Jun 10, 2010
$680 ticket for concert
Most costly ticket ever for a show at the Esplanade
<!-- by line --> By Eddino Abdul Hadi
<!-- end by line -->
<!-- end left side bar -->
Formed in 1887, the Berliner Philharmoniker is acknowledged as one of the most esteemed orchestras in Europe. Classical magazine Gramophone ranked it second on the list of the world's top orchestras. At the top was Amsterdam's Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. -- PHOTO: ESPLANADE
GERMAN orchestra Berliner Philharmoniker (Berlin Philharmonic) has set a new record in ticket prices for a classical concert here. Top-tier seats for its upcoming two performances at the Esplanade Concert Hall on Nov 23 and 24 cost $680. This is the most expensive ticket price ever for a performance presented by the Esplanade. The art centre's programming officer Christel Hon says the cost of bringing in a top-class orchestra such as the Berliner Philharmoniker is extremely high. The Esplanade cannot reveal how much it costs to bring in the 128-member orchestra due to contractual agreements.
She adds: 'In fact, ticket prices for both nights are heavily subsidised. Even if both concerts were to sell out, we would not recover presentation costs.' Lower-tier tickets are priced at $80 and $150. Cheaper concession tickets are also available to students, senior citizens and full-time national servicemen. Student tickets cost $40 and $75, while senior citizens and full-time national servicemen pay $56 and $105. All the concession tickets as well as the $80 and $150 seats were sold out within hours of going on sale on May 22. About half of the tickets on both nights, costing $250, $280, $350, $500 and $680, are still available.
[email protected]
