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Virus latest: It has reached New Zealand

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norman lebrecht

March 17, 2020

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra has suspended all concerts until May.

The Government has prohibited gatherings of more than 500 people.

Comments

Anonymous says:

March 17, 2020 at 1:32 pm

To ad insult to infection, they’re yet to contact any of the visiting artists to inform them of the cancellation.

Alan says:

March 17, 2020 at 3:30 pm

Yeah. Because that’s what’s important right now. I’m sure the guest artists will manage.

Reply
- PromoPam says:
  
  March 17, 2020 at 11:27 pm
  
  I’m a marketing manager for several classical orgs, and I am working 18 hours a day this week with cancellation notices and ancillary communications. Every organization should have a contingency communication plan, and high on the list of “those to be notified in case of cancellation, etc.” should be guest artists, especially those who are traveling from afar. It’s the most basic of courtesies. Yes, it is important right now.
  
  Reply
MWnyc says:

March 18, 2020 at 4:11 am

Let’s hope that’s because they’re trying to work out some way to pay them at least part of their fees first.

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Ramesh Nair says:

March 18, 2020 at 7:05 am

The Auckland Philharmonia’s first-ever Beethoven symphony cycle was due to start this coming Saturday. The four concerts were all cancelled yesterday. However, the announced attention is to video stream live all the concerts. [ No audience in the Auckland Town Hall, apart from the camera and sound technicians.]

You can watch this on the APO’s website http://www.apo.co.nz or its Facebook page. I presume most of the subscribers to the almost sold-out series will not be claiming refunds, since the orchestra has very limited central government funding, unlike the NZSO.

For those watching the video stream, the Auckland Town Hall was modelled on the old Leipzig Gewandhaus hall, much like Boston’s symphony hall.