From Helga Hampton
Dear Amigos, April 1, 2020
MORE CANCELLATION OF CONCERTS
“This is a sad but dutiful Newsletter on Friday the 13th of March 2020.” That was the start of my March Newsletter in which I had to inform you about the cancellation of the March concerts. Goodness, is this a mere two and half weeks ago ? Seems much longer to me, as Larry and I have been sequestered here in our four walls since exactly that day – the next day was his birthday which we wanted to celebrate in the beautiful Parador in Carmona. Alas, Spain was about to close its borders and, already en route there, we turned around and have not budged since then.
We are all in the same boat, I am sure. Self-isolation is the duty and responsibility we all share in this pandemic and as the “highest risk group” there is no chance at all to shirk this duty.
So, PLEASE, do not think that with today`s Newsletter I am trying to make April Fools of you !
We are cancelling the rest of the concerts in the 2019/20 Amigo Concert Season !
Andrey Gugnin, our April 28th and 30th, pianist writes:
“Dear Helga, Indeed it is a strange and worrying times… And in fact I cannot leave Russia until May 1 anyway. It’s very frustrating. Let’s get through this being healthy and in a positive mood.
Please take care and we will speak soon. Thank you!
With best wishes, Andrey”
The Russian Trio – Evgueni Sinaisky – from Vienna, Kyril Timofeev – from Dusseldorf, and Valeria Zorina – from Madrid, had fortunately not begun making their travel arrangements when this calamity struck us all wherever we are in Europe. So it was not the greatest surprise when I told them about our sadness of not having them here for the concerts on May 19th and 21st 2020.
And Konstantin Lapshin – dear friend from London, is still hoping that the situation “might” change by June 2020. Bless his young soul! We, together with Os Agostos, had to inform him about our dispositions and that we look forward to enjoying him and his art again at a later date.
*********
It is indeed with a very heavy heart that I write this Newsletter. In all due fairness to all of you, to all our artists and to the Os Agostos Team, and in obeisance with Portuguese law, we have to “close shop” for an indefinite time period.
Part of the full meaning of these inevitable cancellations is our awareness that some adjustments to membership rights and fees will be needed once we are able to assess the future. Stay tuned.
Meanwhile, let’s all – every individual one of us – stay safe, keep distance and wait and see with patience, hope and lots of good music. Fortunately there is a lot of “canned” excellent music available for us to enjoy.
PLEASE NOTE: I changed my email address to: helga.hampton@gmail.com Delete the old one, please.
Hugs, from a distance
Helga Hampton
President
ASSOCIAҪÃO DE AMIGOS
DE MUSICA at Os Agostos
E-mail: helga.hampton@gmail.com
www: http://www.amigos-de-musica.org