Cinc’y Opera loses its centenary to Covid
mainCincinnati Opera has called off its 100th season and summer festival.
The website says: ‘We have followed guidance from public health experts while maintaining hope that we could move forward, but it is now clear we are not able to do so. With the uncertainty surrounding the resumption of public gatherings, it is our responsibility to act in favor of the continued well-being of our audiences, artists, staff, and community.’
San Francisco Opera has also scratched its summer season. CEO Matthew Shivlock says: ‘I am heartbroken at the loss of our summer season and I grieve with our company and our community the creative energy that will not be able to flourish this summer. So many have already invested so much into these three extraordinary operas, and I am so grateful to the artists, creative teams and company members who give so selflessly to bring life-affirming art to our stage.’
The COVID fallout continues….. Opera Theater of St Louis has already called off their season. As of April 7, Des Moines Metro Opera hasn’t called it yet: https://desmoinesmetroopera.org/news/COVID-19/
P.S. I think the abbreviation is just “Cinci”. Locals may correct me tho’….
Norman. It’s also fair to quote them… “That’s why we are committed to providing a level of compensation to all of the nearly 400 professionals who appear onstage and work backstage to make the season happen—from singers and musicians to stage technicians and artisans. We are also committed to keeping our extraordinary year-round staff intact.“
Bravo!
We must face the reality, that most opera house seasons in the USA are so short that a lock down can wipe out their entire season. Cincinnati, for example, is the USA’s 29th largest metro area, but it ranks about 306th in the world for opera performances per year–an unfortunate statistic for the centennial of a major city’s opera house.