A few years ago I subscribed to the Berlin Philharmonic app on my Apple TV. It gave me access to performances of hundreds of pieces of music by that orchestra by a wide range of conductors. The app was reasonably well designed, as I could opt for performances of complete concert programs or select individual works, and it had lots of interviews with the conductors in multiple languages with subtitles in English.

The only problem was that the subscription cost a bit more than I wanted to pay; so after a year I dropped it. I checked on it again the other evening and the the monthly cost is $19.99 although there is a yearly discount. Still more than I want to pay.

So I looked to see what else was available. There are quite a few. I opted for Live from Orchestra Hall, an app from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra that has several years’ worth of their concerts.

The app is available on iOS as well as the Apple TV, so owners of iPads and iPhones can access it also. (I understand it’s on other platforms too, but I haven’t verified that.) The Detroit Symphony Orchestra may not have the reputation that the Berlin Philharmonic has, but it’s definitely a first class orchestra, and the app is not quite as polished as the Berlin’s app is, but it still is reasonably easy to navigate.

Plus, it has one feature that the Berlin’s does not have. It’s free.

At least I’ve watched several concerts already and it hasn’t prompted me for money yet. It does offer live streams of upcoming concerts in the fall, and perhaps there’s a charge for those, I don’t know.

Anyway, I thought I’d bring it to the attention of any fellow classical music lovers who haven’t already discovered it.