“In March 2020, live classical music and much of cultural life worldwide came to an abrupt halt overnight,” writes John Gilhooly, director of Wigmore Hall and chair of the Royal Philharmonic Society, in Sunday’s (1/2) Guardian (U.K.). “Since then, we have seen the gradual reopening of concert halls in all four nations of the UK, as organizers, orchestras and musicians struggle to recover a loss of income, talent and confidence on an unprecedented scale…. Music is the soundtrack to our lives and classical musicians are major contributors to the UK’s reputation for cultural innovation and excellence. However, for all of its darkness, the pandemic has allowed us to reimagine what our musical world could look like if we start from scratch. Throughout the crisis, the industry has begun to construct a new narrative shaped to accommodate great artistic expression for everyone. As we rebuild our society and our economy, I’m convinced, more than ever, that participation in music is part of the solution for national recovery…. I have been hugely inspired by the remarkable and uplifting endorsements of the role of music within our wider community and for people of all ages and backgrounds.”
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