Claudio Abbado's Orchestra Mozart to close 'temporarily'

17 January 2014, 10:35

Orchestra Mozart, the ensemble conducted by Claudio Abbado, is to close temporarily after 10 seasons of concerts since its inception in 2004.

The news was announced in a brief statement in Italian on the chamber ensemble's website:

"The management announced that from 11 January 2014 the activities of the Orchestra Mozart and Staff are temporarily suspended. Thank you to everyone from the staff of the Orchestra Mozart."

Reasons behind the closure could be Abbado's failing health (the orchestra had to cancel some concerts in the autumn of 2013) or, The Guardian argues, the financial pressure on the orchestra after Italian arts budget cuts.

It's not known if the hiatus will be temporary or if the orchestra has closed for good.

Recent years have seen Orchestra Mozart perform with the likes of Martha Argerich, Bernard Haitink and Maria Joao Pires.