![A Cleveland Orchestra rehearsal for a virtual performance. [Jean-Marie Papoi / ideastream]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4911c96/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/840x472!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F11%2F18%2FSTAGE%20Franz%20masked.jpg)
A longtime Cleveland Orchestra holiday tradition was canceled today due to the pandemic. In a video announcement posted this afternoon, CEO Andre Gremillet said the orchestra is canceling its annual holiday concerts due to COVID-19 concerns.
"Unfortunately, given the state of the pandemic, the incredible surge in new cases in Northeast Ohio, it's simply not possible for us to have these concerts," he said.
Today's announcement follows a November 6 news release with dates for the shows. The planned concerts would have been the first, in-person performances at Severance Hall since the pandemic began in March. Gremillet said the orchestra plans to return to live concerts in January, pending any further developments.
