Streisand pulls out of first tour date

Last updated at 20:16 28 May 2007


Barbra Streisand has cancelled the first date of her European tour amid a row over "immoral" ticket prices.

Concert organisers in Rome claim the decision is not linked to the outcry, saying instead that production delays forced them to scrap the June 15 concert at the Stadio Flaminio.

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"We met with unexpected production delays - we deeply apologise to the fans in Rome," said a statement from the tour's promoter, Michael Cohl.

However last week, Italian consumer groups protested at "absurd and shameful" ticket prices ranging from just under £100 to more than £600, calling on authorities to deny Miss Streisand use of the 24,000-seat stadium.

The stadium "is public property and cannot be used for immoral deals that are shameful to a civilised country", the groups said in a statement.

Instead of the Rome date, which would have been the singer's first concert in Italy, Miss Streisand's website listed a new date - a June 18 concert in Zurich - to start the tour.

British fans, however, do not appear to regard skyhigh prices as a rip-off.

Miss Streisand is appearing at London's 02 Arena on July 18, her first UK concert in 13 years. Tickets - priced between £100 and £500 - sold out in 20 minutes.

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