According to a public announcement from Boston Baroque, the New England Conservatory (NEC) is closing Jordan Hall to outside groups for the 2020-2021 season, "effective immediately."
Boston Baroque stated in a release, "due to the current COVID-19 situation, New England Conservatory made the decision to close Jordan Hall to outside organizations for the entire 2020-2021 concert season. The safety of our audiences and artists will always be our top priority at Boston Baroque, and NEC’s decision, which we know was a difficult one, has our full support."
The Boston Early Music Festival, a presenting organization that cites Jordan Hall as one of their seasonal venues, has suspended subscription sales for the 2020-2021 season: "while we still hope to share nine spectacular programs with you, there is simply too much uncertainty caused by the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic for us to continue selling subscription packages at this time."
Boston Early Music Festival violinist and A Far Cry violist Sarah Darling "mourns the loss of a whole year of exquisite sound reverberating in my favorite hall in the world."
"Jordan Hall is the perfect warm embrace," Darling said, "and just embodies the communal music experience so completely. When you’re in the audience, you feel like you're integral parts of the musical experience - like a gigantic listening ear. When you’re on stage, the presence of those same audience members gives you so much energy and life. It’s reciprocal magic."
Middleclass Artist strongly encourages its readers to financially support world-class presenters Boston Baroque, the Boston Early Music Festival, and A Far Cry, and for alumni of the New England Conservatory to support their institution during the difficult season ahead.
ZF