(Credit: © Marek Kruszewski)

The Staatsoper Hannover has canceled the Opernball that was scheduled to take place on Feb. 26 & 27, 2021.

The management of the opera house stated that it would be impossible to maintain the social distance due to the high number of guests that visit the opernball each year; the number usually exceeds 4,000.

“After the Opernball 2020 had to be canceled because of the restart at the Staatsoper, I regret this cancellation very much. However, if we observe the current COVID-19 infection rate, an event with over 2200 visitors per evening and hundreds of employees taking part in it would be quite irresponsible, “said the Director of the Staatsoper Hannover Laura Berman in an official statement.

“An early cancellation is important for the organization as well as for our partners and spectators. My special thanks go to our sponsors, who support us in this difficult decision and help us. We hope for the dazzling and exuberant opernball on February 18 and 19, 2022,” concluded Berman.