BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
Many theatrical venues around the world have closed or banned live audiences due to the novel coronavirus. Yet the world is beginning to adapt to this new phenomenon.
Everyone from Coldplay’s Chris Martin, John Legend and other stars are performing free virtual concerts because of COVID-19, while U2 frontman Bono debuted a new song streaming live from Facebook. Until the pandemic ends and people return to live theatre experience, these concerts are regarded as test cases for the future, with more shows and new release films tipped to migrate online.
“A lot of artists have decided they want to make staying home a little bit easier for everybody,” says Legend.
Even in the world of sports, where many events have been cancelled and stadiums are mostly empty of fans, games of various codes are still being played, streamed online or screened live on television.
The Danubia Orchestra Óbuda embraced this pioneering new spirit when they performed at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest, Hungary. When the Hungarian government banned events hosting more than 100 people in order to slow the spread of COVID-19, the orchestra played without an physical audience: however, the show, which featured a selection of Haydn, Kurtág and Dvořák, was watched by thousands via a free video stream.
The online response was reportedly both grateful and enthusiastic.
Not even the coronavirus, it seems, can stop the music.