CANCELLED DUE TO COVID
Orchestra, opera and ballet forced to cancel season because of COVID-19
Opera, ballet and orchestra wait until next year
It’s official — Calgary’s three preeminent performing arts organizations will not sing, dance or play their seasons this fall.
Thursday morning, both the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and Calgary Opera confirmed they are postponing their respective seasons until 2021.
The CPO cancelled more than 35 regular, education and outreach concerts scheduled between Sept. 11 and Dec. 16, but it plans to showcase some performances in ways that adjust to the COVID-19 pandemic. The shows may be presented online or live, if they can adhere to the province’s social distancing rules. The CPO aims to return to regular concerts in January 2021.
“We’re encouraged by the progress our community has made in preventing the spread of COVID -19, but as the province begins the reopening process, arts groups like ours are facing the reality that we won’t be able to enjoy a full house in our venues for some time,” Paul Dornian, president and CEO of the Calgary Philharmonic, said in a release. “We remain committed to performing music for you, but for now we need to change the way we present it.”
With its performances backed by the now silent CPO, Calgary Opera has also postponed its mainstage season.
But Calgary Opera has opted to delay the season for a full year and looks to restart some time next fall.
That affects productions of Fidelio, The Merry Widow, La Traviata, the Christmas show of Amahl and the Night Visitors, opera brunches, master classes and student dress rehearsals.
Calgary Opera’s CEO Heather Kitchen said they tried to find solutions but “it recently became clear to us that it is simply impossible to produce the programming we had planned and maintain the integrity of the work while also ensuring the safety of our teams, on stage and off, and for you, our audience.”
But it, too, is working on plans to create smaller, special programming, both live and online, over the next year.
“These difficult decisions have not been taken lightly. Artists are an important part of our family and their livelihoods have been disproportionately affected by this pandemic. We are doing our best to support them through this crisis while ensuring that, when it is over, they will have a vibrant and thriving producing company to return to,” states a joint release from Kitchen and artistic director Bramwell Tovey.
Alberta Ballet announced earlier in June that it was postponing its season due to the pandemic. Its fall productions, including the holiday classic The Nutcracker, will not be performed. It is looking ahead to spring 2021 to hopefully mount three shows — Swan Lake, Peter Pan and a revival of All of Us featuring the music of The Tragically Hip.
All three organizations are at the mercy of the prolonged closure of performing arts venues. Alberta Ballet and Calgary Opera perform in the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, which remains shut. The CPO performs at the Jack Singer Concert Hall in Arts Commons, which has been closed since March due to the pandemic.
Also, due to current restrictions on vocal performances, the Calgary Philharmonic is replacing any repertoire featuring the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus at other concerts during the 2020-21 season, including Mozart’s Requiem (March 5-6, 2021) and Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony (April 30 and May 1, 2021). CPO performances with Calgary Opera and Alberta Ballet at the Jubilee Auditorium have also been cancelled.
“We realize this news is as disappointing for you as it is for us, but the provincial timeline for reopening remains uncertain and we feel it’s important to give our audience members, musicians, guest artists, staff, and volunteers the time they need to plan ahead,” said Dornian.
The Calgary Philharmonic will announce new fall plans as they are finalized. Subscribers with tickets to fall concerts can choose a refund or credit. For more information, go to www.calgaryphil.com.
Calgary Opera season ticket holders will automatically have their subscription transferred to the 2021-22 season.
Individual tickets to performances will be credited back to patrons’ Calgary Opera account, and funds can be redirected to future Calgary Opera events. Refunds are available by request for all tickets. Patrons may also choose to donate the value of their tickets for a tax receipt. Go to Info@calgaryopera. com or 403-262-7286.
Alberta Ballet has contacted ticketholders and given them their options. Anyone with questions can email boxoffice@albertaballet.com.