The Lyric Opera of Chicago has delayed the opening of its 2020-21 season, canceling all performances originally scheduled to take place between September and December.

With the spread of COVID-19 still a concern throughout the U.S., the company announced that the cancelation of its fall performances was a preventive measure to aid in the containment of the global pandemic.

“The decision to cancel our fall productions is only one piece of the elaborate array of work still underway, which includes ongoing discussions with our union groups,” stated company director, president, and CEO Anthony Freud. “Our goal is, and always has been, to find a balance between protecting the individuals and protecting our company.”

Among the productions affected by the decision are “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “Pagliacci,” “Lessons in Love and Violence,” “Tosca,” and “Attila.”

The company plans to retain the productions scheduled for later in the season.

The Lyric Opera of Chicago is the latest of the U.S. companies to cancel the fall portion of its season, following in the footsteps of the Metropolitan Opera and Dallas Opera, among others. The U.S. is currently seeing an increase in cases of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, across the ocean, most European opera companies have started their reopening process in earnest with several companies confirming the start of their 2020-21 season on time and as originally scheduled.