NEW YORK (AP) — The Metropolitan Opera has canceled performances and rehearsals through March 31 because of the coronavirus.
The move was announced Thursday, one day after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a suspension of travel to the U.S. from Europe for 30 days starting Friday.
Many of the Met’s singers and conductors travel regularly from Europe. Soprano Anna Netrebko posted on Instagram on Wednesday that she would not be traveling to New York for performances of Puccini’s “Tosca” that had been scheduled to start March 26.
“With health authorities urging social distancing with greater emphasis, it is simply untenable for us to continue to perform, as it puts our artists, staff, and audiences at risk. I would like to express my deep personal regret that the situation has led us to this point,” Met General Manager Peter Gelb said.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York said that it will shut down starting Friday in an effort to help the city contain the spread of the coronavirus. The largest museum in the U.S. didn’t say when it would re-open its doors to staff and visitors, but added that it will “undertake a thorough cleaning” of its venues. “While we don’t have any confirmed cases connected to the Museum, we believe that we must do all that we can to ensure a safe and healthy environment for our community,” Met president and CEO Dan Weiss said in a statement. The Met draws more than 7 million visitors a year and is regarded as one of the preeminent art museums in the world.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.
The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.
Among the 21 canceled Met Opera performances is this Saturday’s matinee of a new staging of Wagner’s “Der Fliegende Holländer (The Flying Dutchman)” that was to have been televised to movie theaters around the world. Also canceled was a March 29 recital by soprano Diana Damrau with Royal Opera music director Antonio Pappano at the piano.
Carnegie Hall also announced it was closing its doors at midnight Thursday for all public events through the end of March, cancelling performances from The Philadelphia Orchestra, Angélique Kidjo, the Castalian String Quartet and Musical Armenia.
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