the Archive: Now, More Than Ever

Playlists that kept us connected during the pandemic.
July 10, 2022

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While a number of the videos linked in this series are no longer active, we have preserved the original playlists and the associated introductions and commentary that accompanied them during their initial launch.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

  • Now, More Than Ever: After Dark

Issue 34 (August 20)

In this issue: Our first “After Dark” edition of Now, More Than Ever, celebrates the sweet and funny, decidedly offbeat, edgy, odd, and out-and-out raunchy elements of artistic expression [...]

  • Barbara Bonney and Anne Sofie von Otter in R. Strauss' "Presentation of the Rose" Scene from Der Rosenkavalier, Op. 59

Issue 33 (August 17)

In this issue: We explore the most beautiful moments in 20th-century music, and beyond, including R. Strauss’s “Presentation of the Rose” Scene from Der Rosenkavalier, Op. 59; Messiaen’s “Jardin du [...]

  • Pianist Keith Jarrett Performs Gershwin's "Summertime"

Issue 32 (August 13)

In this issue: Pianist Keith Jarrett performs Gershwin’s “Summertime;” Catalyst Quartet performs “Strum;” Damien Sneed explains the history of Gospel; an excerpt of Kirov Ballet performing Swan Lake; Haïg Sarikouyoumdjian on [...]

  • Sheku & Isata Kanneh-Mason performing “The Swan” from Le carnaval des animaux

Issue 30 (August 3)

In this issue: Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason guest curates this special edition of Now, More Than Ever. […]

  • Timo Andres performing “How can I live in your world of ideas?”

Issue 29 (July 27)

In this issue: Pianist Timo Andres performing “How can I live in your world of ideas?”; an excerpt from Cappella Mediterranea’s production of Rameau’s Les indes galantes; pianist Martha Argerich [...]

  • Yoann Bourgeois performing to Debussy's "Clair de lune" played by Alexandre Tharaud

Issue 28 (July 23)

In this issue: acrobat/dancer Yoann Bourgeois performs to Debussy’s “Clair de lune;” Janine Jansen performs Saint-Saëns’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso with the Berlin Philharmonic; vocalist La Caíta performs “El pájaro [...]

  • Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

Issue 27 (July 20)

In this issue: We shine a spotlight on the great 19th-century Austrian composer Franz Schubert (1797–1828). […]

  • Martha Argerich performing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15

Issue 26 (July 16)

In this issue: Martha Argerich performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15; Lacrimosa from Jean-Baptiste Lully’s De profundis performed by Cappella Mediterranea, Chœur de Chambre de [...]

  • A Far Cry Chamber Orchestra performing Tchaikovsky's First Movement from Serenade for Strings, Op. 48

Issue 25 (July 13)

In this issue: A Far Cry Chamber Orchestra performing Tchaikovsky’s First Movement from Serenade for Strings, Op. 48; soprano Ana María Martínez performing with the Cellos of the Berlin Philharmonic [...]

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