UK Visa Delays Force Pianist Daniil Trifonov to Cancel London Concert

Slower post-Brexit visa processing timeframes mean that Trifonov will cancel UK appearances for the second time this year

London's Philharmonia Orchestra recently announced that the US-based Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov has been forced to withdraw from his scheduled appearance with the orchestra — on account of insurmountable delays with the processing of his visa.

Trifonov was due to play Brahms's Piano Concerto No. 1 with the orchestra and conductor Paavo Järvi at the Royal Festival Hall on November 26, 2023, but will now be replaced by violinist James Ehnes.

This is not the first time that Trifonov has encountered such difficulties with UK visa processing. In March of 2023, another delay meant that he had to pull out of two appearances with the London Philharmonic Orchestra — despite "timely and concerted" efforts to get his visa processed.

Neither Trifonov nor his management have commented on the current set of delays.