Ballet proves Queensland's attraction as a cultural destination
Premier Anna Bligh has announced the Paris Opera Ballet at QPAC has been a runway success with all 25,000 tickets of Rudolf Nureyev's La Bayadère now sold out. "The last ticket for this beautiful performance was sold today, with approximately 20% of tickets sold to interstate visitors," said Ms Bligh.
(Media-Newswire.com) - Premier Anna Bligh has announced the Paris Opera Ballet at QPAC has been a runway success with all 25,000 tickets of Rudolf Nureyev’s La Bayadère now sold out.
“The last ticket for this beautiful performance was sold today, with approximately 20% of tickets sold to interstate visitors,” said Ms Bligh.
“The success of this wonderful show proves once again that Brisbane has become one of Australia’s premier cultural destinations.
“Not only that, but the success of this internationally famous production provides a much needed economic boost during this global financial crisis.
“These 13 performances will play host to at least 5,000 interstate visitors. That means thousands of hotel beds will be booked and thousands of meals will be eaten at our restaurants.
“It not only means jobs in hospitality - QPAC alone recruited over 100 new staff with one quarter of these newly-created positions for upgraded food and beverage outlets - but jobs for our dancers too.
“The company of 100 dancers from the Paris Opera Ballet has been joined by The Queensland Orchestra and 60 local dancers and performers.
“Cultural tourism is a growth industry for our city and it is because we have been able to attract events such as the Paris Opera Ballet that Brisbane is garnering a growing reputation as a world class cultural hub.”
QPAC chief executive John Kotzas said the performing arts centre had been delighted to welcome the ballet company and welcome them to our Lyric Theatre.
“We were thrilled that they chose to present the iconic work, La Bayadère, the work that the famous Rudolph Nureyev chorographed in the last year of his life.
The talent and skill of the dancers reached beyond the spectacle of the production to captivate the audience.”
Premier Anna Bligh said the Paris Opera Ballet was the world’s oldest and most influential ballet company, dating back to 1661.
“The production was the beginning of a new era for QPAC with the newly-refurbished Lyric Theatre one of only two venues in Australia that can stage such large-scale productions,” she said.
“The $34 million refurbishment at QPAC, funded by my government, is the first for the venue’s major theatres since it opened 24 years ago in 1985 and means QPAC is now arguably one of the best performing arts venues in Australia for disability access and staging major productions.
“Since its opening in 1985, QPAC has presented more than 20,000 performances to more than 13 million people and I look forward to enjoying performances for years to come.”
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