The Press Release:
If the world hadn’t changed, the New York Philharmonic would have opened its subscription season and by now been well into our live concert schedule. We all know why that simply wasn’t possible. I cannot begin to tell you how much the musicians, Jaap van Zweden, and the entire “Phil family” miss you and our shared communal experience of a live concert.
Today we share news that we did our best to avert, but reality has intervened. Due to mandatory state and city government health regulations, the Philharmonic will not be able to resume live, indoor concerts in January as originally hoped. With deep regret, all previously scheduled concerts from January 6 to June 13, 2021, must now be cancelled. In the 178-year history of our institution, the cancellation of an entire season marks a historic first, and a dreadful one at that. If you are disappointed, please know how devastated we all are by this turn of events. The health and financial challenges, indeed the experiential challenges we all face, are profound.
But the Philharmonic didn’t survive and indeed flourish for nearly two centuries by giving up, so we won’t now! We are energetically working to bring you and all New Yorkers live music experiences with NY Phil Bandwagon, which I’m delighted to report will resume by popular demand in the spring. We are in the process of developing an expanded orchestral live streaming series to be launched in the winter (if the authorities allow it) and hope to announce details of this in just a bit. Of course, our free NY Phil Plays On portal continues to be active. In the near future, we will update you on the previously announced plan for the renovation of David Geffen Hall. Most importantly for our future, the NY Phil 2021–22 season will be announced in spring of 2021.
We hope you’ll help us work our way back to the stage and push the boundaries of what is possible with live and digital performances. Please donate today to the NY Phil Plays On Fund to support programs like NY Phil Bandwagon. Gifts made by December 31 will help us reach our $1.5 million goal and unlock a challenge grant from an anonymous music lover.
We cannot wait to be reunited with you, our audience, and we look forward to sharing that magical moment when you hear the very first downbeat of a New York Philharmonic concert. On behalf of our musicians and Jaap, here’s to you, to music, and to humanity!
Deborah Borda
President and CEO
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Piercing Ken Thoughts: While this update surely sucks, there is no way around it since we really aren’t in a perfectly safe scenario yet. With happenings like these Philharmonic events being cancelled up until the middle of June next year, it makes me wonder what other things on the agenda in other large gathering spaces are going to follow suit. While I don’t get to many operas or classical music presentations I still have a great appreciation for them and always have it on my interest list as something to do when friends come in from out of town. With the announcement that Broadway theatre performances are likely going to be dark until around this same time makes me wonder just how entertainment in New York City can possibly survive. Their official website has links to how refunds or donations and rescheduling can be done. Be sure to look at that when you have a moment and by all means chime in down below in the comments section with your thoughts about this news if you have anything topical to add to the announcement. See you next time.
Official Website: https://nyphil.org