West Kowloon Cultural District's Lunar New Year operas revealed
Traditional Lunar New Year shows return for second year at West Kowloon Cultural District
The West Kowloon Cultural District will again feature traditional Cantonese operas during Lunar New Year - with entrance costing 10 times that of last year's performances.
Tickets to the programme, known as after the traditional performance venues erected during festivals in Hong Kong, will cost HK$100 and HK$150. Last year was the first time operas had been staged at the future arts hub and tickets cost HK$10 each.
West Kowloon Cultural District Authority executive director Louis Yu Kwok-lit said last year's low price was a first-time "gift to the audience".
The authority's chief executive, Michael Lynch, said the annual event was not aimed at making money. "It will be many years before we do anything profit-making," Lynch said.
"I don't think we can be unduly competitive with other venues in Hong Kong."
He said the authority acted "like Robin Hood". "You take from the rich and you give to the poor, or the less well-off," he said.
Between January 30 and February 16 next year there will be 14 performances, including 10 or star singers, as well as younger artists.
Some 800 seats will be sold for each session with more than half at the lower price. Half-price tickets will also be available for the elderly, disabled, full-time students and welfare recipients
Last week, the authority revealed the final design for the Xiqu Centre for opera, the first venue due to be completed in the cultural district in 2016. The lantern-shaped structure is designed by architects Bing Thom of Vancouver and Hong Kong's Ronald Lu & Partners.
Construction costs, previously estimated at HK$1.3 billion, has doubled, the government said.
