RLPO takes concerts online to bring classical cheer to audiences

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic’s season may have been cut short because of Covid-19, but Phil fans are being offered a host of musical goodies online instead.

The organisation has launched a Live From Liverpool Philharmonic Hall digital programme of videos and recordings across a range of online channels.

Since the Hope Street venue shut its doors in March, its weekly classical concert recordings have enjoyed 313,000 video views which Phil bosses say means the orchestra is reaching more people than in a traditional season. Music fans are regularly tuning in from across the world.

Now it has announced an extension in its online offer, with concerts being broadcast on its Facebook page on two evenings a week along with a Sunday afternoon.

Tuesday night programmes will feature videos from contemporary artists who regularly perform at the Philharmonic Hall including The Real Thing, Irish Sea Sessions and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, introduced by the artists themselves where possible.

Thursday nights at 7.30pm and Sunday afternoons at 2.30pm showcase video from the archives of past performances by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as chamber music concerts by musicians from the orchestra.

Meanwhile the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic’s Spotify page will feature playlists curated by chief conductor Vasily Petrenko and artists the organisation works, while its YouTube channel includes archival video of past concerts and artist interviews.

And previously unreleased recordings from RLPO concerts will be made available to stream on the liverpoolphil.com website each Friday.