The box office will open its doors on-line to Festival guests a little earlier than usual, in order to get a head start on three of the major events at the upcoming Festival. These are the seven performances of the San Francisco Ballet, directed by Helgi Tómasson at the Reykjavík City Theatre as of May 16, and the double baritone recitals of Dmitri Hvorostovsky on May 20 and Bryn Terfel on May 21, both in Háskólabíó Concert Hall. This is the first time the Festival opens the box office for selected events in December. The San Francisco Ballet visited Iceland for the Reykjavík Arts Festival in 2000. Now, seven years later, Artistic Director Helgi Tómasson has created a programme for the visit next spring, based on some of the ballets Tómasson has choreographed for his company. These include some of his most ambitious works, among those Concerto Grosso, 7 for eight and The Fifth Season, which showcase the artistic excellence of the company´s dancers. Ever since the visit to Iceland in 2000, the company´s renown has grown steadily and the San Francisco Ballet has now reached the highest ranks of fame. The company is the oldest one in the USA and this visit to Iceland signals in a way the start of its 75 Anniversary celebrations. The San Francisco Ballet´s performance is a collaboration between the Reykjavík Arts Festival and the Reykjavík City Theatre. Dmitri Hvorostovsky beat Bryn Terfel to the first place of the Cardiff BBC Singer of the World competition in 1989, and ever since then the two baritones have been considered among the finest of their genre. The 2007 Reykjavík Arts Festival offers a unique opportunity to experience both of the masters at consecutive recitals on May 20 and 21, at Háskólabíó Concert Hall. They share an infallible artistic sense, while each maintains his individual characteristics. Terfel´s voice is famous for its multitude of nuances; Hvorostovsky´s velvety and sonorous voice goes straight to the heart. Among recent feats one might mention Hvorostovsky´s legendary concert tour of the cities of Russia, by invitation of President Putin, in honour of the Russian soldiers who fought in World War II. His most famous role is Onegin in Tchaikovksy´s Eugene Onegin, a role often described as “written for him”. It is safe to state that Bryn Terfel is one of the most revered singers of our times. His interpretation of some of the most demanding roles of the opera stage, such as Verdi´s Falstaff and Mozart´s Leporello and Don Giovanni, have earned him unanimous critical acclaim. The programmes at the two recitals are as different as possible. Hvorovstovsky´s strong ties to his native Russia are reflected in his selection of songs by the great masters of the Russian Lieder, such as Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, Glinka, Rachmaninoff and Borodin. Terfel´s programme will be based on songs from Scotland, Ireland and his native Wales. Ticket Sales for these three Reykjavík Arts Festival 2007 events begins on Monday, December 4. Tickets are for sale at the festival website, www.artfest.is, and by telephone (+354) 552 8588, weekdays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Admission for the San Francisco Ballet is ISK 4.800 Admission for a single recital, Terfel/Hvorostovsky, is ISK 5.900/6.400 A “Double Baritone” special offer, for both recitals, is ISK 11.800 The “Double Baritone” offer is valid only til the end of 2006, with a limited number of tickets on offer. The Reykjavík Arts Festival takes place from May 10 to 26. The entire Festival Programme will be announced after the New Year.