Lucerne performs Salome with piano due to coronavirus fears

We hear that tonight‘s sold-out performance of Salome at Luzerner Theater is to be performed with piano accompaniment in place of the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra.

The orchestra was recently on tour in northern Italy and has been deemed unsafe to perform by the Canton of Lucerne.

Intendant Benedikt von Peter asked pianist and head of music staff, Valeriya Polunina to replace the orchestra at the piano.

Polunina is a graduate of the Juilliard School and Lindemann Program at the Metropolitan Opera.

Elsewhere, Zurich, Geneva and other opera houses have committed to play to audiences of below 900 in order to conform to draconian Givernment measures resticting public gatherings to 1,000.