(Credit: Christian Thür) The Austrian Parliament has adopted a law which will give extra powers to Health Minister Rudolf Anschober. According to the text of the law, Anschober will we able to order mandatory COVID-19 testing for everyone wanting to attend a cultural event. So-called entry tests appeared as an alternative to the country’s mass COVID-19 testing. The law also {…}
(Credit: Semperoper Dresden official website) In a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19, the Saxon Ministry of Science, Culture and Tourism has ordered the closure of all state theatres and opera houses until April 2021. As a result, the Semperoper Dresden has announced that it has canceled all the remaining performances that were scheduled for the 2020-21 season. The {…}
(Credits: Opernhaus Zürich official website / https://www.opera-online.com / Basel.com) The Opernhaus Zürich, Grand Théâtre de Genève, and Theater Basel have all announced their respective closures until at least Feb. 28, 2021. The announcements came as a result of a decision by Swiss federal authorities to extend the lockdown until Feb. 28, 2021. The Opernhaus Zürich stated that it also had {…}
(Credit: https://handluggageonly.co.uk/) The Italian government has declared a State of Emergency which will last until April 30, 2021. The cabinet of Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has also adopted a new set of measures which are set to last until March 5, 2021. The new regulations will come into effect on Jan. 16, 2021. Per the new Decree that was {…}
(Credit: © Barbara Aumüller) Oper Frankfurt has announced that it has canceled all performances until at least March 31, 2021. “The decision of the head of the cultural department of the city of Frankfurt Dr. Ina Hartwig gives the opera house planning security and clarity for the coming months,” says the official statement on the company’s website. “Oper Frankfurt should {…}
(Credit: Konzerthaus Dortmund official website) The Konzerthaus Dortmund has commissioned the Fraunhofer Heinrich Institute Goslar to investigate the spatial spread of aerosols and carbon dioxide in a concert hall. For the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a study looked at the risk of infection for visitors to concert halls, theaters and opera houses. The extensive tests {…}
(Credit: Marek Kruszewski) Staatsoper Hannover has announced that the company will remain closed until at least Feb. 28, 2021. “After consulting the supervisory board of the Niedersächsische Staatstheater GmbH and the responsible ministries, we have canceled all performances and special programs at all venues up to and including Feb. 28, 2021,” says a statement on the company’s website. The opera {…}
(Credit: © Deutsches Nationaltheater und Staatskapelle Weimar) The Deutsches Nationaltheater and Staatskapelle Weimar has officially announced that it will extend its respective closures until at least March 2021. “In order to reduce contacts, rehearsals will also be suspended until January 31, and work behind the scenes will be limited in all areas to indispensable and necessary activities. The extended closing {…}
(Credit: Sven-Helge Czichy) Theaters and Opera houses in the German federal state of Hessen have announced that they will shut down until at least the beginning of April 2021. The Hessische Staatstheater Darmstadt, Hessische Staatstheater Kassel and Hessische Staatstheater Wiesbaden, Hessische Landestheater Marburg and the Stadttheater Gießen will try to reopen during week of Easter. “Unfortunately, the infectious situation is {…}
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert in the U.S., has stated that he believes theaters can reopen in the fall of 2021. He did stipulate that this would be possible IF the vaccine was distributed “diligently” and “correctly” through next July. “Schools, theaters, sports events, restaurants — I believe if we do it correctly, we will be there {…}
(Credit: Opéra National de Paris official website) The Government of France has announced an extension of the COVID-19 measures aimed to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. “The overall level of new infections still remain high, and has tended to increase since mid-December 2020,” said Prime Minister Jean Castex. “The situation has not returned to normal. It has even {…}