"In this kind of crisis people need comforting and healing, and it's important to protect the health and safety of the audience."

On Jan 30 and Feb 1, within 40 hours, Guan and other singers and musicians threw themselves into rehearsals for a new song, titled The Angels, inspired by the doctors and nurses working on the front lines of the coronavirus battle, before it was recorded and released on the NCPA's online platform.

The NCPA is just one of hundreds of venues around China at which concerts and shows have been canceled since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in the city of Wuhan, Hubei province.

At the Beijing Concert Hall 18 shows from Jan 25 to Feb 29 were canceled, and at the Beijing People's Arts Theatre Chinese plays such as Quan Ja Fu (Family Reunion) and Gu Wan (Antique) were canceled. The Shanghai Oriental Art Center canceled more than 15 shows due to be staged this month and next, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra's East Asia tour, including two concerts at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center on Feb 15 and 16, were canceled.

"We are all deeply disappointed that we will not be able to perform for the wonderful audiences in Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong and Shanghai," Boston Symphony Orchestra's president and chief executive Mark Volpe said.