Avram Denies Responsibility For Magnifico

At least 30,000 ticket-holders are waiting to find out if they’ll get refunds from the canceled “Magnifico” German shows after the company behind it filed for insolvency.

Internationally known promoter Marcel Avram says he’s not closely involved with the project although “Magnifico” is listed as one of his tours on Avram’s own website.

Show producer André Heller, the man who did “Africa, Africa,” recently told German business magazine WirtschaftsWoche that Avram is behind it, but the man famous for promoting top global acts says his only role was to “supervise the investors.”

He admits to putting some money behind the show, which cost an estimated euro 14.1 million, but tells Pollstar that Magnifico Circus GmbH and Magnifico GmbH & Co. are the real owners of the project.

Magnifico Circus GmbH & Co. filed for insolvency at the district court in Munich July 19.

“After a promising start in February 2011 in Munich the cost of this gigantic production both before and during ongoing operations have reached dimensions that can not be covered by revenue,” Magnifico’s website explained.

It says it’s unable to tell ticket-holders what to do about getting a refund because that’s a matter for the liquidator.

The liquidator is Munich-based Pohlmann Hofmann, which is looking to sell the production as a going concern, and it it’ll likely take a couple of months to find out if that’s possible.

It’s the second knock Heller’s career has taken in the last two years as “India,” promoted by Prime Time chief Matthias Hoffmann, went bust in Hamburg in February 2010.