Joshua Bell cancels Carnegie with Covid

Joshua Bell cancels Carnegie with Covid

News

norman lebrecht

February 28, 2023

Seems a bit out of time…. but that’s what th Hall is saying:
Carnegie Hall today announced that violinist Joshua Bell and pianist Daniil Trifonov must regrettably postpone their Carnegie Hall recital scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, February 28, 2023 as Mr. Bell has tested positive for COVID-19. This all-star duo recital has been rescheduled for Tuesday, May 30 at 8:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage. The program will include works by Beethoven, Prokofiev, Bloch, and Franck. Tickets for the February 28 recital will be honored on May 30.

Comments

  • Serge says:

    I know someone has mentioned this before, but what is the reason that there is at least one spelling mistake in each and every article posted on SD?

    • Cynical Bystander says:

      U shud no by now that speling and gramar ar iletist. Norma Lebrekt is in the fourfrunt of the jurney to alow opresed grups to speek as they find stuf and they shud be encuraged to cary on in the name off inklusivety. Thos what donnt agre ar just fobik and shud be canseled.

    • Gerry Feinsteen says:

      Yes, I have mentioned it too. The errors seem calculated

  • Brian says:

    Given how mild Covid has become, it is madness to force an artist to cancel because of a positive test result. Indeed, many places, including hospitals, have ceased routine testing for Covid because the results are meaningless with regard to daily living.

    • Peter says:

      Eh? It’s not like cancelling performances for illness is some recent innovation that started only when Covid came along.

      Even if (which you don’t know) it is a “mild” case in a clinical sense, that doesn’t mean that he’s in great shape to continue on as a performer. Many illnesses that a touring performer might catch are “mild”, in the sense that they can recover at home with bed rest and analgesics, but that doesn’t mean they are at peak fitness to give a professional recital. Or that it’s wise just to soldier on with a very demanding schedule.

      And in any event, if you know that you have a highly infectious virus – Covid or otherwise – it is perfectly reasonable to try to avoid infecting other people, who might not be as lucky.

  • Carl says:

    A bit out of time? In the U.S. alone there are 35,000 recorded Covid cases a day, though the actual number could be 10X that, because home tests don’t reveal the results. The virus is still very much with us.

    Mask up folks, and best wishes to Mr. Bell for a speedy recovery.

  • Richard says:

    Mr. Lebrecht, I play with the New York Pops which performs at Carnegie Hall. We perform 6 or 7 concerts a season. It is required by Carnegie each month that we have a test 2 days before the rehearsal being 3 days before the performance. If we test positive, we cannot play. Carnegie’s rules as well as the NY Pops. Personally, I think it is as good a safeguard as possible what with lots of cases still happening every day!

  • Richard says:

    In fact, we must wear masks anywhere in the hall, though not required on stage.

  • Wilma Dollop says:

    So do you think that he should just play while sick then? Nobody should have to perform while sick, even if the illness is mild.

  • Singeril says:

    Why “a bit out of time”? I hadn’t realized that Covid had left our time.

  • trumpetherald says:

    He played a terrific Barber concerto with the Berlin Phil(the first time they played it!!!!)under Alan Gilbert some days ago.

  • Petros Linardos says:

    For me personally this post was very timely. I was planning to attend the concert, read the cancelation here first (!), and promptly made alternative plans for the evening. Thank youfor the service, Mr. Lebrecht!

  • Player says:

    In footage of the Met orchestra rehearsing Lohengrin recently, lots of the twits in the band are STILL wearing masks. What can you do?

    • Carl says:

      Yes, let’s insult people for their personal healthcare choices. I know if I were in a cramped orchestra pit for hours when an airborne virus is spreading, I’d put on a mask too. Heck, I wear one when I go to shop for groceries or get on a plane. Haven’t had a cold in three years.

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