Handel and Haydn Society Pledges to Pay its Musicians for Canceled Concerts

(Boston April 7, 2020) The Handel and Haydn Society announced it will be paying the salaries of its orchestra and chorus musicians for the canceled concerts in the 2019-20 season. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, H H canceled performances of Bach St. Matthew Passion that were to take place on April 3 5, and Vivaldi The Four Seasons set for May 1 3. The H H Executive Committee has pledged to pay orchestra and chorus members 100% of their expected salary for the performances. The payments will include 88 orchestra and chorus musicians and total more than $350,000. The payments will be made on the same day that the artists would have normally received a paycheck from the performances, so that no one will experience a drop off in income.

“The Handel and Haydn Society, like all arts organizations, is feeling the impact of these incredibly trying times,” said David Snead, President and CEO. “The Board felt we needed to stand by our musicians as we all navigate the economic uncertainty ahead. H H is thankful for the many patrons who donated back their tickets, the generous donors to the Musicians’ Relief Fund, and we welcome all additional support through the donation page on our website.”

The Handel and Haydn Society looks forward to returning in the fall with a complete season of historically informed performances. Subscriptions are on sale now at handelandhaydn.org or by calling the Box Office at 617.266.3605.

Handel and Haydn’s 2020–21 Season Performances include:

Brahms A German Requiem      September 25 27, 2020          Symphony Hall

Bach Vivaldi Gloria                 October 23 25, 2020               Symphony Hall

Handel Messiah                        November 27 28 29, 2020    Symphony Hall

Bach Christmas                        December 17 20, 2020           Jordan Hall

Haydn Mozart                        January 22 24, 2021               Symphony Hall

Mozart Great Mass                   February 5 7, 2021                 Jordan Hall

Beethoven Symphony No. 7       March 5 7, 2021                     Symphony Hall

Handel Israel in Egypt               March 19 21, 2021                 Jordan Hall & Sanders Theatre

Haydn The Creation                  April 30 May 2, 2021               Symphony Hall

About the Handel and Haydn Society

Boston’s Handel and Haydn Society is dedicated to performing Baroque and Classical music with a freshness, a vitality, and a creativity that inspires all ages. H H has been captivating audiences for 205 consecutive seasons (the most of any performing arts organization in the United States). Today, H H’s Orchestra and Chorus delight more than 50,000 listeners annually with a nine-week subscription series at Boston Symphony Hall and other leading venues. Through the Karen S. and George D. Levy Education Program, H H supports seven youth choirs of singers in grades 2-12 and provides thousands of complimentary tickets to students and communities throughout Boston, ensuring the joy of music is accessible to all. H H’s numerous free community concerts include an annual commemoration of the original 1863 Emancipation Proclamation concert on December 31. The artistic director of the Handel and Haydn Society is Harry Christophers. Under Christophers’s leadership, H H has released 12 CDs on the Coro label and has toured nationally and internationally. In all these ways, H H fulfills its mission to inspire the intellect, touch the heart, elevate the soul, and connect us with our shared humanity through transformative experiences with Baroque and Classical music.

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