Arts and cultural institutions go digital in wake of latest outbreak

Shanghai's art institutions and other cultural facilities have introduced a colorful assortment of online events as the latest COVID-19 outbreak in the city has forced performances and exhibitions to come to a halt.

Since Mar 12, the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center has been presenting a high-definition screening of one of the plays from its repertoire on its Weibo platform every evening at 7:30.

The first play Uncle Vanya was viewed 446,000 times and had proved so popular that many viewers requested for an encore.

"Seeing a play every day would help to alleviate the anxiety of community lockdown," commented one person.

"I'll look forward to the day when the dark clouds disperse, and we can go back to the theater."

The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra had initially planned to present a series of Mozart Wonder Box concerts this year. Due to the latest outbreak, the orchestra has selected 20 pieces from its recordings and put together an online collection of Mozart's works instead, said Zhou Ping, director of the 143-year-old orchestra.

"We had to cancel our upcoming concerts, but we do not want to stop playing music for the public," said Zhou. "We hope audiences will enjoy these highlight episodes, and when life goes back to normal, they can come to the live concerts better prepared."

Aside from the Mozart series, SSO has uploaded to the Digital Concert Hall on its official website dozens of its most popular repertoires.

In 2020, SSO Online launched a virtual classroom in which its principal instrumentalists conduct classes for the public. This year, the orchestra has expanded its public educational program and invited musicians to recommend and interpret classical compositions.

Shanghai Library has also taken its book reading events online, and the Shanghai Museum will host a virtual tour at 7 pm on Mar 18, when director of the museum Yang Zhigang will introduce its new exhibition featuring donated objects.