(Credit: Opernhaus Zürich official website)

The Opernhaus Zürich has announced that it will cancel all the regular performances until at least May 1, 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic concerns and anticipated restrictions in the cultural sector.

Among the canceled productions are Richard Strauss‘ operatic masterwork “Capriccio,” concert performances of Rossini’s opera “La donna del Lago,” as well as the run of Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin.” The revival of Kurt Weill’s opera “Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny” in May has also been canceled.

The recital of German soprano Anja Harteros, which was set to take place in April, has been postponed to October 2021.

The premiere of Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” on April 11 will be live streamed. Swiss federal authorities will decide on March 19 if live audiences can also be presented with up to 50 spectators in attendance.

The Opernhaus Zürich has expressed its will to offer smaller format performances instead of the canceled regular ones if permission is granted by the authorities.

Swiss opera houses have been closed since November 2020 due to the sudden rise in COVID-19 cases. The Swiss Federal Council will decide on March 19 about the possible gradual reopening of the cultural sector.

Switzerland logged 921 new COVID-19 cases on March 12, 2021.