The Los Angeles Philharmonic is losing a whole season. The orchestra announced today that it is canceling all performances at Walt Disney Concert Hall through June 9, 2021.
Like many classical-music organizations across the country, unsure where live concerts would fit in an uncertain pandemic future, the LA Phil has had to jettison its calendar piece by piece. This latest announcement caps a string of cancellations that began in March: the end of the 2019–2020 season, a summer without the Hollywood Bowl, and now, no return to Disney Hall this season.
This news from the LA Phil also follows a week of cancellations from other American orchestras. The New York Philharmonic and the Boston Symphony have done away with their entire seasons. It will be a year and a half, at the earliest, before the country’s top ensembles return to live performances.
In an official statement, the LA Phil said it estimates a $105 million loss in revenue from coronavirus-related closures and cancellations. The orchestra is looking to offset that loss, in part, with its “Play Your Part” fundraising campaign. Still, the music hasn’t stopped entirely; among other projects, the orchestra’s SOUND/STAGE series is well under way, streaming on the LA Phil’s website.
