(Credit: Manfred Klimek)

The Grafenegg Festival was forced to reshape its opening night performance of Verdi’s “Requiem” after one member of the chorus tested positive for COVID-19 despite full vaccination.

“As one of the singers of the Wiener Singverein was infected with the Corona virus before the rehearsals in Grafenegg, despite two vaccinations and a strict prevention concept, today’s concert unfortunately has to do without a choir, in agreement with the provincial sanitary directorate,” said the festival in an official statement.

“Nevertheless, we have decided to perform Verdi’s ‘Requiem’ – but without a choir and in a slightly shortened form. The concert will be supplemented by the Overture to the opera “La forza del destino,” the festival added in the statement.

The performance starred soprano Krassimira Stoyanova, mezzo-soprano Clémentine Margaine, tenor Piotr Beczała, and bass René Pape and was conducted by Yutaka Sado.

The Grafenegg Festival is the latest in a series of summer festivals that was forced to change its performances due to COVID-19. The Verbier Festival had to reimagine its slate after several members of the orchestra tested positive for the novel coronavirus, while the Drottningholms Slottsteater had to cancel the premiere of “Agrippina” after one soloist was infected with COVID-19.