“Amid the evolving coronavirus situation in Singapore, my team and I were often asked, ‘Will the Singapore Symphony Orchestra cancel its concerts,’ ” writes Chng Hak-Peng, CEO of the Singapore Symphony Group, in Tuesday’s (2/25) Straits Times (Singapore). “As the national orchestra, the SSO is plugged into the Government’s crisis management network, which facilitates information flow, clarity and support in interpreting the public health advisories of the Ministry of Health…. We have continued with all our concerts…. Classical music concerts … are essential even during times of crisis…. First, it is important to maintain an environment of normalcy as life goes on … just with different levels of precaution…. Second, music feeds the soul…. We know that we fill this need and that the need is real because people showed up for … concerts and, more remarkably, continued to buy tickets…. Third, the arts can help you cope with uncertainty…. The arts help you to surrender yourself to the unknown, and the beauty of a piece of art or music reinvigorates your belief that, as human beings, we have the ability to transcend today’s problems.” The Singapore Symphony is posting concert updates on its website.
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