The Australian-Chinese violinist Christian Li has signed to the new set-up at Decca.

In 2018 he became the youngest-ever winner of the Menuhin Competition, at the age of 10.

The next David Garrett?

London’s Opera Holland Park tonight called off its summer:

As a consequence of the UK government’s advice relating to the Covid-19 outbreak, Opera Holland Park is extremely sorry to inform you that the 2020 season scheduled to take place between June and August in our theatre in Holland Park will now not take place….

Crucially, we also have concerns for the performers, creatives, musicians and all who contribute to our productions, including all disciplines on and off stage, who will now suffer as a consequence. We are acutely aware that they are in a precarious position as self-employed/freelance workers and the Covid-19 crisis has already had very serious ramifications for all of them. We believe it is imperative that we try to assist them as best we can by agreeing to pay a portion of their fees for the season. We feel obliged to do what we can and not force those, who make us what we are, to take all of the pain. We would urge all those who have the ability to do so to make whatever gesture they can to help us meet this obligation. We will offer the option to turn your ticket purchases into donations and if you agree we would be extremely grateful for your generosity.

J & A Beare, the leading stringed instrument specialists, have shut down for the duration:

 

With all our thoughts on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, we have been taking the utmost care to avoid the spread of the virus and ensure the welfare of our staff, clients and suppliers. We do not have any cases of COVID-19 among our staff, nor do we know of any of our clients or suppliers who have been affected.

Nevertheless, the situation in the United Kingdom is deteriorating and the government has recently upgraded its measures to minimise social contact and gatherings, advising people to work from home where possible.

In light of this, we have decided that from 17:00 (GMT) Friday 20th March, we will temporarily close our premises until further notice. 

You can still contact us during our regular operating hours of 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday and if you have any queries about new or on-going appraisals, consignments, sales, certifications or restoration work, we will arrange for a relevant member of our team to call you. However, for the time being, we will regretfully suspend any re-hair work on bows.

 

 

In the CV crisis, the HGO has taken a more socially responsible approach than the Met. Here’s what it tells Slipped Disc:

HGO is committed to supporting the artistic community, which is why we will be standing by our artists and paying 50% of their salaries. Everyone from our star performers to the ushers will be supported during this uncertain time. 

Perryn Leech, managing director of HGO states, “Most people who work on a production only get paid when there is a performance, no matter how much rehearsal or preparation goes into it. These people don’t have the luxury of other means of income or the stability of a regular monthly wage. Many of the artists and staff that help us bring outstanding productions to Houston, live on a very delicate financial ledge and HGO is committed to ensuring that they are compensated for the time they had given to us before the events of the world made it impossible to produce these operas.”

Full statement:
Houston – March 13, 2020— Houston Grand Opera (HGO) regrets to announce that all performances of Salome and
The Magic Flute, as well as all events associated, have been cancelled. Working in compliance with the
recommendations of the City of Houston and local health authorities, HGO has made this decision to cancel all events
to protect the health of its artists, staff, creative team, and audiences.
HGO is taking the lead in helping defray the impact that this cancellation has on the community of artists, musicians,
stagehands, and staff. From ushers to the star sopranos, HGO is committed to the livelihood of all those involved in
producing great opera in Houston.
“Opera companies exist to produce opera. It is an incredibly sad and uncertain time for so many artists and supporting
staff members as organizations across the world temporarily close their doors. At HGO, we have been here before and
will show our resilience once again with the support of our incredible community. The wellbeing of our audience and
staff remains our top priority and we certainly look forward to producing world class opera again when the current
crisis is over,” states HGO Managing Director Perryn Leech.
Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers adds, “In this tragic and uncertain time, we are heartbroken not to perform
the two operas of our Spring Repertoire, Salome and The Magic Flute. All our thoughts are on the health of our patrons
and the entire company of superb artisans who would have brought these works to life in Houston.”
Leech continues, “Most people who work on a production only get paid when there is a performance, no matter how
much rehearsal or preparation goes into it. These people don’t have the luxury of other means of income or the
stability of a regular monthly wage. Many of the artists and staff that help us bring outstanding productions to
Houston, live on a very delicate financial ledge and HGO is committed to ensuring that they are compensated for the
time they had given to us before the events of the world made it impossible to produce these operas.”
 

The Metropolitan Opera today cancelled the remainder of the 2019–20 season, which was to have ended on May 9, 2020.

Its general manager Peter Gelb said: ‘As devastating as it is to have to close the Met, this was the rare instance where the show simply couldn’t go on. We send our thanks to our loyal audiences and we’re doing our best to support our employees during this extraordinarily difficult time. We look forward to being reunited in the fall with a new season.’

