Chorus Sings Beethoven’s Ninth with Masks

The Yomiuri Shimbun

12:01 JST, December 20, 2020

The Japan Philharmonic Orchestra performed Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 “Choral” at the Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall in Yokohama on Saturday, with the entire choir wearing masks to prevent infections with the novel coronavirus.

The chorus of the Ninth, which usually involves 150 to 200 singers, was reduced to 48, including students from the Tokyo College of Music. The singers were also spaced one meter in front and behind each other, and 50 centimeters on each side. The volume was modest, but the sound magnificent.