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1998 l'International Benson & Hedges Montréal Pyromusical Competition Report

Italy Ballet of fire Saturday June 6th, 1998

IPON S.R.L.

Unseasonably cool cloudy weather, following a record breaking hot spring, was the backdrop to the start of the 14th edition of the Benson and Hedges International Pyrotechnics competition in Montréal. Last year's Gold Jupiter winners opened the competition with a fabulous display in five thematic parts. A collaboration between the Naples firm, with more than 85% of the fireworks specially constructed for this display, German designer Joachim Berner, and an American Pyrodigital computerised firing system, promised to deliver a performance to equal their top ranking display of last year.

Introduction to the music Fanfare for the Common Man by Emerson Lake & Palmer. The display opened to an enormous multi-multi break shell of spider comets in silver and gold with volleys of salutes. Then more multi-breaks of charcoal comets turning to silver and glitter comets turning to silver fireflies.

Part 1 to the music The Second Waltz by Shostakovitch and Circus Renz by G. Peter. Comet candles in fans with blue and red ball candles opened this segment. A line of mines of small clusters of blue stars fired one by one in perfect synchronization to each note of the music. Then brighter mines from a platform in the centre of the lake appeared to give the impression of dancing. Another line of mines of clusters of violet stars again in note-by-note synchrony. Next, shells of a special type of tourbillon giving the impression of an expanding flower of white petals, something which I've previously described as similar to a scallop shell. Then more of the same but with pistils of blue stars and then even bigger shells with double rings of the tourbillons. These were repeated again and again, getting larger and larger, culminating in a large shell of comets turning into coloured balls. Next, note-by-note synchronized mines of slowly rising gold glitter, followed by mines in dazzling yellow. Then another line of the mines of blue cluster stars, with the colour and comet shells above forming the shape of cauliflowers, the comets being the "leaves". Next, more of the special flower tourbillon shells with blue pistils, some with single petal rings and then double petal rings and pistils. Finally, another line of note-synchronized mines with a massive multi-break white comet spider shell above.

Part 2 to the music Funiculi Funicula by a Napolitan composer and La Traviata - Brindisi by Giuseppe Verdi. This up-tempo section opened with lots and lots of fast breaking comet shells and multi-breaks with sequentially timed breaks of comets. This sequence was repeated over and over. Then a line of ball candles, with the balls breaking to a crackling noise. Above these, big multi-breaks of red comets turning to silver. Next, more of the crackling ball candles with more big multi-breaks above of comets and colour stars turning to white comets. This sequence was repeated again and then followed by more shells of the fast moving comets. Next, a note-synchronized line of dazzling bright mines with large white comet shells above and more of the large cauliflower shells. Moving into the second piece of music in this section, huge shells with half the stars in one colour and the other half in another, such as gold and blue, pink and aquamarine and then barrages of titanium salutes. These were interspersed with large multi-break comet shells and candles of tourbillons. Then shells of charcoal comets turning into colour stars and more large multi-break comets. Next, more of the charcoal comet to colour shells with white comet candles below. The pace increased somewhat with huge multi-breaks of white comets and steel blue stars. Next, candles of colour stars and glitter comets in fan shapes with large cauliflower shells above. These increased in intensity and were followed by multi-break spider shells of white comets, then huge pistil shells in various colours and white followed by even larger multi-breaks and a barrage of titanium salutes.

Part 3 to the music Peer Gynt - Suite No. 1 by Edvard Grieg, Dances of the Swans by Tchaikovsky and La gazza Ladra (the theiving magpie) - overture by Rossini. This section opened with beautiful gold comet candles with cauliflower shells above. Then shells of mixed colours turning to silver. This theme was repeated several times and moved to huge shells of pink turning to silver. Next, large pistil shells in white with white comet candles below, more and more cauliflower shells in many colours finally culminating in some huge weeping willow shells, but with silver trails rather than charcoal - completly filling the air, to gasps of amazement from the audience. The Dances of the Swans began with a line of white fountains and several volleys of nautic fountains fired into the lake which appeared to dance on the surface of the water like serene white swans. Next, mines or candles of brilliant orange hissing tourbillons with shells of small white comets above, followed by gold and white. Behind these, large shells with whitish gold rising tails bursting into burnished palm trees, followed by glitter shells and culminating in large golden weeping willow shells, filling the sky. The final segment in this section opened with a line of single star mines in aqua in note-by-note synchronization to the music. Then candles of crackling tourbillons, with crackling colour bombettes above. Another line of note-by-note synchronized mines, followed by a line of red mines then a line of dazzling yellow. Charcoal fountains opened in front of the lake with note-by-note mines of purple stars moving from left to right followed by a front of the same moving very quickly from right to left as the music played a trill. Beautiful glittering gold candles with small shells of brilliant gold glitter turning to gold fireflies gave the impression of ballet dancers in the sky performing pirouettes. This was repeated several times before moving to shells of blue and gold, getting larger and larger, then cauliflower shells and shells half gold and half blue. More fountains opened over the lake with candles of crackling colour which sounded like applause. Then several large titanium salutes were launched - it seemed that they had been lofted too early to be in sync with the music but each salute burst exactly on the beat it was supposed to - absolutely incredible. Another line of note-by-note synchronized mines and then several large silver girandolas rose majestically into the sky. More note-by-note synchronized mines with brilliant gold firefly shells above, repeated over and over. The pace increased with large pistil shells with multiple colour changing stars and comets, shells of fast comets and then more large pistil shells with red to blue changing stars. These were rapidly followed by shell after shell of dazzling white fireflies followed by enormous multi-break spiders shells in blue and white which burst exactly on cue, to screams of delight from the audience. This was pyrotechnic perfection.

Part 4 to the music The Gypsy Baron March by Johann Strauss; Adieu my Little Gardofficer by R. Stolz and Under Thunder and Flash by Johann Strauss. Strauss' uptempo march opened with two huge multi-break shells followed by the giant flower tourbillon shells then another huge multi-break comet shell in gold which turned to gold fireflies. Then shells of ball stars, shells of blue stars with gold comet trails with bombettes of the flower tourbillons below. These increased in size and number and then were followed by line after line of synchronized mines with shells of white comets and salutes above. More lines of mines, fast comet shells above and barrages of titanium salutes followed by mines of small silver cluster stars and multi-break shells of red and green comets above. Next, mines of charcoal comets which turned to silver and went hissing into the lake, followed by huge weeping willow shells which turned to silver completely filling the air. Next, mines of gold glitter stars with multi-break charcoal and glitter comets above which turned into gold fireflies. This theme was repeated, but with white comets and fireflies followed by colour stars with charcoal comet trails. Multi-breaks of blue and white comets were followed by gold glitter shells, then large charcoal comet and colour shells. The intensity increased with glitter comets turning to fireflies, cauliflower shells in all sorts of colours, then firefly shells with glitter and flower tourbillon bombettes below. Stolz's music lead to the impression that we had reached the finale with huge shells of the flower tourbillons, barrages of salutes, more flower tourbillon shells with red and blue pistils and single and double petal rings, lots of cauliflower shells and large barrages of salutes. However, this was only a fausse finale. The true finale was set to the appropriately titled Under Thunder and Flash by Strauss. It is difficult to describe the intensity. The two minute finale began at a terrific pace with multi-breaks of all sorts, cauliflower shells, flower tourbillon shells, with enormous salute barrages going on at the same time. The pace kept increasing and increasing with massive chest-thumping bottom shots embedded in the apocolyptic looking salute barrage tearing the heavens assunder; the shots being powerful enough to actually move my clothes. Incredibly, the pace increased still further. Surely a vision of the end of the world, the sky was being torn apart by thousands of thunderous salutes and other enormous shells and multibreaks. After a moment's darkness and silence, a dramatically deafening and blinding barrage of gigantic salutes brought the apocolypse to a conclusion, leaving the audience screaming in terror and delight.

People were visibly shaken. It was a tremendous finale to a truly incredibly piece of pyromusical art. Flawless synchronization and a brilliant choice of material make this display as close to pyrotechnic perfection as I have ever witnessed. It doesn't get better than this. This is going to be a fantastic year's competition once again! Back in the press room, the Italian team received a well deserved standing ovation. Looks like they will pick up another Jupiter this year.

