The Big Drop-off – A few shows scheduled for Lincoln until the end of the year | Music

This is not unusual from mid-December to mid-January, when most tours take vacation time off. But the slowdown is earlier and more significant this year.

Two years ago, the Lied Center drew record crowds for a 12-day tour and 15 shows in October of “The Phantom of the Opera”. This season, Lied’s musicals, with the exception of “Escape to Margaritaville”, are scheduled for next year.

The last non-holiday concert of 2021 in Lied will take place on Monday with superstar classical music pianist Yuja Wang and violinist Lionidas Kavakos.

This year-end drop, however, should not be attributed to COVID, Lied deputy director Matthew Boring said.

“It’s not what we’re seeing right now,” Boring said. “All of the Broadway tours are still nationwide and we don’t see any canceled concerts. For us, it’s about getting things into the calendar.

These things are mostly local and regional performances that begin with a rental piano trio concert presented by the Lincoln Friends of Chamber Music on Thursday and a November 12 concert by the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra.

“One of the great things for us is that we always host the Nebraska Music Educators Conference every year with all bands from all states,” Boring said. “It takes a full week off the calendar. Then the following week is Thanksgiving and December brings the annual holiday shows.