It's always nice to get something for nothing, especially something as enriching as great music. And outreach projects increasingly mean that there are amazing freebies to be had. We've collated five of the best current and upcoming offers for you. But just remember, outreach means just that--these organizations are reaching out for your support, so if you enjoy their gifts, do consider returning for more of their offerings, even if means parting with some of your hard-earned cash!

FREE: Verdi Requiem stream from Riccardo Muti and Chicago Symphony, October 10

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra's famed music director is one of the great Verdi conductors of our time and, on the exact bicentenary date of the composer's birth, Muti and his Chicago players will stream their sell-out concert online. The live videocast--the orchestra's first--starts 7:30 p.m. Chicago time and can be viewed at CSO.org/Verdi, RiccardoMutiMusic.com and the CSO's Facebook page. Soloists are Tatiana Serjan, Daniela Barcellona, Mario Zeffiri and Ildar Abdrazakov.

FREE: Britten's Noye's Fludde, London Philharmonic, September 28 & October 10 

The London Philharmonic pay tribute to another anniversary boy, Benjamin Britten, with two free performances of his little-heard children's opera Noye's Fludde. The London performances will include local children and will be conducted by Benjamin Ellin in the Clore Ballroom at the Royal Festival Hall.

FREE: Beethoven manuscripts, Royal Philharmonic Society in New York, September 30-October 4 

As part of their bicentenary celebrations, Britain's Royal Philharmonic Society is bringing a series of events to New York City. One of the most exciting for music fans must surely be the (free) display of the two original copyist scores of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony (a work commissioned by the RPS), to be displayed at the library of the Juillard School. It's the first time they've been brought together since 1824, so something of a musicological event! Full details HERE.

FREE David Aaron Carpenter pre-release on The Strad's YouTube channel 

The leading American violist's forthcoming release, alongside members of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, features as its main work the gorgeous Brahms Clarinet Quintet in the version for viola. Carpenter was on the cover of esteemed magazine The Strad's August 2013 issue, and the mag offered its readers the chance to hear that Brahms on their YouTube channel--to remain there until the CD release, itself (on Ondine Records, Carpenter's regular label). Hear it, for as long as it's there.

FREE: Plácido Domingo, Verdi (Sony Classical) 

Sony Classical has joined with iTunes to stream Domingo's new album of Verdi baritone arias, for free. (Click that link, and it will take you through to the dedicated iTunes page.) All Domingo fans will want to check out his first baritone CD. As they will certainly know, he has already released several complete baritone roles on DVD. But there's something official still about a CD, isn't there? Read Classicalite's review of Plácido Domingo, Verdi (Sony Classical) HERE.

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