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France Full Speed Toward Fantasy Wednesday June 10th, 1998

Société Étienne Lacroix

Several thunderstorm cells threatened to spoil an otherwise perfect summer day but the skies cleared out in time for a brilliant thirteen part display from the largest pyrotechnics company in Europe. The theme chosen was music from fantasy films and all of the material was specially chosen from the range of over 3500 products manufactured by Étienne Lacroix and the recently integrated Ruggieri (the world's oldest pyrotechnics company).

Part 1 to the music from Star Wars by J. Williams. This segment opened with a large fan of rockets, bursting to gold glitter followed by weeping willow shells. Then several fronts of silver glitter mines which turned to fireflies. These were followed by crossette candles in blue and gold, then a line of brilliant blue mines, then red, leading to crossed glitter comet candles. Behind these, shells with silver rising tails bursting to blue stars, then another line of big blue mines, with red star shells above. Gold glitter crossette candles with large blue and red star shells above were followed by multi-break silver comet shells and finally shells with very widely spread large glitter comets.

Part 2 to the music from Raiders of the Lost Arc by J. Williams. A line of fountains and charcoal crossette candles opened this segment. Then a front of charcoal glitter mines followed by mines of blue and gold crossette comets. Next, long charcoal comet candles with charcoal crossette comet shells above and then multi-breaks in blue followed by weeping willow shells. Next, even larger weeping willow shells with rising tails and comets turning to green at the end of their burn. These were repeated and then were followed by even larger glitter willow shells with blue mines and gold crossettes below. Finally this segment was brought to a close with a barrage of salutes and a front of flash-pots on the ground.

Part 3 to the music from Terminator by B. Fiedel. This segment began with a line of bright red flares and white strobe pots. Then a line of fireballs, then another. Next, several huge fires with lots of black smoke errupted, looking like some sort of oil refinery disaster. Then more huge balls of black smokey fire, eerily lit by the red flares. In front of the fiery inferno scene, white ball candles and then another line of smokey black fireballs went up followed by a front of big silver glitter mines turning to fireflies. Next, a line of silver fountains with a red base flame with a front of mines in glitter and blue in front. Then pale burnished gold comet candles with a sequence of small pale gold mines in front, repeated with a larger sequence of mines. Next, another sequenced line of mines with double ringed flower tourbillon shells above. Another front of mines and more of the flower tourbillon shells above. Next a barrage of titanium salutes and red glitter star shells, another salute barrage with gold go-getter shells followed by a fan of rockets bursting to gold glitter and finally a silver spider multi-break shell.

Part 4 to the music from Jurassic Park by J. Williams. This began with green mines fired at an angle to the left and right followed by a large front of green mines. Then some very bright loudly hissing silver sprays and white ball candles. Next, glitter candles in a fan shape with the glitter on the verge of being fireflies. Next, white crossetted candles, green mines and bright orange bombettes and shells. Then rising tail shells bursting to flower tourbillons and some big orange and pale yellow shells. Next, a big fan of rockets and willow shells with white twinkling pistils ending up as large weeping willows.

Part 5 to the music from Beetlejuice by D. Elfman. Loudly hissing fountains, screaming whistle candles, a front of flash-pots and a line of strobes opened this segment. Then groups of four rockets with a line of candles firing insanely fastly spinning tourbillons and whizzers. Another line of strobe pots and then a flight of screaming whistle rockets bursting to glitter. Then the most amazing candles firing charcoal comets bursting in crazy crossettes so quickly it sounded like loud applause; then different charcoal comets giving a kind of farting noise followed by the most insane charcoal crossettes breaking into dozens of tiny comets whizzing crazily and looking a bit like bees. Next, large multi-breaks in charcoal comets surrounded by star rings and shaped-burst shells bursting to double colour-changing bows with twinkling and crackling centres and finally huge charcoal comet shells with bright twinkling pistils.

Part 6 to the music from Back to the Future by A. Silvestri. Four girandolas rose majestically into the air followed by candles of salute terminated tourbillons. Next, a flight of rockets bursting to fast fireflies which turned to crackle. Then a line of very high flying comet candles with lots of firefly shells above. This was repeated several times and then six girandolas rose into the air followed by shells of fast moving serpent-like tourbillons. This segment was brought to a close with a huge multi-break in gold glitter comets.

Part 7 to the music from Blade Runner by Vangelis. This began with very fast repeating white ball candles with several fronts of very big blue mines. Then candles of glitter crossette comets, more fronts of mines and candles of twinkling comets. Next, a front of white mines and then candles of pale gold comets angled to the side. Above these, many colour shells in beautiful primary colours. Then a front of dazzling orange mines following by loudly hissing white mines with a grove of palm-tree shells behind. Then more palm-trees with brighter comets, a front of blue mines, more palm-trees and finally mines with remarkable double-breaking bombette comets.

Part 8 to the music from Willow by J. Williams. This began with large white fountains with a front of mines. Above these, shells in gold comets with blue stars, then shells with large comets forming a wide starfish shape. Next, shells of gold twinkling comets with a front of blue mines below. This was repeated and followed by shells of colour changing stars with really pure colours such as green to red then blue and charcoal comets. The segement was brought to a close with large charcoal comet shells with twinkling pistils.

Part 9 to the music from Frankenstein by O. Doyle. Bright white fountains with shells of colour stars turning to fireflies above opened this segment. This was followed by a line of fireballs and then a front of white crossette comet mines followed by the same in candles. Above these, bombettes in green and some dazzlingly bright comet candles below. Next, mines of wiggling serpents, shells of green-to-red stars above followed by white comet shells. Next, shells of charcoal comets turning to fireflies and flower tourbillon shells followed by shells of blue, gold and green crossettes. The segment was brought to a close with large shells of flower tourbillons and twinking comets.

Part 10 to the music from The Exorcist by M. Oldfield. Nautic flares which turned to strobes were fired into the lake with firefly shells above. Then more of the dazzling comet candles with front after front of twinkle to firefly mines. Above these, shells of bright fast moving go-getters and tourbillons. The segment was brought to a close with very large shells of glitter comets.

Part 11 to the music from Conan by B. Poledouris. This began with very fast charcoal crossette candles, so loud and fast that it sounded like a salute barrage. After the noise had subsided, a line of very serene wide charcoal comet candles was fired with groves of palm-shells behind. These got larger and larger, followed by white star shells, barrages of titanium salutes and finally large colour shells and multi-break comet shells.

Part 12 to the music from Abyss by A. Silvestri. This began with nautic fountains with white ball candles behind. Then shells in red and blue with tourbillons followed by candles and shells in a dazzling array of primary and pastel colours. The shells got larger and larger and were followed by shells of glitter comets. Then a huge flight of rockets bursting with soft-report bright flash balls followed by three huge weeping willow shells.

Part 13 to the music from Waterworld by J. N. Howard. This final segment began with ball candles and crackling crossette comets with shells of colour balls and comets above and then shells of twinkling colour and glitter stars. Next, shells of bright orange followed by titanium salutes. Then shells bursting into a crackling applause sort of noise, huge white mines and white comet shells. The pace kept increasing with huge shells of double petalled flower tourbillons, glitter comets, multi-break colour shells. Larger and larger colour shells with dazzlingly brilliant colours, mine fronts, multi-break shells breaking into sort of bunches of flowers. The sky was completely filled with huge shells and then finally for the closing seconds of the finale, a thunderous barrage of salute terminated serpent candles, shells and bombettes. The crowd shouted their approval.

This was a great display. There were some very unusal effects, from the smokey fireballs to the amazing charcoal bee-like crossettes. The depth and range of colours used was superb and the synchronization to the music was pretty much flawless throughout, save for a couple of shells. Whilst the finale wasn't as dramatic as the Italian display, the overall artistry and choice of material was excellent. This must be a contender for a Jupiter this year.

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Canada Voices in the Night Saturday June 13th, 1998

Concept Fiatlux

Dull skies and showers threatened to spoil the Canadian display for the second year running but the rains held off for the duration of the display. However, the damp air and lack of wind led to problems with smoke accumulation and some low cloud at times obscured the higher bursting shells. The young Montréal firm presented an artistic display coordinated to music for mainly female voices in 11 flowing segments.

