Opera in Park ‘humiliation’ for council after just 4,000 tickets sold

Tickets for Opera in the Park at Temple Newsam in Leeds this year cost £12, with some concessions for LeedsCard and Breezecard holders, after Leeds City Council, faced with making massive savings because of public spending cuts, said it was forced to charge.

Tory shadow culture and leisure spokesman John Procter (Wetherby), said he had asked how many tickets had been sold for the event at Temple Newsam on July 30 and was told at the full council meeting yesterday that just 4,240 tickets had so far been bought – last year more than 45,000 people attended the event.

Coun Procter said: “This is a humiliation for this crazy policy that clearly has not worked.

“I feel sorry for the performers, staff and those who have purchased tickets.

“In the council meeting today, I demanded monies paid be returned to ticket holders and the remaining 40,000 plus tickets be made available free of charge to the people of Leeds forth- with.”

He said he had been told the income generated from ticket sales stood at £48,428.

“It further transpires that there are additional costs associated with charging for tickets, understood to be in the region of £50,000,” he added.

Aled Jones is set to be the lead performer and presenter at this year’s Opera in the Park.

The 40-year-old singer and presenter is due to be joined by renowned opera soloists Orla Boylan, Heather Shipp, Gwyn Hughes Jones and David Kempster as well as The Leeds Festival Chorus, while the music will be provided once again by the Orchestra of Opera North.

Art of survival: Page 15.