Greenwich Symphony Orchestra cancels concerts due to COVID
GREENWICH — With new cases surging of COVID-19, the Greenwich Symphony Orchestra announced it has postponed its concerts scheduled for this weekend.
The GSO made the decision “due to the need to protect the public health and the shortage of testing resources,” according to a post on its website.
“We will notify the community as soon as we have new dates when Mélisse Brunet will conduct the orchestra,” the website said. “All tickets purchased for this concert will be honored on the new dates.”
This weekend’s canceled concerts had been scheduled for Jan. 8 and Jan. 9 at the Performing Arts Center at Greenwich High School.
“We are extremely disappointed and apologize to all,” the GSO said in a statement.
In preparation for the concert, Brunet and William Hagen, who was scheduled to be guest soloist on the violin, held a Zoom conversation about Édouard Lalo's, Symphonie Espagnole. To watch, visit https://bit.ly/3sZ5X5C.
The Greenwich Symphony Orchestra’s musicians, conductors and soloists have submitted proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, and when concerts are held, audience members must provide proof of vaccination as well.
“We want to minimize the health risks to our audience, musicians and the general public,” the GSO said in its health guidance rules on its website.
While inside the building, all attendees must wear face masks. Ventilation and air filtration in the Performing Arts Center have been upgraded to reduce COVID-19 transmission, the GSO said.
The GSO’s next series of concerts is scheduled for Feb. 26 and 27 featuring the music of Alberga, Rachmaninov and Elgar with Conductor Joshua Gersen and pianist Sara Davis Buechner.
Conductor candidates
Brunet is one of five candidates for the job as music director of the GSO, and the only woman in the running. Each of the five candidates is taking a turn as conductor during the 2021-22 season.
She began her career in France and this fall was named director of orchestral studies at the University of Iowa’s School of Music. She also is the new music director of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic in Wilkes-Barre.
Her concert program was to have included “Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman” by Joan Tower, “Symphonie Espanole” by Lalo and Dvorák’s Symphony No. 7 with William Hagen as guest soloist on the violin. Her website titles the concert, “Listen Boldly: Tower, Lalo, Dvorák.”
A native of Paris, Brunet began her studies on the cello, and also learned to play the trumpet, French horn and piano. She holds six diplomas from the Paris Conservatory, a bachelor in music from the Université la Sorbonne, a professional studies diploma from the Cleveland Institute of Music and a doctorate in conducting from the University of Michigan.
Also, she has studied French, English, German and Italian lyric diction, and speaks English, French, Italian, Chinese and German. To learn more about Mélisse Brunet, go to melissebrunet.com.
Other finalists
There are five finalists to replace David Gilbert, who joined the GSO as conductor and musical director in 1975 and led the group until his retirement in early 2020.
His departure after more than 45 years set off a search that involved 176 candidates for music director.
The other four finalists are: David Lockington, conductor laureate of the Grand Rapids Symphony in Michigan; Martin Makjut, music director of the Rogue Valley Symphony in Oregon; Stuart Malina, music director and conductor of the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra in Pennsylvania; and Ransom Wilson, music director of the Redlands Symphony in California.
Each finalist will lead one of the GSO’s five weekend concerts and also spend time meeting with the community and rehearsing with the musicians.
For information, visit greenwichsymphony.org or call 203-869-2664.