The culture ministry says that the expensive new Taichung Metropolitan Opera House is not big enough to hold pop concerts. The ministry was responding on Monday to fans of pop icon Jody Chiang, who were urging the ministry to let Chiang hold her farewell concerts at the venue.
The Taiwanese pop diva announced last Friday that she will end her singing career this year with 16 farewell concerts. The concerts will be held in Taipei and Kaohsiung, which are located in the north and south, but not in the central city of Taichung.
Fans from central Taiwan have been complaining the functionality of the expensive new opera house.
The culture ministry says that there are only 2,000 seats at the Taichung Metropolitan Opera House. But pop concerts are usually held in venues that can fit more than 10,000 people. The ministry said that if singers want to hold concerts here, the ticket revenues might not be able to cover the costs. But the ministry said that it will respect singers’ decision if they choose to hold concerts there.