COVID-19 Confinement Inspires Art, Music, and Poetry Initiatives Worldwide

The fourth installment of artpress's #CultureChezVous series highlights cultural responses to COVID-19 confinement. Chilean writer Luis Sepúlveda died on April 16, 2020, at age 70 from COVID-19; his last text, 'Chili, l'oasis asséché,' was published in Le Monde diplomatique in December 2019. Philosopher Michel Onfray offers free philosophy courses online via his web TV. The Théâtre de la Ville provides poetic and scientific consultations by phone, featuring actors like those from Emmanuel Demarcy-Mota's troupe. André Dussolier read Céline's thesis on Semmelweis on France Culture's 'Lectures du soir' on April 15. Summer festivals including Les Vieilles Charrues, Festival d'Avignon, Printemps de Bourges, Hellfest, and Printemps des comédiens were canceled; the 72nd Festival d'Aix-en-Provence explores streaming options. Paul McCartney's 1970 solo album 'McCartney' is noted. Lady Gaga organized 'One World: Together at Home' on April 18, featuring 70 artists, raising $127 million for the WHO COVID-19 fund, viewed by 17 million. The Metropolitan Opera invited 40 artists for an 'At-Home Gala' on April 25. Singer Christophe died on April 16-17; a documentary by Stéphane Berthomieux aired on France 3 on April 20 and 24. David Hockney, confined in Normandy since March 3, creates iPad drawings of spring, including 'Do remember they can’t cancel the Spring.' The Vienna State Opera gave a concert on April 19 featuring Jonas Kaufmann and Juan Diego Flórez.