Coronavirus concerns halt cultural activities across Romania – canceled and postponed events

The public health concerns related to the spread of the coronavirus and announced bans on gatherings of more than 100 people have forced many cultural institutions to cancel or postpone their events. From theaters and opera houses to museums and festivals, many have announced changes to their schedules for the month of March. An outline below.

Theaters

The I.L.Caragiale National Theater in Bucharest has canceled all performances and public events on its premises until March 22. On Monday, March 9, Bucharest mayor Gabriela Firea announced that the 14 theaters subordinated to the City Hall will suspend their activity until March 31. Independent Bucharest theater Unteatru said it would hold its performances without a public in the hall and stream the performances online.

In Constanţa, the State Theater and the Children and Youth Theater canceled their performances from March 11 to March 22.

The National Theater in Timişoara announced it was rescheduling all performances initially set between March 10 and March 22, while the Merlin Children and Youth Theater in the city decided to cancel all performances for an indefinite period of time. The Csiky Gergely Hungarian State Theater in Timişoara also suspended its activity between March 11 and March 22.

In Sibiu, the Gong Theater and the Radu Stanca Theater canceled all events and performances until March 22

Opera & classical music concerts

The Bucharest Opera House and the Timişoara Opera House canceled all performances until March 22, while the Cluj-Napoca Romanian Opera House canceled all performances of the month of March. The Iași Opera House suspended all performances until March 22.

In Bucharest, the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra decided to reschedule all performances initially set to take place until March 22.

All concerts and public events scheduled to take place at Sala Radio, also in Bucharest, until March 31, have been canceled.

Museums & libraries

The National Museum of Art of Romania (MNAR), the Art Collections Museum, and Th. Pallady Museum and the K. H. Zambaccian Museum have closed for the public until March 22. The Romanian Peasant Museum (MNTR) will also be closed until March 22, while the Dimitrie Gusti Village Museum will be closed until March 31. At the same time, the Parliament Palace will be closed to visitors until March 31. Similarly, the National Library of Romania will remain closed until March 22.

In Sibiu, the Brukenthal Museum - which includes the art collections and the Brukenthal Library, located inside the Brukenthal Palace, the Museum of History, the Pharmacy Museum, the Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Arms and Hunting Trophies – decided to suspend all activities with the public and events until March 22.