Acclaimed Australian Composer Brett Dean Hospitalized With Coronavirus

Australian composer, violist and conductor Brett Dean has been hospitalized with the COVID-19 coronavirus

It has been announced today that acclaimed Australian composer, violist and conductor Brett Dean has withdrawn from his upcoming performance with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, in Australia - after being hospitalized with the COVID-19 coronavirus.

The 58-year-old former recipient of the Grawemeyer Award for Music Competition, is currently quarantined in isolation at The Royal Adelaide Hospital - after developing pneumonia-like symptoms.

“Intermusica can confirm that Brett Dean has been diagnosed with COVID-19, as of 5 March ...” the musician's management has today said in a statement.

“Intermusica, along with Brett’s publishers Boosey & Hawkes, have taken the necessary steps to inform all those who have worked with Brett in the last 14 days, further to NHS advice and SA Health Australia.”

Brett had just returned to Australia following a performance earlier this week with the National Symphony Orchestra, in Taiwan.

“The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra is sorry to learn of Brett’s diagnosis ... Brett is a long-standing and close friend of the ASO and we were very much looking forward to collaborating on this wonderful project ... we wish him well for a speedy recovery,” Adelaide Symphony Managing Director Vince Ciccarello has today said.

PHOTO CREDIT: BETTINA STOESS