Kanneh-Mason cancels Hollywood ‘due to visa issues’
NewsThe British pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason is unable to fly in from London to perform with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl next week due to what are described as ‘visa issues’
She will be replaced by Behzod Abduraimov in Beethoven’s first piano concerto.
Shame about Isata, but Behzod is an absolute beast of a pianist. Hollywood Bowl attendees will not be disappointed.
Disappointed? They should be thrilled! He is not a sibling of a royal wedding cellist, but Behzod Abduraimov is one of the finest pianists of his generation.
Bloody septics.
Tanks for the memory?
Oh, plumbing the depths…
Abduraimov is by far the better pianist. For the HB audiences this is a plus. Sorry…
O-1 visas, as they are called, have to be applied for months in advance. Odd that she should have a “visa issue” just one week before the concert.
Many artists have successfully had their petitions for O-1B visas approved, however the next step in the process is an appointment at a consulate for a visa interview and to have the stamp put into their passport. Many US consulates around the world are operating with many months-long waiting lists to even get the appointment. London is at emergency appointments only, Paris at 300 calendar days, and Berlin at 999 days wait for a non-immigrant visa appointment.
Check your favorite location here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html
I’m afraid Ms. Kanneh-Mason may not be the only artist American audiences have to miss hearing for this reason.
It’s not the 0-1 it’s the NIE (National Interest Exemption) they need to get right now in addition to the visa. You can read more about it here https://www.ggartslaw.com/blogs/cloudy-with-continued-exceptions many not able to get in (Welser-Most, Andrés Orozco-Estrada in Houston, etc)
They are P1 visas and need to be applied with the petitioner documented. Then an interview at the US Embassy and all that stuff. And you wonder why many orchestras don’t tour there – even in pre Covid times!