Beating New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to the punch by one news cycle, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra announced Thursday afternoon that it was postponing all concerts through May 9.
And by Friday morning, that decision proved to be academic anyway, as Cuomo announced that all workers in nonessential businesses in the state are required to stay home in an effort to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
RPO shows affected by its announcement are:
- Beethoven + Brahms, including Thursday night’s concert and the upcoming show on Saturday, March 21.
- American Diva, April 17 and 18.
- Lees Conducts Schubert, April 19.
- Around the Town community concerts, April 22 through April 24.
- National Geographic’s Symphony for Our World, April 25.
- The Sounds of Nature, April 26.
- The Year 1905, April 30 and May 2.
- Thundering Organ Symphony, May 7 and 9.
- Ben Folds in Concert with the RPO, May 8.
Questions regarding concerts and subscriptions are being handled by the RPO’s Patron Services Center, (585) 454-2100, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.
Rescheduling these shows, a complex logistical matter, is underway. To lessen the financial impact of the pandemic on the RPO, it is asking people to donate the value of unused tickets to the RPO’s annual fund. Ticket holders who donate will receive four free vouchers to select RPO concerts in the 2020-21 season.
Patrons can also offer financial assistance through the purchase of gift certificates available, redeemable for any concerts in any season.
Jeff Spevak is WXXI’s Arts & Life editor and reporter. He can be reached at jspevak@wxxi.org.
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