Inspired by those quarantined in their apartments in Italy who have been singing and playing instruments to each other from their balconies, and being the complete Italophile that I am, I selected some of my favorite paintings today that followed various memorable Italian holidays to share in solidarity with this inspiring Italian community musical support.

Thank you also to two great Symphony Orchestras who are broadcasting tonight and tomorrow to let their music bring us together in these difficult times. To quote first from the Seattle Symphony: “Seattle Symphony will continue to share our music through free video rebroadcasts and live-streams to help provide strength, comfort and joy to our community here in Seattle and around the world.”

And secondly from The Vancouver Symphony who will broadcast live tomorrow afternoon Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony: “Music and the arts are the heart of our community. We are facing unprecedented times and we need music now more than ever. In the last few days we have seen a global philosophical ‘coming together’ in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19. Ironically, it’s precisely in times of crisis that the human spirit is compelled to come together. The word Symphony in fact means coming together. As such, tomorrow afternoon Maestro Tausk and the musicians of the VSO invite you to come together with us in a virtual finale to BeethovenFest. At 2:00 pm we will livestream Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony “Pastorale” direct from the Orpheum. This is our gift of gratitude to you during this challenging time.”

Details can be found on their web pages.

I hope this will uplift your spirits as much as it has mine.