Brott Music Festival gone until 2021
So long, farewell to live orchestral music in Hamilton this summer. The Brott Music Festival has announced they will be postponing all of their summer concerts until 2021.
“Based upon indications from provincial authorities regarding the controlled and gradual opening up of the province, it appears unlikely that we will be able to gather in any significant numbers for the months of July and August,” according to the BMF’s press release. “Therefore, the festival as advertised is postponing its in-person performances until 2021 with as much of the same programming as possible.”
“The safety of our patrons, artists, volunteers and staff is a top priority for us,” added BMF executive director Ardyth Brott.
Among the festival’s offerings that have been shelved for a year are concerts with pianists Valerie Tryon and Stewart Goodyear, plus Brott Opera’s PopOpera, and staged productions of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” as well as Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music.”
“I am very sad to have to postpone our live performances,” Boris Brott told The Spectator.
“They are the lifeblood of Hamilton’s classical music scene in the summertime.”
Although the BMF has postponed live performances, it will continue to offer virtual performances with guest artists. Back on May 2, it launched “Brott Music Live,” a weekly performance series with guest artists hosted by Brott and streamed on Facebook Live and YouTube. These will run on Saturdays
at 7:30 p.m. until June 27, and then switch to Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. on July 2.
As for the apprentices in the festival’s orchestra-in-residence, the National Academy Orchestra, as well as the vocalists selected to appear with Brott Opera, Brott said, “We will continue to offer a fully comprehensive training program online, replacing the traditional rehearsals and performances with virtual alternatives. More details to follow.”
The BMF box office is contacting ticket holders to discuss options such as refunds, holding money on account for future concerts, or converting the ticket value to a donation.