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While a number of the videos linked in this series are no longer active, we have preserved the original playlists and the associated introductions and commentary that accompanied them during their initial launch.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 24 (July 9)
In this issue: Jake Shimabukuro’s ukulele cover of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody; soprano Leontyne Price, soprano and bass-baritone Simon Estes performing Aida and Amonasro’s Duet from Aida; choreographer Camille A. Brown’s [...]
Issue 23 (July 6)
In this issue: Berlioz’s Dies irae and Tuba mirum from Requiem, Op. 5 conducted by Sir Colin Davis; vocalist Sarah Vaughan performing “Once in a While”; Nicolas Krassik & Cordestinos [...]
Issue 22 (July 1)
In this issue: Classical singer Julia Bullock guest curates this special edition of Now, More Than Ever. […]
Issue 21 (June 25)
In this issue: Choreographer Bintou Dembélé revamps Les indes galantes; Ustad Amjad Ali Khan’s performance at the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize Concert; Blind Willie McTell’s “Statesboro Blues”; soprano Karita Mattila [...]
Issue 20 (June 22)
In this issue: Violinist Kyung-Wha Chung performs Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26; Mezzo-soprano Grace Bumbry performs Bizet’s Seguedille from Carmen; Pianists Martha Argerich and Evgeny [...]
Issue 19 (June 18)
In this issue: Donald Byrd’s Greenwood performed by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; Thomas Adès’ “O Albion” performed by Endellion Quartet; Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides, Now;” Charles-Marie Widor’s Toccata from [...]
Issue 18 (June 12)
In this issue: Soprano Julia Bullock performs an excerpt from Purcell’s The Indian Queen; vocalist and flutist Nathalie Joachim performs alongside Spektral Quartet; pianist Aaron Diehl performs Duke Ellington’s “Single Petal [...]
Issue 17 (June 4)
In this issue: A relatively short musical journey between Germany and the Balkans and features some truly marvelous performances, including work from Benjamin Millipied, the Oscar Peterson Trio, Lucia Popp, [...]
Issue 16 (June 1)
In this issue: In times of upheaval, we have always found it helpful—indeed, necessary—to come together and raise our voices in song. […]
Issue 15 (May 28)
In this issue: Rossini’s “Pensa alla Patria” from L’Italiana in Algeri performed by mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne; “Mystery of Love” by Sufjan Stevens; “Neurotic and Lonely” from Craigslistlieder by Gabriel Kahane; an [...]