Hong Kong Phil Musicians Test Negative

How does the HK Phil move forward to have concerts safely?

 

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra issued a press release this afternoon saying that apart from the one clarinettist who tested positive for the coronavirus, and is in stable condition in hospital, everyone else tested negative and are out of quarantine after two weeks.

Flautist plays husband's trombone in quarantine

It is a relief for the 90 orchestra members, who were suddenly forced into quarantine, some wondering what to do with their young children (taking them with them), or being separated from their spouse for that period of time. 

They all quarantined in at Penny's Bay, where there was no wifi, and some were scalded by water that was too hot for the showers. Many brought their instruments with them to play, though the ones with bigger instruments were not allowed to, owing to space restrictions.

Some reported the food tasted horrific and opted to fast, while others just ate boiled eggs.

Earlier in the week they had a virtual meeting with the orchestra's management, expressing their frustration at all of them being forced into quarantine, and there was no proper protocols on how to deal with the pandemic. 

How about starting with chamber concerts?

Some had no contact with the infected musician, or even sat near him and questioned why they needed to be quarantined.

"We can't perform again until something has been worked out and approved in advance, because there is no way we can risk being sent back here. We just can't perform again if the CHP [Centre for Health Protection] isn't engaging with us to develop a plan," said one orchestra member who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The orchestra's management suggested testing everyone weekly, with musicians handing them deep saliva samples in bottles before the first rehearsal of each week.

Some musicians also felt it would have been better to start the season with chamber music than a full orchestra.

Leung says tests prove live concerts are safe

Nevertheless, first associate concert master and violinist Leung Kin-fung says the musicians all testing negative "proved once and for all that the orchestra is not a high-risk environment and that live concerts are perfectly safe".

Until the CHP works with the Hong Kong Philharmonic to develop a specific protocol for them on how to hold concerts safely, we won't be able to listen to any of their live performances anytime soon, and that would be a pity; we are starving for music to soothe our anxieties in these unsettling times.