Audiences and takings show extraordinary rise on last year for Australia’s newest festival.

Organiser’s have reported that the second annual Baroque Festival held in Hobart, Tasmania has been an exceptional success, with visitor numbers, ticket sales and attendances all doubling from the inaugural event hosted last year.
Over 8,500 tickets were sold during the festival for the opera Orlando, and concerts featuring the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Antipodes, as well as the five evening recitals on offer. Similarly, all five of the 5x5x5@5 afternoon concerts sold out, while the free Masterclass, hosted by the Hobart Baroque Music Director Dr Erin Helyard, packed out Government House.

The festival has helped provide a significant boost for Tasmanian tourism, the organiser’s claim, with 41% of attendee’s coming from outside of the state. Most visitors came from Melbourne and Sydney, but some came from as far as New Zealand and Los Angeles. Of those out of state travelers, most opted to stay for more than three nights, and some extended their stay to explore other parts of the state.

Kathryn Lewek and Daniel Bubeck in Orlando

The exceptional results will strengthen Tasmania’s growing reputation as a cultural destination...