Half of Arts Festival shows sold out
The financial crisis appears to have had little impact on the Hong Kong Arts Festival, although sales of the priciest tickets have been slower than in previous years.
More than 85,000 tickets had been sold by January 30, raking in HK$31 million one week before the festival opens on Friday. This was 5,000 more tickets and HK$2 million more than at the same time last year.
Sixty of the festival's 121 performances were sold out and more than 90 per cent of tickets had been sold for 21 others.
The festival's marketing director, Katy Cheng Seung-wing, said that the advance bookings - made from mid-October to mid-November - took place in the early stages of the financial crisis and gave the annual festival an advantage.
Festival regulars made advance bookings to get discounts, while others booked early to ensure they would not miss the popular shows, she said.
Ms Cheng said, however, that tickets priced below HK$500 this year sold much quicker than the more expensive seats.
Some people would pay for higher-priced tickets only when no cheaper ones were available, she said.
'[But] sales have improved as the opening date draws closer.'
Ms Cheng said that Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk by the Latvian National Opera was an alternative show and its cheaper tickets sold quickly.
'People are interested in these shows but they are not certain. This is a very normal [ticketing sales] trend during a financial crisis.'
Full houses
Shows that were sold out include:
Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Pygmalion; Lisa Ono, A Celebration of 50 Years of Bossa Nova; Alice in Wonderland by English National Ballet; In-I by Juliette Binoche and Akram Khan; Wang Jian plays Bach@IFC55; Sergio Tiempo Piano Recital; Murder in San Jose; Un Cirque Plus Juste by Circo Aereo; England by Tim Crouch; Asia Pacific Dance Platform; Teresa Suen Harp Recital; The Table by Karbido
