Pavarotti in Glasgow

interest and anticipation among the press and the public alike for the

visit of Luciano Pavarotti to Glasgow in 1990.

There has also been speculation about the venue and access to tickets,

so I hope you will allow me to attempt to put the record straight.

The Pavarotti concert in Glasgow is being organised and promoted by

Harvey Goldsmith (the Allied Entertainments Group) who handles Mr

Pavarotti's concerts in the United Kingdom, and in this particular

instance the concert is being staged in association with Scottish Opera.

Scottish Opera's involvement is at the specific request of Mr

Pavarotti as he intends that his visit should benefit the resident opera

company of Scotland and, in a more general sense, widen the appeal and

the audience base for opera.

It was because we recognised the potential benefits for Scottish Opera

and also because we knew that this concert would attract wide popular

appeal among the people of Glasgow that we jumped at the opportunity to

become involved. To secure the concert for Glasgow, Scottish Opera made

a significant financial commitment to the promoter and, as a result, we

have been allocated 1000 tickets.

These tickets will be sold in conjunction with a wide range of

corporate hospitality packages, the proceeds from which enable Scottish

Opera to secure the concert for Glasgow and also to raise funds for the

work of the opera company, both in Glasgow and throughout Scotland.

The remaining 7500 tickets will be put on sale to the general public

by Allied Entertainments and, in the first instance, a limited number of

the higher priced tickets are being offered on priority to Scottish

Opera subscribers (existing or new).

At the beginning of October, 1989, the bulk of the tickets at all

prices will go on general sale. Prices range from #25-#75 and box office

arrangements will be advertised in the press during September.

This concert is not an exercise in trying to get the largest number of

people into the largest possible space and cannot be viewed as a

mega-size rock concert with attendant theatrical effects. This is a

serious and hugely enjoyable concert of operatic music, admittedly

performed by someone who many regard as the greatest opera singer in the

world, and therefore the choice of venue is crucial.

Harvey Goldsmith has decided that the most appropriate venue which can

seat the largest possible audience indoors, providing a reasonable view

of the performer, and which will

most effectively respond to a highly sophisticated acoustic system

which will be installed is the Scottish Exhibition and Conference

Centre, and that is where the concert will take place on May 16, 1990.

Undoubtedly Mr Pavarotti's concert in Glasgow will be one of the

highlights of 1990 and those of us who have been involved in planning

this event have been at great pains to ensure that the maximum number of

people is able to attend and in circumstances that will ensure the best

possible chance of enjoyment at hearing and seeing this great singer.

Richard Mantle,

Managing Director,

Scottish Opera.