Covid spring 2020 and Impromptu Concerts

In mid-March 2020, the Finnish Government imposed a ban on all events for more than 500 people as one of the restrictions designed to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. The HPO complied with the ruling and cancelled all the concerts it had planned for the rest of the season. This did not, however, mean silence! The HPO players, administration and HPO Screen production team rapidly set about devising a series of Impromptu Concerts that were broadcast live on Yle Areena, Yle Radio 1 and the HPO Screen mobile app. Musicians from the HPO independently planned the repertoire for each concert. The result was a series of five unique chamber music recitals performed to an empty Musiikkitalo and an online audience. The Covid situation eased off in Finland as the spring progressed, but when the orchestra began its summer vacation, it did not know exactly how the next, autumn 2020 concert series, would be held.