Part 1 to the music Zooropa by U2. The display opened with a line of strobe pots with glitter candles in front. Then whistle candles and colour mines, serpent candles with colour shells above. Next, a flight of rockets and a volley of glitter shells, followed by shells of serpents and colour and then shells of fireflies. Then a front of glitter mines, a barrage of titanium salutes, a front of gold glitter mines, another barrage of titanium salutes and a final volley of firefly shells as the display moved seamlessly into:

Part 2 to the music Sleepy Maggie by Ashley MacIsaac with Mary Jane Lamond. This opened with candles of whizzers and another line of strobe pots. Above these, shells of beautiful gold glitter and candles of the same. Then shells of blue stars and gold glitter comets followed by several fans of rockets. More blue and gold comet shells and yet more fans of rockets followed by salute terminated tourbillon candles. These were followed by shells of pale gold go-getters with tourbillons as well. Next, very large multi-colour changing ball star shells with tourbillons. Then more fans of rockets bursting to gold twinkles and pale gold go-getters with shells of the same. The segement was brought to a close with big shells of white comets and pale gold go-getters, a barrage of titanium salutes and large shells of white balls and comets.

Part 3 to the music Angel by Joe Jackson & Friends. A line of loud crackling comet candles followed by crackling crossettes with blue ball shells above opened this segment. Then shells of crackling crossettes with mines of the same below. These were followed by glitter shells with candles of crackling charcoal comets below. Next, some very beautiful shells of crackling charcoal comets which turned to golden frond weeping willows with nice twinkles. These were repeated several times and followed by salute terminated white ball candles with white ball shells above. Then several fans of rockets, shells of blue stars and glitter. This segment was brought to a close with more of the crackling charcoal comet to weeping willow twinkle shells as the music moved seamlessly to:

Part 4 to the music The Diva Dance by Éric Serra which is the theme music to the film Le cinquième élément by Luc Besson. This opened to volleys of shells with rings of blue ball stars surrounding white comets, then the same with gold comets, then white rings with pistils of small red stars. Then gold rings with blue pistils and other combinations of coloured rings surrounding pistils or comets. Next, mines of crackling crossettes with the segment brought to a close by more of the crackling charcoal comet to weeping willow twinkle shells.

Part 5 to the music Ulysse by René Dupéré which is the title music to the show Mystère by Cirque du Soleil. A front of dazzling green mines, then blue ball and glitter mines with big colour and comet shells above opened this segment. Then another front of blue and then green mines, shells of blue stars and gold comets and a barrage of titanium salutes. This theme was repeated several times, with beautiful aqua mines and shells. Then really large dazzling mines with huge colour and comet shells above with more fronts of mines and large colour and comet shells above with a barrage of titanium salutes bringing this segment to a close.

Part 6 to the music Great Gig in the Sky by Pink Floyd. Large flights of rockets bursting to narrow cones of glittery comets which turned to slow falling flashing stars opened this segment. Then shells of pale gold go-getters followed by more flights of rockets. This theme was repeated several times and then move to shells of very fast flashing pale gold fireflies. Next, flight after flight of rockets bursting to go-getters, fast twinkling fireflies, all in pale gold and also tourbillons. Then large shells of the same and some really nice large shells with comets and multi-coloured stars. More flights of rockets with the fast fireflies and tourbillons followed by shells of bright white stars and more slow fall firefly rockets. The segment was brought to a close with many beautiful kamuro shells of white comets turning to silver and gold twinkling weeping willows and finally some very bright white kamuros filling the sky and again turning to delicate silver and gold weeping willows.

Part 7 to the music The Cold Song by Klaus Nomi. This opened with glitter comet candles with ball shells above. Then shells of colour and comets, followed by some huge pistil shells. Then some really beautiful shells of bright gold glitter which turned to bright gold fireflies. These were repeated several times and were really beautiful. The segment was brought to a close with some really nice pale gold fast flashing firefly shells.

Part 8 to the title music from the film The Mission by Ennio Morricone. Several flights of rocket fans bursting to slow falling flashing comets opened this segment. Then serene candles of charcoal comets followed by whistles. Next a line of X-shaped fountains came hissing loudly into existance. Then some horizontal and vertical wheels spun into life. Some of the wheels became girandolas, several of which rose into the air, then fell back a bit and then rose up higher. Unfortunately, some of the girandolas didn't make it off the ground. Mext, crossette candles with big glitter shells above and then shells of glitter comets and whizzers. These were followed by palm-tree shells with crossed charcoal comet candles below. Then shells of blue balls and glitter comets, repeated several times followed by big weeping willow shells which turned to silver. Barrages of salutes and some really huge weeping willow shells brought this segment to a close.

Part 9 to the music Lakme - Sous le dôme doré by Léo Delibes. Fan-shaped white ball with charcoal tail comet candles opened this segment. Then left and right angled star mines in blue, then red, then green, then white and finally white comets. Above these, shells of small stars of brilliant orange, then the same below in mines. Next, a barrage of titanium salutes, candles of salute terminated white balls and salute terminated serpents. Front after front of white comet mines with barrages of salutes. Above these, shells of colour stars and glitter comets with the segment brought to a close with some really huge shells of blue stars and gold glitter comets.

Part 10 to the music Ode to my Father by Hans Zimmer. The atmoshperic hymn-like music sung with male voices opened with a group of fountains on the central platform in the lake. Behind these, weeping willow shells with rising tails. Then candles of whizzers with more groves of palms behind. Next, mines in blue, pink, aqua and white comets with shells of twinkling pale gold above. This theme was repeated and was followed by more palm-trees. Then charcoal crossette comet candles with multi-colour changing shells above followed by candles of whizzers and tourbillons. More groves of palm-trees, then some delightful shells of weeping willow type comets which turned to blue at the end of their burn. Then the same but turning to green, followed by blue ball and gold comet shells. Finally, the first part of this segment was brought to a close with some enormous weeping willow shells with comet stars which turned to blue and then to green. The voices changed to female as the second part of this segment opened serenely with white ball shells and fan shaped glitter comet candles. Then double breaking shells of fireflies and twinkling stars followed by large shells of pink and aqua. Next, some nice shells of small stars in various colours, followed by whistle candles, ball shells and then glitter comet candles. Then shells of glitter, big shells of weeping willow turning to colour stars followed by white glitter comet shells. More whistle candles and then crossed comet candles with firefly shells above. Finally, the segment was brought to a close with large shells of rings of tourbillons followed by a huge weeping willow in silver which trailed right to the ground.

Part 11 to the music Roll Tide by Hans Zimmer which is the theme music to the film Crimson Tide. This began with the central tower in the lake surrouned by lines of waterfall fountains and a line of strobe-pots at the back of the firing site. Several salutes were embedded into the waterfall fountains and exploded loudly as huge weeping willow shells burst above. Then the pace began to increase somewhat with lots of brilliant shaped-burst shells. These started off with single rings with one side in blue, the other in gold. Then some amazing pattern shells bursting into five-pointed stars, lots more multi-coloured rings, bow-tie shapes, double-concentric rings, more five-pointed stars, huge rings with brilliant coloured pistils. Then the impression of a submarine going under the water was given with barrages of salutes, huge numbers of really large nautic mines, mines of salutes, and screaming whistles candles. The pace increased and increased with vast numbers of dazzling colour shells, salute candles, salute-terminated tourbillons and barrage after barrage of chest-thumping titanium salutes. The pace increased still further with more and more salutes, the vast cloud of smoke hanging over the firing site being illuminated like a thunderstorm out of control by all the huge salutes. The display was brought to a close after a moment's pause by another huge barrage of titanium salutes.

This was a really excellent display. The synchronization was excellent throughout and the themes flowed fluidly from one segment to the next. The choice of pyrotechnic material was great and I really like the use of so many rockets. It's a pity that the low cloud and humidity conspired to create static clouds of smoke which obscured some of the higher bursting shells. This is going to be a difficult year for the judges.

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Spain Dance of Fire Wednesday June 17th, 1998

Ricardo Caballer

Heavy humidity and a threat of thunderstorms didn't prevent from the Spanish newcomers from presenting a fantastic display, with more than 750 Roman candles and over 2000 shells, all specially constructed near Valencia. Cousins to the four-times Jupiter winning Vicent Caballer, Ricardo and his pyrotechnical family firmly intend to take the Gold Jupiter for themselves, presenting a display in sixteen parts.