Members of the orchestra and chorus have, as we reported earlier, been suspended without pay.

The Met spins this to read: The Met’s full-time union employees have been offered pay through March, with health care coverage continuing throughout the crisis. 

In addition: The higher paid members of the company’s administrative staff are taking reductions in their pay, with Mr. Gelb waiving his entire salary.

There is a $60 million black hole that the Met needs to fill by urgent fundraising.

Musicians of the Lyric Opera have voted to receive less than full pay so that Ring extras can also be paid.

Here’s what they say:

As COVID-19 began sweeping across the United States, the Lyric Opera of Chicago management made the heartbreaking but necessary decision to cancel Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle, scheduled to be performed three times this spring. Following the announcement, Lyric Opera management told musician representatives that the regular orchestra members would be paid for the remaining seven weeks of the season. Unfortunately, that generous offer could not be extended to the many extra musicians involved in the Ring Cycle.

In response, the musician representatives worked collaboratively with Lyric management on a solution in which the regular orchestra members would receive less than full pay, with the savings allocated to extra and stage band musicians. Yesterday, the regular members of the Orchestra unanimously voted to approve that solution, thus ensuring that all musicians will receive a weekly paycheck through the end of the previously scheduled Ring Cycle performances.

The Musicians of the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra consider the 43 extra Ring Cycle musicians to be a part of their family. Allowing the extra musicians to go without a paycheck was simply unacceptable to the orchestra. For the past four years, regular and extra musicians have worked side-by-side, painstakingly preparing and performing one opera from the Ring per season in order to present the massive four-opera Ring Cycle this spring. 

For the Musicians of the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra, the choice was clear:  they must care for their entire Ring orchestra family.

The annual Shostakovich festival at Gohrisch in Saxony, where Shostakovich composed his eight string quartet, has won the right to premiere 10 newsly discovered Shostakovich manuscripts, some dating back to his teenage years.

The performers include Tchaikovsky winner Dmitry Masleev and Chopin winner Yulianna Avdeeva .

The festival opens July 1.

The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra has suspended all 67 musicians, 30 admin staff, and 14 Sistema teachers from March 29.

‘The orchestra business is a very fragile one at the best of times,’ said WSO executive director Trudy Schroeder. ‘What is certain, though, is our priority to do whatever is needed to plan for a positive return to work for musicians and staff as soon as possible. These are our colleagues and friends. Our instinct is protect each other, especially at a time like this.’

To my friends in the orchestra – to James, Trudy and the rest – we prays this passes soon.

See also: The Met lays off orchestra and chorus

Trudy writes:

Toughest day at work ever. 67 musicians, 30 admin staff, 15 Sistema Winnipeg teachers. Heart breaking! This virus could not have hit at a worse time in our cash flow for the year…then suddenly no public concerts, no fundraisers, no international travel for guest artists….. but amazing to hear everybody come together with ideas and encouragement.

Just wish that those putting together emergency economic stimulus packages for the corporate sector had included a way for cultural groups to access these resources as well. This is more than 100 people to be out of work on March 29. It would be better for everyone if we could keep them employed during this strange and awful time. My job is to get them back to work as soon as possible. Anyone have ideas for me?

The Norwegian Chamber Orchestra has named Pekka Kuusisto as its next artistic director, from 2021.

As if nothing else was happening in the world.

 

The announcement came hours after Olli Mustonen’s new job in Finland.

Isolation has a totally different meaning up there.

 

Ernst Dunshirn died on Tuesday after a long illness. He was 85.

He was first chorus director at the Vienna Opera 1997 to 2007, also working at the Salzburg Festival and at Bayreuth.

His wife, Donna Ellen, was also a member of the Vienna ensemble.

Peter Gelb has notified musicians of the Met orchestra and chorus that their employment is suspended from March 12.

Invoking the Force Majeure clause in their contracts, he has agreed to pay two weeks’ wages up to the end of this month.  Healthcare and instrument insurance will, however, be continued.

The force majeure clause dates back to the 1960s and has never been invoked before.

This is an exceptionally brutal measure at a time of unprecendented vulnerability for the musicians, most of whom are now self-isolating.

The Met has made no public announcement, and other media seem unaware of this dire development. Not a peep from Yannick.

The musicians are starting a campaign called #MusicConnectsUs, which you can find on Facebook metorchestramusicans and elsewhere on social media. Let’s do what we can to show solidarity.

This measure will raise alarms at every salaried orchestra on earth.

UPDATE1: Now Canada

UPDATE2: And Australia

UPDATE3: Peter Gelb waives his salary