Screenshot of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra musicians’ virtual performance of Elgar’s “Nimrod”
“The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra has both bad news and good news for music fans this week,” writes Jim Higgins in Monday’s (4/6) Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (WI). “The MSO has canceled all remaining concerts, events and educational activities through the end of its current season in June, for coronavirus safety reasons. But in consolation, the symphony posted a spectacular video of its musicians performing Elgar’s ‘Nimrod.’ Each musician recorded their performance at home, with MSO audio and video producer Jeremy Tusz weaving their performance into a seamless, flowing video. Their performance of ‘Nimrod’ is dedicated to Walter Robb, a former GE executive who endowed the symphony’s principal trumpet chair and was a member of the chairman’s council. Robb died of COVID-19 March 23 in Schenectady, N.Y., at age 91. The idea to record a virtual orchestra performance of ‘Nimrod’ came from the musicians. The first musician seen as the video begins is violinist Margot Schwartz. In all, 66 musicians perform. Given the financial impact of those concert cancellations, the MSO is asking patrons to ‘consider exchanging their tickets for gift certificates … for performances next season or donating back the tickets (and receive a tax deduction for the total ticket value).’ ”
