Just in: A second US orchestra pulls out of China
mainGianandrea Noseda and the National Symphony Orchestra, on their first international tour in March, have called off three China dates due to the coronavirus outbreak.
They will still visit Japan, becoming the first US orchestra in half a century to play at Hiroshima.
“The National Symphony Orchestra and Gianandrea Noseda deeply regret that they will not be able to travel to China for their performances in Beijing and Shanghai next month,” said NSO Executive Director Gary Ginstling. “The escalating concerns regarding the spread of the coronavirus have caused the Center for Disease Control and U.S. Department of State to raise their warnings to the highest levels, and major American airlines have preemptively cancelled flights to and from China through the end of March, including the NSO’s scheduled flights. Between these logistical developments and the fact that our top priority is the health and well-being of our musicians and artists, it became clear to the NSO that its visit to China would not be possible. The NSO very much looks forward to the opportunity to reschedule its visit to China and our thoughts are with all those impacted by this global health crisis.”
Last week, Boston was the first to cancel China.
Not really much of a choice.
Noseda is making strides at the NSO. I like he is doing.
On the other hand I do not like the fact that the masterminds at the Kennedy Center just spent $250 million on an expansion and not a penny improving the concert hall acoustics.
The Chicago Symphony played in Hiroshima during our first tour of Japan in June, 1977. We also played six concerts with six different programs in Tokyo.