Europe
2020.03.25 03:29 GMT+8

Entertainment moves online amid COVID-19 lockdowns

Updated 2020.03.25 03:29 GMT+8
Catherine Newman

 

Public events have been cancelled and social spaces have been closed across Europe in an effort to fight the spread of COVID-19. 

Life and entertainment is now becoming increasingly virtual with gigs, cooking lessons and exhibitions being shared online. 

CGTN Europe has listed just some of the highlights of online entertainment and activities that are being organized throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.  

 

Music 

"Together At Home" is a virtual concert series, which was launched by Global Citizen and the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with many musicians. The series hopes to relax people's minds and bring them joy and a sense of shared humanity – particularly during this time of public shutdowns and social distancing. 

The online events also allow people across the globe to take action to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by making donations online to the COVID-19 solidarity response.  

Some of the acts that have performed for people to enjoy at home on their devices are Coldplay's Chris Martin, Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes, and John Legend. 

 

Exercise 

Online fitness instructor Joe Wicks, otherwise known as "The Body Coach," is live-streaming daily workouts for children to keep fit at home. Wicks is broadcasting 30-minute fitness exercises every day from his living room in an effort to improve the health of children who are no longer attending school and are stuck at home. 

Many gyms are also running online classes for existing customers through their apps, such as PureGym and Virgin Active. 

"I'm going to be the nation's PE teacher" said Wicks when he announced his online fitness classes last week. People have not only been exercising with Wicks in the UK, but from across the world. On his Instagram, Wicks said that one of his live workout videos reached a peak of 954,000 live viewers, which equates to 37 years of total watch time. 

Of course, there is also a never-ending stream of fitness and workout videos that you can access on YouTube in order to stay active even under your own roof. 

 

Cooking 

Michelin-starred chef Massimo Bottura has launched "Kitchen Quarantine", showing viewers how to eat well at home from his Instagram page every evening at 20:00 local time. Some of the recipes you can learn to make include besciamella sauce, Japanese soup and Thai curry. Sweeter recipes also include chocolate sauce. 

There are also wine-tasting classes running online, such as those being hosted on instagram by Quality Wines in Farringdon every evening at 18:00. Wine expert, Caroline Conner, is also holding wine-education classes via the webcam app, Zoom, which you can sign up to online.

 

Arts and Theater 

Google Arts & Culture has partnered with 2,000 museums in more than 80 countries to present exhibitions you can enjoy from the comfort of your sofa or bed. The website also offers virtual tours of famous tourist sites, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Palace of Versailles and Easter Island. 

There are also art collections are on display, showing some of the finest works in the world, including Van Gogh's Terrace of a Café at night, and the Faces of Frida exhibition. Harry Potter: A History of Magic is another popular exhibition you can get lost in thanks to your tablet or laptop and is suitable for all of the family to enjoy at home.  

The Opéra National de Paris has also made some of its ballet and opera performances available online. Don Giovanni is currently available for streaming on its website until 29 March and Il Barbiere di Siviglia will be available from 6 April. 

You can find out more about all of the internet events taking place at The Social Distancing Festival online directory. 

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