Introduction to the music Del Arco Iris suite by Luis Cobos. The display opened with a front of bright mines with a barrage of titanium salutes above. Then shells of orange balls, multi-break shells of salutes and finally a huge multi-break silver spider shell.

Part 1 to film music from the following: 20th Century Fox, Moon River, Over the Rainbow, Lara's Theme and Around the World in 80 Days. This segment opened with two long silver waterfalls which turned to white strobes. Above these, charcoal comet candles, first with gold heads and then with silver. Above the candles, shells of tourbillons and comets followed by weeping-willow shells turning to silver then the same turning to fireflies. Next, tourbillon candles with huge shells of comets and multi-colour changing balls. Then glitter comet candles followed by more of the huge colour and comet shells. This theme was repeated several times followed by shaped-burst shells of single rings of glitter comets. These were repeated several times followed by more huge multi-colour changing ball and comet shells finally ending with a huge weeping willow shell in pale gold with a twinkling firefly pistil.

Part 2 to the music A King of Magic by Queen. This began with fronts of huge glitter mines with blue stars at the top and multi-break weeping-willow shells above, followed by a barrage of titanium salutes. Then fantastic mines of blue balls and silver go-getter comets, with shells of the same above. Another titanium salute barrage, shells of white comets and titanium salutes, shells of white, blue, pink and salmon followed by more mine fronts of glitter and colour balls. Then multi-break shells of pale gold weeping-willow turning to titanium salutes, huge colour and comet shells, more multi-break titanium salute shells and fronts of colour and firefly mines below. Next, shells breaking to small bunch-of-flowers clusters with a barrage of titanium salutes mixed in. Then a front of beautiful firefly mines and finally shells of fast flashing fireflies.

Part 3 to the theme music from the film Missing by Vangelis. This segement set the theme for the evening with at least ten girandolas taking off one or two at a time and rising majestically into the air. Then they descend somewhat, renew their energy and rise up even higher to great cheers from the crowd. After these, mines of silver wiggling serpents followed by white comet candles. Above these a huge multi-break silver spider. Then mines of serpents and tourbillons. Next, kamuro shells of white falling comets, shells of comets and fast tourbillons and finally a huge kamuro in white comets falling almost to the ground.

Part 4 to the music Lucifer by A. Parsons. This began dramatically with a huge titanium salute barrage and multi-break salute shells. Then shells of dazzling bright go-getter comets repeated several times. Next, shaped-burst shells with rings of go-getters and glitter comets. Then large numbers of dazzling orange ball shells followed by candles of orange balls terminated with salutes. Above these shells of salutes and crazily flying fast tourbillons and more shells of dazzling orange. Then a titanium salute barrage, shells of go-getters with tourbillons and whizzers as well, finally ending in a barrage of titanium salutes.

Part 5 to the music from the film Blade Runner by Vangelis. Firefly comet candles with silver weeping-willow shells above opened this segment. This was repeated several times and then followed by shells of charcoal comets turning to fireflies. Next, dazzling mine fronts of gold glitter and blue balls with shells of charcoal comets and twinkling pistils above. Then more candles of firefly comets with lots of huge charcoal comet shells above with really nice firefly pistils. The segment was brought to a close with huge shells of twinkling white comets which turned to beautiful slow falling fireflies with the sky completely filled with these at the end.

Part 6 to the music Swan Lake by Tchaïkovsky. A line of serene white fountains, sequenced so they fired vertically, then in an X shape, then to the left and then to the right, giving the impression of swans, opened this segment. Next, a sequenced multi-break of titanium salutes followed by glitter comet candles below. Then shells of serpent glitter comets followed by glitter comet shells turning to colour balls. Next, multi-break comet shells with titanium salutes followed by more of the same, but larger and with colour balls as well. The segment was close with huge shells of serpent comets and a barrage of titanium salutes.

Part 7 to the music Chronology part IV by Jean-Michel Jarre. Ten girandolas firing gold glitter rose one after the other, first up, then down, and then up again to cheers from the crowd. After these, fan-shaped glitter candles with bright steel-blue heads and beautiful gold tails with big shells of comets and tourbillons above. Then shells of blue balls and gold comets, then the same but with glittering comet tails followed by a front of mines with blue and glitter. Then really large shells of blue and gold glitter, more mines of the same, then shells of gold twinkles. Another nine girandolas rose into the air followed by huge shells of comets and tourbillons. The pace increased with large shells of fast crazy tourbillons with mines of silver go-getter comets below. This theme was repeated followed by large shells of crazy tourbillons terminated with salutes. This increased in size and number with shells of comets and tourbillons as well. Then a front of dazzling bright mines and finally huge shells of comets and tourbillons.

Part 8 to the music Have you ever really loved a woman by Bryan Adams. This began with candles of salute-terminated tourbillons, then charcoal comet candles terminated with salutes with shells of weeping-willow with tourbillons above. The willows comets turned to silver and then candles of charcoal comets and tourbillons were fired below. Next, large shells of salute terminated charcoal comets, the with the same in candles below. This was repeated several times and then followed by beautiful pale gold kamuro shells with pale gold comet candles below. Next, a barrage of titanium salutes with candles of serpent comets with shells of the same. Then another titanium salute barrage followed by large willow shells with twinkling pistils. More titanium salute barrages with shells of charcoal-to-silver comets turning to fireflies. Next huge shells of glitter and twinkling pistils with the segment brought to a close with an enormous willow shell with the comets turning to silver and reaching almost to the ground.

Part 9 to the music Pasodoble: Sol Y Sombra - Obertura by Luis Cobos. A front of brilliant orange ball mines, then the same in yellow with shells of screaming whistiling tourbillons opened this segment. Next, candles of orange balls terminated with salutes, shells of dazzling orange and yellow and the same in candles below. Then salute-terminated tourbillon candles, shells of yellow balls and tourbillons followed by shells in dazzling orange, yellow, salmon, pink with candles of dazzling salute-terminated balls. This theme was repeated and repeated with thunderous noise from the salutes and then the segment was brought to a close with a huge volley of dazzling shells and salutes.

Part 10 to the music Barcelona Nights by Ottmar Liebert. This segment started in the same vein as the end of the previous one with shells of comets and salute-terminated tourbillons. Volley after volley of these were fired and the noise was very intense. Next, candles and shells of orange balls terminated with salutes, shells of comets and tourbillons with many volleys fired, again with lots of noise. The segment was brought to a thunderous close with three enormous shells of comets and salute-terminated tourbillons.

Part 11 to the music Valencia by J. Padilla & A. Prada. Multi-colour shells in dazzling primaries with the same in candles below and fronts of glitter mines with colour balls as well opened this segment to great effect. The colours were stunning, including the blues so bright as to be dazzling. Volley after volley were fired. Some of the shells were single colours, other two and three colours. Next, shells of dazzling orange salute-terminated balls with huge fronts of mines of glitter and colour. These were repeated many times and the segment was brought to a close with shells of dazzling blue balls terminated with salutes. Incredible colours.

Part 12 to the music Granada bu Agustin Lara. This segment opened with salute-terminated glitter comet candles with firefly shells above. Then salute-terminated tourbillon candles followed by firefly comet candles. Then an enormous mine front of deafening crackling fireflies with shells of colour and salute-terminated tourbillons above ending in fireflies. Next, shells of go-getters followed by salute barrages with firefly shells as well. Below these, gold comet candles followed by firefly comets. Above the candles, repeated volleys of huge gold comet shells with twinkling pistils. Then mines of gold glitter followed by mine fronts of firefly comets with the same in shells above with twinkling pistils. Finally, a barrage of multi-break shells bursting to pale gold weeping-willows.

Part 13 to the music Magaguena by E. Leucona To great cheering from the crowd, six pairs of girandolas rose in sequence high into the air. Then shells of very fast tourbillons followed by shells of the large white flower tourbillons and then shells of salute-terminated tourbillons. Next, shells of colour balls terminated with salutes and yet more tourbillons. Below these, colour canldes followed by more shells of colour and fast tourbillons. Then candles in bright yellow, then green, then orange and then the go-getter silver comets. These were repeated and followed by salute-terminated tourbillons, huge colour shells and shells of salute-terminated tourbillons. Next, shells of whizzers, huge rings of tourbillons and also fireflies. The size and number of these great mixed shells increased and brought this segment to a close before the display rapidly moved into the finale.

