The internationally renowned Vienna Boys’ Choir will sing for Taiwanese music lovers around the nation in the next two weeks, despite the general economic downturn that has caused many other concerts to be canceled, organizers said on Monday.
“It is true that the recent economic downturn has had a slight negative impact [on ticket sales], but we are still confident as the choir is very famous,” said Chou Tun-rern (周敦仁), general manager of the Ars Formosa Company, which is organizing the concerts.
Chou said that about 90 percent of the tickets for the two concerts in Taipei on next Tuesday and Wednesday had been sold, and that he was optimistic about box office sales in central and southern regions.
The choir has visited many times in the past and has always enjoyed an enthusiastic welcome from Taiwanese audiences, Chou said.
This year’s performance will feature popular songs from several musicals, such as If I Were a Rich Man from Fiddler on the Roof and Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord from Godspell, Chou said.
Many cultural activities, such as musicals and stage plays, have done poorly at the box office or been canceled this year.
The phenomenon could be blamed on the global economic downturn and the lack of long-term government support for the arts, several local art magazines said.
The Vienna Boys’ Choir performed yesterday in Taichung, and is to perform today in Tainan and in Kaohsiung tomorrow.
The choir will continue the tour with performances in Hsinchu on Friday, Jhongli on Saturday, as well as the performances in the capital, the company said.
Ticket prices range from NT$400 to NT$2,000.
The Vienna Boys’ Choir was established in Austria in 1498 to provide musical accompaniment to Mass. Divided into four groups, around 100 choristers aged between 10 and 14 have given about 300 concerts per year around the world.
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