“Covid-19 continues to wreak havoc on the music industry, even as orchestras and opera companies attempt to return to live performance,” writes Nicholas Beard in Wednesday’s (10/20 Musical America (subscription required). “As was the case last month with the Seattle Symphony, when Music Director Thomas Dausgaard, a Dane, had to cancel his return to the podium on opening, gala night, due to visa issues, and last week, when Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes withdrew from New York Philharmonic performances because his visa hadn’t been approved after eight months of waiting, the Boston Symphony has announced that Dutch conductor Ton Koopman has cancelled his appearances on November 11-13. In Koopman’s case, the issue cited was ‘COVID-19 travel restrictions.’ … Jaap van Zweden … has been forced to cancel Hong Kong [Philharmonic] performances next week after having been denied a request for a shortened quarantine period. In the U.S. … lesser-known artists are getting a chance to be heard. Last week at the [New York] Philharmonic … Alessio Bax [stepped in] for Andnes … making [his debut] with the orchestra. Next month in Boston, American conductor Roderick Cox will make his debut with the BSO, stepping in for Koopman.”
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