Renowned German record label, Deutsche Grammophon, to start online streaming

Clockwise from top left: Rudolf Buchbinder; Grigory Sokolov; Alice Sara Ott; John Williams with Anne-Sophie Mutter and the Vienna Philharmonic; Ludovico Einaudi; and Víkingur Ólafsson. [UNIVERSAL MUSIC KOREA]

Deutsche Grammophon, the renowned German record label, is now on the list of platforms streaming online concerts during the coronavirus pandemic -- a time in which the world's most best musicians are stuck at home with empty schedules.

But unlike other streaming services, the label’s DG Stage is a premium outlet featuring exclusively produced full-length classical concerts.

“Thanks to the amazing energy and creativity of our artists, our partners and the team here at DG, we’re now able to stage a hugely attractive and varied online festival this summer via our new DG Stage portal,” explained Dr. Clemens Trautmann, who is the president of Deutsche Grammophon. “This means that despite concert cancellations, music-lovers will still have the opportunity to enjoy high-quality, tailor-made event programming – this is something we’re very proud to present.”

According to DG Stage, which began its service on June 28 with pianist Alice Sara Ott’s performance of Debussy, Satie and Chopin, at least one ticketed event will be scheduled per week. Following Ott on July 3 is Víkingur Ólafsson’s homage to Mozart with the Konzerthausorchester Berlin and Christoph Eschenbach.

Other DG Stage highlights include Hollywood legend John Williams with Anne-Sophie Mutter and the Vienna Philharmonic on July 10. French-Mexican tenor Rolando Villazón and harpist Xavier de Maistre will present a program of Latin American songs on July 16, and French tenor Benjamin Bernheim will perform a selection of French songs on July 19.

Italian pianist Ludovico Einaudi, whose concert in Korea was canceled due to the coronavirus, will have a performance on July 24.

While a date has not yet been set, star Korean pianist Cho Seong-jin will also appear sometime in the near future.

Opera lovers can enjoy an open-air production of Puccini’s “Tosca” staged at the Piazza del Plebiscito in Naples by the Teatro San Carlo, which will star Anna Netrebko, Yusif Eyvazov and Ludovic Tézier on July 30.

DG Stage will also host a virtual edition of the 2020 Bayreuth Festival for five weeks staring on July 25.

Tickets for DG Stage performances can be purchased online. Prices vary depending on the content but range from 7,000 won ($6) to 18,000 won. Videos are available at www.dg-premium.com.

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [sharon@joongang.co.kr]