(PLAINFIELD, NJ) -- The Plainfield Symphony Orchestra (PSO) has announced that the concerts scheduled for April 25, 2020 and May 16, 2020 have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. PSO also announced that the 2020-2021 season will open on Saturday, October 3, 2020, with the performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 that was originally scheduled for April 25.
“We take these actions with deep regret and gratitude that we have been able to complete most of this centennial season’s scheduled concerts,” said Rebecca Perkins, president of the PSO Board of Directors. “PSO has survived world wars, financial crises, hurricanes and blizzards, and we will survive this dreadful pandemic as well. The arts will be needed more than ever when this situation abates, and we will be here to offer the music that our audience relies on.”
“Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 is known as ‘the Resurrection Symphony,’ which will be especially apt this fall,” said Charles Prince, PSO’s music director. “The symphony was in part inspired by a work entitled Die Auferstehung (The Resurrection), which translates as ‘Rise again, yes, you shall rise again.’ This work, accompanied by a 60-member chorus, will be one of PSO’s largest presentations, and we greatly anticipate the performance in October.”
Patrons who purchased tickets for the cancelled concerts will be contacted with their ticket options. Forever tickets will be honored at all future concerts, and complimentary tickets for this season held by students, music teachers and others will be honored next season.
“At this unprecedented time, we’re especially grateful to our amazing musicians for the talent and dedication they bring us,” said Perkins. “It’s even harder to make these changes knowing how much they would love to perform. We’re equally grateful for our wonderful patrons and music lovers who have kept us strong for a century, and we eagerly await bringing next season’s music to them.”
Perkins added that videos of past PSO performances are being added to the website and can be accessed here.
Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, the Plainfield Symphony Orchestra is New Jersey’s oldest community symphony and the third oldest continuously operating community symphony in the United States. Under the direction of Charles Prince, the Plainfield Symphony Orchestra represents the highest standard in musical excellence in programs designed to educate and uplift local audiences. Funding has been made possible in part by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