Part 14 to the music Can-Can by Jaques Offenbach. By now, the display had been running for 33 minutes and the final 90 seconds was just incredible. The pace was so great that it was difficult to take notes. There were enormous shells of the most dazzling blue stars I've ever seen. Glittering comets, fast tourbillons and go-getters of every description fired from candles, mines and shells. Dazzling primary colours, huge volleys of titanium salutes. The sky was filled with dazzling colour and noise. As the pace increased, a moments pause and then a final thunderous volley of titanium salutes. The crowd roared their approval.

This was a truly magnificent display. The quality and range of material, especially the numerous girandolas was outstanding. The colour stars used were outstanding with the most amazing dazzling blues I've ever seen - it is so hard to make blue stars which are bright, and these were beyond bright. The only minor criticism I can think of is that the synchronization wasn't quite perfect in a few places and a longer finale would have been the icing on the cake. Ricardo Caballer stands at the front of the pack at the moment and must have an excellent chance of taking home the Gold Jupiter if the standing ovation in the press room is anything to go by.

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Austria Celebrated Dances Saturday June 20th, 1998

Günter Vogler

A perfect warm summer evening was the scene for the display by last year's debutante Bronze Jupiter winners. In collaboration with a small french company, Artisans du Spectacle, who provided 50% of the material for the display with pyromusical choreography by Jean-Pierre Amrein. Fortunately, the husband and wife Voglers weren't injured when part of their workshops suffered an explosion, but because of the considerable damage, weren't present this evening for the eight-part display.

Part 1 to the music Invitation to the Dance by Carl Maria von Weber. The display opened to a barrage of glitter shells and titanium salutes with charcoal comet candles in fan shapes below. These were followed by charcoal glitter candles, also in fan shapes, with shells of gold glitter comets and blue balls above. Next, fan-comet candles in pale gold, with comet and blue shells turning to fireflies above. These were followed by a front of mines of small silver stars, then a front of crossette comet mines with colour-changing ball shells above. Then shells of white comets with a rack of fast-firing glitter comet candles in the centre of the lake. Next, a line of candles firing red and white crackling balls, with large shells of red stars above. The segment was brought to a close with a volley of red and white ball shells and huge shells of stars in small bunches.

Part 2 to the music Slavic Dances by Antonin Dvorak. A group of white fountains in the centre of the lake and a line of glitter fountains opened this segment. Then pattern shells of rings in pastel colours followed by another group of fountains in the lake centre. Above these, shells of colour stars and comets followed by serpent comets in glitter and then shells of crossettes. Next, more ring shells and candles of gold tourbillons below followed by several mine fronts. Then shells of comets turning to fireflies and another front of mines. More fountains fired up in the centre of the lake with shells of colour balls turning to crackle above. A line of candles firing very fast spinning tourbillons were complemented shells of blue balls, comets and tourbillons followed by multi-breaks and titanium salute barrages. Then more of the ball to crackle shells with the segment brought to a close by a huge weeping-willow shell where the comets turned to red at the end of their burn.

Part 3 to the music Marsch Frühlingsparade by R. Stolz. White strobe-pots with glitter comet shells above opened this segment. Then shells of charcoal crossette comets turning to crackle followed by shells of colour changing balls ending in crackle and fireflies. Next, huge shells of comets with colour ball pistils. These were repeated many times in different colours and followed by multi-break spider shells. Then shells of blue with twinkling pistils with bombette candles below. Next, a huge colour changing shell and a huge willow shell with pistil and comets turning to silver. This was followed by shells of go-getters and more colour changing shells and then a huge blue ball and gold willow comet shell. A volley of ball shells and a barrage of titanium salutes led into shells of charcoal comets turning to crackle, white comets turning to crackle, shells with comets and pistils, shaped-burst shells producing bows and more ball and crackle shells. Then a repeated theme consisting of blue and gold comet shells, glitter comet and colour, multi-break titanium salute barrages, blue and gold turning to crackle and white crossette comets. The segment was brought to a close with a huge weeping willow shell with small clusters of stars embedded within.

Part 4 to the music Weißt Du es noch by E. Kalman. Red flares and white comet candles opened up in the centre of the lake with more red flares at the back of the display area. A barrage of salutes was followed by some really nice shells of red stars which fell a long way. These were repeated several times and then a line of crackling bombette and crackling comet candles with white fountains in the lake centre. Next, shells of ball stars turning to crackle, a barrage of titanium salutes, shells of crossette comets and another barrage of titanium salutes. Then shells of small star clusters with crossette candles below. A line of red flares lit up with multi-break palm-tree shells above, with the comets turning white and then to fireflies. The segment was brought to a close with a volley of blue and gold comet shells and finally a volley of firefly shells.

Part 5 to the music Gopak by Aram Ilitch Katchatourian. Large shells of blue stars and charcoal comets, followed by huge colour changing shells with loudly hissing tourbillon candles was the theme repeated several times for the opening of this segment. Then red ball candles in the centre with a line of bombette and tourbillon candles. Above these, more and more shells of blue stars and gold comets followed by larger and larger shells of colour stars and white comets turning to crackle with some go-getters. Then bombette candles with colour changing shells above followed by huge shells of colour balls, white balls, willow comets, tourbillons, glitter and crackle. The segment was brought to a close with a dramatic front of loudly hissing dazzling firefly mines.

Part 6 to the music Badner Madl'n by K. Komzak. A silver vertical wheel and a group of silver fountains in the centre of the lake opened this segment. Then another group of even brighter fountains opened up with mines of white comets and shells of the same above. Next, crazy tourbillon candles in the centre of the lake with ring shells above. Then a very dramatic mass firing of horizontal colour ball candles from the centre of the lake with the stars covering the entire lake. Above this, shells of rings with pistils. Next, a repeated theme of low bombettes, with glitter to ball to firefly shells above. Then shells of blue and gold comets, triple colour changing shells with tourbillon bombette candles. Next, some great pattern shells with propeller shapes, multiple intersecting rings and other shapes followed by more blue and gold comet shells. Then a repeated theme of blue ball and glitter comet shells, weeping willow turning to red balls and blue and white comets turning to crackle. This was followed by a barrage of willow shells turning to fireflies with candles of crossette ball stars and tourbillon bombettes below. Then shells of the flower tourbillons in rings and shells of the crossette ball stars with bombettes of wiggly comets below. Fronts of silver mines were followed by shells of blue to crackle and comet to fireflies. Volleys of fast ball shells, willow to colour and shells with relatively few, but large gold comets were followed by huge comet and pistil shells, shells of balls to crackle and the segment was brought to a close with some huge weeping willow shells.

Part 7 to the music Under thunder and flash by Johann Strauss. This began very dramatically with barrage after barrage of huge nautic mines, so that the whole lake was exploding deafeningly with hemispheres of stars. Then candles of delightful double-ended tourbillons giving the impression of a rotating Z shapes. Above these ball shells and low breaking comet shells with screaming whistles and crackle. Then more of the Z tourbillons with shells of few but large bright comets above. More colour ball to crackle shells with whistling tourbillon candles below followed by shells of comets and balls above with whistling bombettes at a mid-level. Repeated segments of colour to crackle shells were followed by loud barrages of titanium salutes from bombettes with the noise and pace increasing. The segment was brought to a thunderous close with huge shells of colour stars with rings of titanium salutes around.

Part 8 to the music Can-Can by Jacques Offenbach. The finale began with crossette ball candles with multi colour changing shells above followed by all sorts of pattern shells and fronts of mines below. The pace increased with huge volleys of all sorts of shells, then backed off with crossette comet candles and started to increase again with more and more barrages of shells. As the music began to reach its conclusion, the sky was filled with enormous barrages of every type of shell used in the display, thunderous barrages of titanium salutes. Finally, a slight pause and a barrage of titanium salutes and multi-break shells brought the display to a dramatic conclusion, to roars of delight from the crowd.

This was an excellent display. The choice of material was really great and the horizontal firing of ball candles over the lake was particularly enjoyable. The only criticism is that the synchronization to the music wasn't too tight. The finale was good, though a little bit more noise could have made a great display into a fantastic one. My current rankings are Spain/Italy for the Gold/Silver with France for the Bronze, followed very closely by Austria. The Gold could go either way but currently I think Spain has the edge.

