Best of 2020 Playlist

About the Playlist

December 10, 2020

2020: The Playlist. What might that sound like?

Thanks to the musicians, composers, community and staff members, students, and other members of our extended family who have curated the 39 playlists that so far encompass our Collective Listening Project, the answer is more uplifting than one might imagine. We have selected highlights from each playlist, extending back to the start of the pandemic last March. And that trip down memory lane revealed intimate reflections from artists we missed hearing on our stage; musical markings of time—summer road trips, the start of the school year; and responses to loss both public—the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and pianist Leon Fleisher—and deeply personal—the sudden death of our beloved production manager, Bryan Logan. Through it all, music has comforted, inspired, and connected us, serving as the constant solace in an inconsolable year.

As you listen to the 2020 Playlist, you’ll hear that our curators frequently returned to the universal embrace of J. S. Bach’s music, with Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, and Nina Simone often joining the group hug as well. And we would love to know who the musical constants in your lives are during the holiday season. Please use this form to share your favorite holiday music with us. Some of our most memorable playlists are a result of your participation—thank you for continuing the tradition!

In the meantime, happy listening, and happy end-of-2020!