Zhou Huyi from the Xi'an Symphony Orchestra attends a rehearsal. [Photo by Huo Yan/provided to China Daily]

The stage of the Xi'an Concert Hall in Shaanxi province stands eerily quiet, with both the resident orchestra and audiences absent due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Such performing arts venues have been dealt a major blow by the contagion. For example, it has forced the Xi'an Symphony Orchestra, which performs at the hall to large audiences, to cancel 15 concerts during the past three months.

The cancellations included three performances last month with pianist Martha Argerich from Argentina and one earlier this month with Romanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu and Chinese tenor Shi Yijie.

However, on March 18, Zhou Huyi, principal violinist of the orchestra, took to the stage at the concert hall for the first time since January.

At the largely empty venue, he rehearsed with other musicians from the orchestra for a livestreaming concert, which will air on Bilibili, one of the country's most popular online video sharing and entertainment platforms.

A piece is rehearsed by a violinist from the Xi'an orchestra. [Photo by Huo Yan/provided to China Daily]

It was the first time that musicians from the orchestra had performed without a live audience.

Titled Bullet-screen Concert, the show focuses on three groups from the orchestra: XSO Black Face, a percussion band featuring marimba player Xu Xin and xylophone player Gao Ya; XSO Piano Duet, comprising violinist Zhou Huyi and pianist Li Tian; and XSO Monet String Quartet, featuring violinists Wu Siyue and Shi Yinyue, violist Zhuang Shen and cellist Li Yifan.

Zhou, who was born and raised in Xi'an and learned to play violin with his father, said: "We usually perform in the concert hall in front of audiences, who sit quietly and watch us play. They give us feedback with their applause and acclaim, and we reciprocate with our music. But a concert without a real audience is a fresh experience for me, which is exciting."

A string quartet from the Suzhou Symphony Orchestra in Jiangsu province stages its debut livestream performance last month. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The 27-year-old graduated from the National University of Singapore's Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music in 2013 and furthered his studies at the Carl Maria von Weber University of Music in Dresden, Germany, in 2015, where he obtained his master's before joining the Xi'an Symphony Orchestra in 2018.

"For audiences (an online performance) is also a new way to enjoy classical music, which is usually considered a high and serious art form. They don't have to sit quietly and wear formal dress. They can eat, talk and share their ideas by posting comments while watching the performance, which is fun," Zhou said.

Cao Jiwen, branding director of the Xi'an Symphony Orchestra, said the idea of performing a livestreaming concert on Bilibili arose about a month ago when the orchestra's schedule was put on hold.

"We have built up a stable fan base since the orchestra was formed. With many concerts and public events being canceled or postponed due to the viral outbreak, people have told us that they are disappointed and they miss the orchestra's performances. They would love to see a concert, but understand the situation," Cao said.

"Although our musicians could not get together for rehearsals, they have had hours of individual practice at home. We wanted to give it a try by holding livestreaming concerts, which is a breakthrough for classical music."