The Verbier Festival has announced programming changes following a COVID-19 outbreak among members of the Festival Orchestra.

In a press release, the Festival noted that it was forced to cancel all Verbier Festival Orchestra concerts and replace it with the Verbier Chamber Orchestra.

“The positive COVID-19 cases were immediately identified and contained to the VFO, with a period of isolation and quarantine for orchestra musicians that does not accommodate for the ample training and rehearsal time needed for performances. In light of these developments, the productions of ‘La fanciulla del West’ and ‘Tristan und Isolde’ Act two will be reprogrammed, with solo recitals and exciting collaborations between the 2021 Festival artists,” added the Festival in the official statement.

The Festival also stressed that safety measures are being reinforced in the Verbier Festival Academy’s other programs, including the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra, the Atelier Lyrique, and the Soloists & Ensembles Programme. Festivalgoers are subject to contact tracing and physical distancing measures at all events and must wear masks inside all venues.