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China The Empire of Fire Saturday June 27th, 1998

Sunny International

A perfect summer evening was the setting for a complex display from the Chinese team, choregraphed by the award winning Alberto Navarro, telling the story of a legendary Chinese emporer. With many specially constructed shells, never seen before in Montréal and also many cakes, the display promised to be very special. However, bad weather during the display set-up and some apparent technical difficulties exacted their toll and unfortunately removed some of the majic from the twelve part show.

Presentation with the music from Seven Years in Tibet by John Williams. The display opened to the narration below with a cake of gold charcoal comets splitting into cones of smaller comets.

"The Empire of Fire...
This is the story of a legendary emperor
whom with his wisdom and sacrifice made of China
an open country.He was loved by his people,
and lived with his beloved wife in the Palace of Celesial Harmony
with his court of discoverers,inventors,and philosophers."

Act 1 "The People and the Emperor" to the music from The King and I by Rogers and Hammerstein. Mines of crossette ball stars in red and blue with shells of the same above turning to slow falling clusters of stars opened this section. Then shells of go-getters ball stars turning to crackle and fireflies above with cakes of crazy salute-terminated tourbillons below bursting to small blue stars below. Next, large white white shells turning to slow falling small white stars. Then there was a rather long pause as the first of several technical difficulties became apparent. The show then continued with shells of go-getters and cakes of very fast pastel coloured balls below, then more go-getter shells, fronts of mines and some nice shells of clusters of weeping-willow glitter fronds.

Act 2 "The City of Celestial Harmony" to the music In Re Don Giovanni by Michael Nyman. Shells of purple with tourbillons turning to crackle and opening bunches of willow-frond branches were followed by go-getters and tourbillons. Then shells opening into multiple bunches of stars with cakes of tourbillons below and the same in shells. Next, rising-tail shells and shells of bright coloured go-getters with cakes of crazy tourbillons below. Then shells with really excellent bright blues, more tourbillon cake craziness with shells of star bunches above and also shells of tourbillons. More cakes of tourbillons and mines of ball stars and go-getters with shells of star bunches and white comets above and finally a front of large mines.

Act 3 "The Elegant Man of Talents" to the music The Elegant Man of Talents a Chinese popular song. This opened with ball star cakes turning to bombettes with tourbillons and bee-like small charcoal go-getters. Above these, huge shells of stars and comets and more of the charcoal go-getter bombettes. Next, rising-tail shells of comets turning to slow falling clusters of stars and cakes of blue stars, whistles and tourbillons below and then more of the small charcoal go-getters. This segment then lead seamlessly into

Act 4 "The Empress Court" to the music The Coquette Teases the Doyen a Chinese Folk song. This continued with shells of go-getters and shells of bright ball stars with cakes cakes of bombettes containing more of the charcoal go-getters with large shells of small blue stars above. Next, large pistil shells and a huge volley of really large pistil shells and finally a barrage of white comet and twinkling star shells.

"From the shadowy outer realms of the Kingdom,
tribes of menacing nomads attacked the Palace.
Aided by conspirators and traitors inside the court
they assasinated the Emperor."

Act 5 "Conspiracy in the Palace" to the music The Last Emperor by Riuichi Sakamoto. The above narration was accompanied by a line of flares with crossed candles of blue and red stars. Then huge shells of sparse comets and lots of small stars turning to crossettes followed by really large shells in blue and white turning to fireflies. Then shells of bunches of stars turning to glitter fronds and blue stars.

Act 6 "Revolt" to the music mixMiss Saigon by Cameron Macintosh, A Duel from the film Ashes of Time and In a Chinese Temple Garden by Albert Ketelby. This section opened with a line of strobe-pots with cakes of salute-terminated tourbillons and crackling balls and more salutes. Then lines of crackling white comets with firefly shells above. Next, huge volleys of amazing shells of crackling glitter comets and crossettes ending up with really loud crackling which sounded like very loud applause. Then white comets in crossettes also turning to very loud applause-like crackling. Flights of screaming whistles with willow and firefly shells above and the small charcoal go-getters below were followed by more firefly shells. Next, barrages of crackling colour stars with crazy go-getters whizzing across the sky were repeated several times and followed by shells of slow fall clusters of stars and brilliant blue shells. Shells of blue go-getters and more slow fall cluster shells were followed by barrages of go-getter shells and more of the really loud applause-like crackle. Shells with large comets in silver and then silver comets turning to blue were followed by huge willow shells turning to white slow falling stars, bringing this segment to a close.

"Surmounting her grief and solitude
the Emperess called together her nobles and young warriors
to take up their new weapons, put on their armor of gold and hats of mink
and combat the nomads beyond the outer borders of the Kingdom.
To the farewells of their loved ones, the palace was left empty."

Act 7 "The lonely Concubine" to the music The Dream of the Red Mannsion by The Guo Brothers. The above narration was overlaid with white go-getter cakes and a kind of tourbillon which appeared to be a bright ball spitting sparks out of it. Then barrages of shells of bunches of stars which turned glittery willow fronds. These were repeated and followed by shells of really beautiful blue stars and tourbillons. Next, shells of charcoal glitter comets turning to hanging fronds in the air with go-getter bombettes of charcoal below. These were followed by barrage after barrage of willow shells, then huge shells with small stars and sparse silver comets and multi-breaks of silver comets criss-crossing the sky.

Act 8 "Seasons of Change" to the music Concerto in G minor,Summer by Vivaldi. This opened with go-getters and repeated barrages of really bright comets which turned to balles with more go-getters. Then shells of crossette balls and sequenced lines of bright ball headed comets in various colours with barrage after barrage of crossette ball shells above. Then a front of dazzling ball headed comets and more barrages of crossette balls and go-getters above. Next, shells of tourbillons and fireflies and shells of small stars and sparse comets. Very loud barrages of ball crossettes shells and bombettes of go-getters brought this segement to a close.

Act 9 "The March of the New Army" to the music A Desperate Battle by Once upon a time in China. Titanium salutes and shells of slow falling bunches of stars were followed by enormous shells of colour-changing stars and then shells of fireflies. Then huge pistil shells and shells of glitter fronds and fireflies were followed by twelve-inch thrice-colour-changing shells which filled the sky. Barrages of titanium salutes and salute terminated tourbillon cakes were followed by shells with rings of titanium salutes and more multi-colour changing shells. More of the thrice-colour changing shells were followed by glitter frond shells filling the sky and bringing this section to a close.

Act 10 "The Empty Palace" to the music Illusion soundtrack to the film Ashes of Time. The penultimate section opened with crackling comet shells with fans of bright comets below. Then shells of tourbillons and go-getters, shaped-burst shells with rings and several perfect five-pointed star-shapes. Next, crackling bombettes of blue with shells of blue clusters above and more shaped-burst shells with fireflies. Then shells of dazzling white comets and shells which made starfish kinds of shapes with multiplie comets and balls. Next shells with rising tails bursting to glitter fronds and blue crackle followed by clusters of blue and red stars. Shells of white balls and white comet shells turning to red and then the same turning to blue brought this section to a close.

The new imperial army was victorious at battle
avenging the death of the wise Emperor and
making his dream come true. The frontiers of China were finally
opened for centuries to the voyagers and merchants of the world...

Act 11 "The Great Battle. FINALE" to the music Festive Overture by Dimitri Shostakovitch. The above narration opened the final section with fan comets and huge white comet shells above. Then shells of crossette balls with mine and tourbillon fronts below. Next, charcoal crossettes and very large barrages of shells of balls and crackle. The pace increased and increased with enormous shells of blue stars, white comets and crackle and multi-colour changing shells. More and more shells of every type, barrages of salutes and cakes below with salute terminated tourbillons. Things appeared to be significantly out of synchronization as the music finished with a good 30 seconds of the display left. The sky was filled with huge bursts of every type and some really beautiful shells with lots of small bunches of different coloured stars in dazzling colours. Deafening barrages of titanium salutes and more huge shells brought the display to a dramatic end.

This was a very complex display and my notes probably only cover about 50% of the material presented. At one point, comets were fired over and into the lake but I'm not sure which section this happened. Many of the shells were difficult to describe because of the multi-effect complexity. The story-telling aspect of the display was excellent and it is truly a shame that the technical difficulties caused several periods of darkness and lead to the synchronization being so far out at the end of the show. I'm sure this would have been Gold Jupiter material if everything had worked correctly. However, this was still a very enjoyable display in this very tight competition.

