Taipei, March 21
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers of live performances in Taiwan have released themed surgical face masks as a way to protect their audiences, as well as to promote their shows.
Audience members of the "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" live orchestra concert, for instance, are handed free face masks when they enter the venue.
The masks feature iconic images from the Harry Potter series, such as Hogwarts Castle and Platform 9 3/4, which will be familiar to fans of the series of books by J.K. Rowling.
The masks cannot be bought anywhere else and are only being given to those who come to the concerts, according to the organizer, Management of New Arts (MNA).
The three remaining shows in the concert's run in Taiwan will take place on Sunday evening in Taipei, March 26 in Taichung, and March 28 in Kaohsiung, according to the MNA website.
Meanwhile, the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts also gave themed masks to audiences for its production of the opera "La Traviata," which ran from March 18 to March 21.
Those masks have a simple drawing of a camellia flower, as the opera is based on the novel "La Dame aux Camélias," which translates in English as "The Lady with the Camellias."
Taiwan's National Symphony Orchestra (NSO), on the other hand, has also released masks, according to NSO Director Kuo Wen-chen (郭玟岑).
The limited edition NSO masks, which are available online, have images of various musical instruments and are designed to give music lovers more mask options, Kuo said.
(Source of news: CNA)
