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.