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Germany Planet Walk Sunday July 5th, 1998

Weco Pyrotechnische Fabrik

A perfect summer evening, though without any wind to shift the smoke, was the backdrop to the German entry. After an unprecedented (in the fourteen year history of the competition) delay of seven minutes due to technical difficulties, the thirteen part display got underway.

Part 1 to the music 20th Century Fox Fanfare - The Empire Strikes Back by John Williams. The display opened to fan shaped comets from the central platform, with comet and flower-like tourbillon shells above, followed by shells with blue pistils and rings. Then there were many flights of tightly packed rockets in sheaves, bursting to single white stars which filled the sky. After a slight pause for some commentry, a line of strobe-pots and several firey yellow flame projectors were fired. Above these, shells of fireflies and burst after burst of nice flower-like tourbillon shells with glitter as well. Then shells of gold glitter followed rapidly by volleys of firefly shells. Next, crossed ball candles in the centre of the lake and more of the flower-like tourbillon with gold glitter shells. The segment was brought to a close with volleys of ball star shells which ended in slow falling clusters of small stars.

Part 2 to the music from the film Apollo 13 by Erich Kunzel. This began with several flights of rockets in sheaves terminated in white stars. Then tourbillon candles with volleys of pistil shells above. Then shells of crackling charcoal crossettes followed by gold comet shells. Next white shells with blue pistils then blue shells with white pistils and blue shells with gold twinkling pistils. Below these, bombettes of fireflies. The segment was brought to a close with a barrage of gold comet shells with blue pistils and then blue shells with gold twinkling pistils.

Part 3 to the music from the film Starwars by Erich Kunzel. A line of fountains with nice candles of pale gold glittery comets and bright blue balls opened this segment. Then volleys of multi-break shells of blue and comet stars with more candles of comets and balls below. Bursts of titanium fountains were fired from the central platform and then mines of glitter with multi-colour ball shells above. Next, shells with rings of comets and then many barrages of shells of very loud crackling glitter which turned to fireflies. Then a huge willow shell tuurning to fireflies with hissing mines in the centre of the lake. Finally, the segment was brought to a close with huge white weeping willow shells.

Part 4 to the theme from the film Dune by Toto.

This began with some ground level salutes and fountains aiming into the lake from the bottom of two UFO pictures. The music moved seamlessly to:

Part 5 to the Robotfight music from the filmDune by Toto.

More waterfall fountains in the centre of the lake with slow arcing comets fired from the left and right ends of the floating firing ramp. Then several fireballs and more arcing comets fired left and right and from the central platform into the lake with some whistles as well.

Part 6 to the music Bonanza by Erich Kunzel. This began with salute-terminated tourbillon candles in the centre with barrages of multi-break firefly shells above, then shells of a kind of electric glitter. Next, whistling tourbillons from the centre and some extremely large salutes with bright rising tails. Next, lots of low breaking white comet shells and some very high rising bright fat comet candles with the comets splitting into two at the apex of their flight. Then green ball crossette candles and then the same in gold comets followed by tourbillon mines, repeated many times over. Then bombette comet candles bursting to small blue stars. Next, Salute-terminated tourbillons and firefly mines were followed by very loud crakling glittery bombette candles which got louder and louder and crazier and crazier. Then shells of gold electric comets and then huge barrages of the amazing loud crackling glittery bombettes with low breaking shells of gold glitter turning to gold fireflies. Yet more of the crazy crackling bomettes and finally candles of go-getters as the music moved seamlessly into the next segment:

Part 7 to the music Mambo by Herbert Grönemeyer. Left and right firing mines with multi-break charcoal comet shells above were followed by arcing comet candles below with silver comet bombettes at mid-level. Then shells of twinkling glitter turning to fireflies and finally firefly bombettes.

Part 8 to the music Time Warp from The Rocky Horror Picture Show by Riff Raff Columbia. This opened with bright pink-headed comet candles fired from the centre with multi-break white comet spider shells above. Then mines with purple stars, glitter and salutes followed by ball star shells and more multi-break comet spiders. Next, very fast firing ball candles in salmon and crossed comet crossette candles also. Next, multi-break charcoal spider shells with whistling tourbillon candles below. More huge multi-break charcoal comet shells and then crossette candles of orange balls with ball shells above. The segment was brought to a close with white comet multi-break spider shells followed by glittery clusters of weeping willows.

Part 9 to the music Oyster by Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Very fast white ball candles with multi-break shells of flower-like tourbillons and comets above opened this segment. This theme was repeated and then several loud salutes followed by the ignition of ten red heart set-pieces in the lake moved the display to the next segment.

Part 10 to the music I'd Do Anything for Love by Meatloaf. With the heart set-pieces burning, V shaped fountains in a line opened up with slow arcing comets fired from the left and right of the ramp. The fountains increased in size with fronts of pink balls and white comets were fired behind. Then shells of comets turning to titanium salutes nad then single and double rings of titanium salutes. Next, weeping willow shells turning to silver followed by yellow-headed silver comet candles. Then small shells of fireflies, then the same but large and with glitter and then shells with tourbillons in bunches. These were followed by really nice shells with glitter and comets forming a six-pointed starfish. Then multi-break shells of weeping willow turning to silver followed by shaped-burst shells producing hearts. Next shells of small clusters of orange stars and then more of the nice starfish comet and glitter shells. Next, weeping willow shells with purple bunches of stars which I think are called grapevine shells followed by candles of crackly balls in the centre of the lake. Then some very high rising very bright ball candles and some very fast ball candles in the centre. Finally, the segment was brought to a close with three silver girandolas.

Part 11 to the music Blue Velvet by Bobby Vinton. Predictably, this segment featured and all-blue theme. This began with left right and centre firing blue ball cnadles, then in a line and with blue ball and gold comet shells above. Then five girandolas rose up and burst into blue and were followed by shells of small clusters of blue stars. Then shaped-burst shells in blue and a very loud shell detonation near ground level (photo of launch tube afterwards). Five more girandolas and were followed by flower-like tourbillon shells in gold with blue stars as well and then another five girandolas. The segment was brought to a close with barrages of blue shells and blue ball candles in the centre.

Part 12 to the music Jump by Van Halen. This began with fireballs and flights of rockets bursting to fireflies. Then crossed comet crossette candles and fast ball candles in the centre. More flights of rockets bursting to colour and fireflies followed by shells of flower-like tourbillons and comets with mines in the centre of the lake. Then very bright white high rising comet candles with more of the starfish type of shells above. Next, a period of darkness as some sort of technical problem occurred followed by mines in the centre with tourbillons and glitter turning to fireflies. Then loud whitling candles with saturn shells above, repeated several times. Then flights of rockets bursting to comets and glitter and nautic mines of tourbillons. Above these multi-break white comet spider shells and white ball candles in the centre, bringing the segment to a close.

Part 13 to the music Amigos Para Siempre by Carreras and Brightman. Bright yellow flame projectors and fast ball candles in the centre opened this final segment. Then barrages of tourbillon ring shells and shaped-burst shells with five-pointed stars surrounded by rings. Next, crossed ball candles in pink followed by gold glitter crossette comet candles and gold glitter shells above. Then multi-break spider shells and glitter shells turning to gold fireflies followed by barrages of very bright flash-break firefly shells. The pace increased with many very large multi-break weeping willow shells, turning to silver, then multi-break gold gillter shells. The final thirty seconds had the sky filled with huge barrages of multi-break weeping willow glitter frond shells with the fronds reaching all the way to the ground and then a final barrage of large salutes.

This was a very enjoyable display with a typical Weco finale of glitter frond shells. The flights of rockets were great, as were the many flower-like tourbillon and glitter shells. Lack of wind caused rather a lot of smoke accumulation and blocked out some parts of the display. The girandolas were good and overall the synchronization to the music was good. However, it appeared that the inital theme became somewhat lost during the second half of the display and there were some periods of darkness, probably due to the heavy rain the day before the display. It is becoming very difficult to predict the final result since the level of competition is extremely high this year. This was the best Weco display I've seen yet and they won the bronze and silver Jupiters in their first two appearances in Montréal.

