Conductor Rafael Payare Recovering From COVID-19

The Venezuelan conductor was fully vaccinated when he contracted the virus, as was his wife, cellist Alisa Weilerstein 

“Of course we keep close with a doctor and [follow] regulations because we just need to make sure,” said Payare, referring to him and his wife, both in isolation in their San Diego home.

Payare, 41, will be making his debut as music director designate of Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal (OSM) in an outdoor concert on September 9, 2021, at Olympic Park. 

Starting from September 11, he will be hearing the auditions for various positions at the OSM and will also open OSM’s 2021-22 season on September 14, 2021 at the Maison Symphonique.

Payare’s recovery from COVID-19 “doesn’t affect the OSM at all,” according to Pascale Ouimet, the orchestra’s head of public relations. “No plans are being changed,” said Ouimet.

The conductor was present for six hours of Zoom interviews earlier this week and showed no symptoms. “We know he is doing very well,” said Ouimet.