VIENNA Jan 1 (US): The Vienna State Opera has canceled all performances until Wednesday including Wednesday due to several cases of the Omicron coronavirus infection among the group.
The group announced Saturday that the affected premiere is Johann Strauss’ second operetta “Die Fledermaus” and is planned for New Year’s Day.
State Opera has not had to close in the past due to Covid-19 cases. Opera director Bogdan Rosic said more than 85 percent of employees have received triple vaccinations and PCR tests are performed at least three times a week.
“But working conditions, especially with bands, playing, singing, dancing and making music together, make full protection impossible,” added Rosic.
He said that due to the Omicron variant, the speed and severity of infection increased “significantly”, according to the German news agency (dpa).
Meanwhile, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra played its New Year’s concert in front of a noticeably smaller audience due to concerns about the more portable Omicron variant.
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