The Nashville Symphony has canceled all performances through July 31, 2021, and furloughed its 79 musicians and 49 full-time staffers, telling patrons that cancellation of concerts due to the coronavirus thus far has resulted in losses of $8 million, nearly 30 percent of its current operating budget.
The announcement concludes: “Until we have certainty that our economy can remain open, and that audiences are ready and able to return to large public gatherings, attempting to restart concert activity poses significant risks to our institution.”
The Nashville cancellation follows announcements that the New York Philharmonic and Metropolitan Opera have canceled all their fall performances.
UPDATE (June 16): Now the Lyric Opera of Chicago has canceled its 2020-21 season.
UPDATE 2 (June 19): Carnegie Hall in New York cancels performances until Jan. 7. . . . New York City Ballet cancels its December “Nutcracker.” . . . The San Francisco Symphony cancels all performances through 2020.
UPDATE 3 (June 24): The Houston Grand Opera cancels performances until April 16.
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