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United States Cinema Sunday July 12th, 1998

Performance Pyrotechnic Associates

Heavy thunderstorms in the days preceeding this final competitor gave way to a perfect summer's evening with warm temperatures and just enough wind to move any smoke. Eric Tucker of PPA commented that in past times, composers were commisioned by the Royal courts of Europe whereas these days, it is the film industry which has spawned a new generation of composers. The display is a hommage to the composers John Williams, Gerry Goldsmith, John Barry and James Horner. Fired using a computerised Pyrodigital control system, the display used over 2600 cues, the most complex choreography performed by PPA using the system to date. With more than forty 12" shells and a selection of material from the best suppliers around the world - Panzera candles, Italian and Japanese shells, a lot of material from Sunny International and special material from PPA, the display promised to be special.

The music used flowed seamlessly from one segment to another and included tracks from the films Hook, Rocketter, Fifel, The Postman, Rob Roy, Brave Heart, Titanic, Back Draft and Islander. Due to this, my report is divided into thirteen segments which don't necessarily follow the changes in music directly, but reflect the changes in the pyrotechnics, as far as my notes could keep up.

Segment 1. The display opened with front of glitter comets with shells of the same above with twinling pistils. Then crossed comet candles with comet shells above. Next balls shells and then multi-break shells of glitter comets followed by gold charcoal comet shells with ball star heads. A line of purple ball candles and a rapid line of glitter mines were followed with huge shells of purple with gold comets. Then another rapid line of mines and more of the huge purple and gold comet shells. Next, blue shells with starfish-like comets, then blue shells with fireflies. Below this, two left and right arcing bright gold comets and willow shells with blue pistils above. Then a line of synchronized mines in purple and glitter and then again in gold and glitter. Then a barrage of willow shells with blue pistils. Next, crossette candles and glitter comet bombettes bursting to blue were followed by shells of glitter and fireflies. A line of glitter mines with willow and blue pistil shells above and finally two huge willow and pistil shells with the comets trailing to the ground.

Segment 2. A line of silver fountains opened up and then a front of mines. Next, bright comet candles and multi-break shells of rings above followed by shells of red and silver go-getters. Then a line of bright crossed comet candles with more shells of rings and go-getters above. This theme was repeated and followed by a repeated sequence of low bomebettes, shells of rings and red and silver go-getters and go-getter bombettes. Next, a front of large mines with shells of large bright pink stars above.

Segment 3. Silver comet candles and shells of crackling fireflies were followed by mines fronts of purple and glitter, then bombettes of the same and more mine fronts. Next, large shells of purple and fireflies, repeated and followed by firefly glitter mines.

Segment 4. A line of silver wheels opened up with shells of slow falling fireflies above followed by crossette glitter comets. Next, a line of gold wheels with glitter comet candles from the centre of the lake and then a line of the same. Above these, shells of glitter, then glitter comet fans, shells with glitter rising tails bursting to glitter comets and fireflies. Then some slow rising gold comet candles, more comets in fans and glitter and firefly shells. Next, crossed gold comet candles with shells of small bunches of stars behind were followed by more crossed comets and then the same in vertical candles. Then three huge bright gold glitter frond shells, then three more in silver glitter fronds and then three more with silver glitter trails falling all the way to the lake, with cheers from the audience. Left and right arcing comets and crossed comet candles lead into:

Segment 5. Huge double petalled flower-like tourbillon and pistil shells with crossette candles below were followed by more huge tourbillon shells. Then a line of synchronized mines followed by a repeated theme of whistling tourbillon mines, huge flower-like tourbillon shells with crossettes below and mine fronts of purple and glitter. Then another huge double ring flower-like tourbillon and pistil shell followed by a repeated sequence of silver comet shells and fronts of huge mines.

Segment 6. This opened with mines of whistling serpents with bombettes above and a line of purple ball candles. Then a front of mines, more bombettes and shells of rings of comets above. Next, low breaking shells of small stars with ball candles below and then barrages of ring of comet shells. Next, bright gold fat comets followed by loud crackling crosettes, the same in shells with crackling rising tails. Then mine fronts of loud crackle, more crackling candles and shells of the same above, another loud front of crackle mines and then shells of slow falling fireflies above. These were followed by shells of comets with pistils and bunches of slow falling crackling comets.

Segment 7. A line of red ball candles with clusters of red star shells above were followed by barrages of titanium salutes and more red shells. Then shells breaking into bunches of very bright salmon stars followed by red go-getters. Next, some multi-breaks followed by lines of bright salmon mines and fan comets in the lake centre. More multi-break spider shells followed by brilliant fronts of mines and more fan comets in the centre. A barrage of multi-break shells, titanium salutes and red balls brought this segment to a close.

Segment 8. Red strobe pots with a front of silver firefly mines were followed by a barrage of silver comet shells, filling the sky. Then shells of fat comets and two enormous silver weeping willow shells. Next, silver nautic fountains danced in the lake with shells and multi-breaks of fireflies above. Then a line of white fountains firing to the left and right with clusters of fireflies above followed by upright white fountains and firefly shells above. Then fountains to the left, fountains to the right and fountains straight up with firefly clusters above followed by barrage after barrage of multi-break firefly shells.

Segment 9. Barrages of twelve inch orange shells with purple pistils were followed by huge shells with mine fronts turning to fireflies. Then crossette candles and more of the huge orange and purple pistil shells, followed by purple shells with comets and more crossettes. This theme was repeated and ended up with two huge comet and purple ball shells.

Segment 10. Ball candles in the centre and a line of ball-headed pale gold comet candles in fans were followed by orange bunches and glitter candles. Then left and right arcing fat gold comets with bombette candles and crossed ball candles. Above these, shells with bunches of white comets in six sheaves with more lines of ball candles below. Then big pistil shells and a front of mines, shells with stars which started out dazzling and then turned to comets. Barrages of shaped-burst shells forming bowties were followed by big white comet shells and left and right arcing fat comets below. A line of pink firefly candles was followed by glitter mines in the centre moving to the next segment.

Segment 11. Shells with crackling rising tails bursting to crackling palm tress were repeated over and over. Then really nice small gold weeping willow frond shells in threes, then again and again, then bigger in groups of four, then brighter gold glitter fronds, then white comets and fireflies. Next, bigger weeping willow shells in gold, getting larger and larger until the sky was filled with huge gold glittering fronds reaching all the way to the ground, with cheers from the audience.

Segment 12. This began with a line of blue ball candles with repeated barrages of blue ball shells above. These got larger and larger and were augmented by salute candles and followed by shells of glitter comets with blue heads. Then more salutes, more large blue and comet shells and then shaped burst shells with sheaves of stars. Next, multi-breaks in blue and glitter comets then a repeated them of silver comets and blue ball. More and more shells in blue and comets or blue with pistils with crossed comet candles below, barrages of salutes and finally a barrage of silver comet shells.

Segment 13. This began with white ball candles with glitter comet shells above followed by huge crossette mines with shells of the same above. This was repeated, the size increasing each time and then rising tail shells bursting into crossettes. The pace increased as the finale began with barrages of ball shells of all sizes and colours, some with large pistils and intermixed with titanium salute barrages. The pace increased still further and the display was brought to a close with a huge front of intensely dazzling magnesium comet mines from the centre platform. The audience cheered and cheered.

This was a truly great display. The synchronization was flawless throughout and the choreography superb, accentuated by the seamless music. A very complex display, my notes cannot do it justice since it was hard to keep up with the multi-level ballet of fire. The only downside was that the finale was too small in proportion to the rest of the display and that the choice of music didn't always demonstrate just how good the synchronization was.

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Paul's Rankings for 1998

The quality of the competition was outstanding this year, making it very difficult to pick a clear winner. Every display was unique and enjoyable and there is very little to seperate the teams from each other. However, I will be bold and give my overall ratings of all the displays and try and pick the three winners.

First of all, a small critique of each display:


My pick for the prizes this year is:


The competition was very close this year and knowing the order of the competitors my predications for the jury's results are:



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Official Results


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La Ronde Successissimo Sunday July 19th, 1998

Panzera

As usual, a fantastic display by Maestro Giovanni Panzera. I didn't take any notes, but just sat back and watched a perfect summer's sky painted by fire, building to a deafening finale, a fitting end to a fantastic year's competition.