The Tokyo Symphony Orchestra (TSO) held a concert at Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall on March 21, going against a wave of coronavirus-related cancellations and postponements. The performance attracted 800 people, including 150 who bought tickets at the door of the 1,600-seat venue.
It proved to be the orchestra’s last proper in-person performance, as its concert at Suntory Hall in Tokyo on March 28, which was to be held as scheduled under strict medical guidelines for infection prevention, was postponed at the last moment, partly due to a warning from Gov. Yuriko Koike, who urged people to stay home over the weekend.
Cancellations due to the new coronavirus have caused the TSO losses of around ¥50 million since the end of February, with little cancellation money coming from event organizers and no compensation for the loss of ticket sales for its own concerts.