First concert sold out in two hours; extra show added for September 22
(Macao, September 12, 2012), Following the success of the Star TV China Music Awards at The Venetian® Macao this past April, the integrated resort is now bringing the hugely-popular The Voice of China to Macao, a continuation of the partnership between The Venetian Macao and Star China Media Ltd. 28 contestants from the show and their four celebrity mentors will perform a special gala concert at the CotaiArena™ Friday, September 21 at 7:30pm. Tickets were all sold out within two hours. To meet the overwhelming demand and to thank the public for its great support, The Venetian Macao announced that the 28 contestants will perform an extra show on September 22, with tickets going on sale Thursday, September 13 at 10 am. The September 21 event will be broadcast to over 500 million Asian viewers on Zhejiang Television, Star TV and major internet portals on September 28 – two days before the highly-anticipated finale on September 30.
"The Voice of China has been a runaway hit in the mainland, and The Venetian Macao is thrilled to bring it to Macao, thriving our continuous commitment to develop the city into a world centre of tourism and leisure," said Edward Tracy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sands China Ltd. "The show will feel right at home at the CotaiArena, the region's entertainment venue leader. We have a superb track record of bringing the best in Asian and international superstar events to Macao, and we continue that proud tradition with a phenomenal record breaker like The Voice of China."
The Voice of China hit the airwaves in July, having since garnered a devout following of 120 million TV viewers on stations like Channel [V] and Zhejiang Television, plus 400 million more online. An international reality show franchise, The Voice has a unique twist that sets it apart from other talent search programmes – contestants on the show are selected via blind auditions. Judges have their backs toward the show's hopefuls, and must make their selections based on the quality of the singers' voices alone. Successful auditions result in the contestants being paired up with one of four celebrity coaches, who serve as mentors throughout the competition's battle and live performance rounds, as the pool of singers shrinks down toward the ultimate finale.
The Voice follows a tried-and-true formula: mentors are always celebrities, and typically feature a similar set of recurring figures – a big name from the music industry, a home-grown singer, at least one female and someone to pull in the ever-important youth demographic.
The foursome of mentors for The Voice of China features Liu Huan – China's very own 'King of Pop,' famous for his many theme songs, including his duet with Sarah Brightman, "You and Me," for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and the theme from the popular TV drama, A Native of Beijing in New York. The other mentors are mainland Mandopop singers Na Ying and Yang Kun, and Harlem Yu, the award-winning Taiwanese 'God of Music' famous for his many hits, including 2001’s smash, "Qing Fei De Yi."
Originating in Holland, international versions of the competition have been held in the United States, Portugal, South Korea, Germany, France and the UK. One key difference in China’s version though, is in the selection of the winner. Rather than a public vote, The Voice of China will rely on the four-coach celebrity panel, plus representatives from different media outlets, as judges for the finale.
It seems a big part of the show's appeal lies in the fact that the contestants – like the viewers – are ordinary people. One popular contestant from the countryside enjoys singing songs from the hit British artist Adele, without even understanding English. It's that kind of relatability that helps The Voice of China draw in its huge fan base in mainland China, and will undoubtedly spawn even more devotees from Hong Kong and Macao, as the international sensation makes its way to the CotaiArena soon.
Don't miss your last chance to experience the magic of The Voice of China up close – tickets for the 8 pm, September 22 gala concert at the CotaiArena are MOP 80 each and go on sale Thursday, September 13, 2012 at 10 am, at all Sands China box offices*. Tickets can be booked online at www.CotaiTicketing.com, or by phone at +853 2882 8818 (Macao) / +852 6333 6660 (HK) / 4001 206 618 (China toll-free) and are also available at Tom Lee Outlets and through Hong Kong Ticketing (customer service fee applies) online at www.HKTicketing.com or by phone at +852 3128 8288.
