L'International des Feux Loto-Québec 2006
Montréal International Fireworks Competition Report
Canada Symphonic Voices With Pyrotechnic Variations July 15th, 2006
Concept Fiatlux - designed by Michel Rioux FireOne firing, ScriptMaker, approximately 3000 cues together with Goliath manual firing
Montréal, July 13, 2006 ' Concept Fiatlux will take Montrealers on an emotional journey at 10 p.m. this Saturday, July 15, with its presentation of 'Symphonic Voices with Pyrotechnic Variations' at L'International des Feux Loto-Québec presented by TELUS.
Saturday's show, which hinges on the compelling and otherworldly presence of symphonic voices, is a musical opus that puts the accent on emotional resonance. The voices, mostly anonymous, are sure to set the tone by creating an atmosphere that can only be called dramatic. Indeed, high theatrics are the Canadian firm's signature. The soundtrack presents a blend of voices that, with the exceptions of Peter Gabriel and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, are largely unknown to the audience. Marked by its lyricism and purity, the soundtrack will be set off to perfection by the chosen pyrotechnical pieces, thanks to skilled synchronization.
Much of the display will take place at a low altitude from where it will be possible to appreciate the jets, volcanoes, candles and fireworks developed by the firm. A monochrome colour scheme will be used for the most part, with strategic touches of red, white, and certain 'hot' colours. Dramatic ascents and apogees are also on the agenda, culminating in a tragic finale'a bit of a change from the 'happy endings' to which audiences are more accustomed!
'Our main objective is to move audiences as much as we possibly can, reach their emotions and their sensibilities'in short, touch their souls,' says Michel Rioux, the artistic manager of Concept Fiatlux.
The Canadian firm's Shows division was created in 1985. As it happens, two of its founding members learned their craft on the launch pads of La Ronde...
Perfect weather conditions, after earlier storms had cleared up, were the prelude to the return of Fiatlux, who had had bad luck in the past with rain and storms. Known for their artistry, this promised to be an interesting display with the use of thirteen floating pontoons arranged in a semi-circle and forming "ramp 5". Despite the good weather, the crowd was rather small, perhaps because it was the beginning of the traditional "Construction holiday".
Flamma Flamma by Nicholas Lens
The display began with note synchronized crossed glitter comets on ramp 5 and then on ramp 3, creating a three dimensional effect. Fans of glitter comets on ramp thee were augmented by multi-ring shells
above. The ring shells continued and included some with comet pistils as flights of whistling serpents took off from ramps three and five with barrages of huge shells above.
Angola by Hart, Adepoju, Garibaldi, Hussain, Kumalo, Hidalgo
These were followed by sequenced fans of yellow meteor comets on ramp three and then more of the multi-ring and ring with comet pistil shells above ...
Call to All Nations by Hart, Glass, Chalo, Hussain, Hidalgo
Flares lit up at the back of ramp two and then comet shells burst above. Large mines fired on
ramp two as crossed comet bombettes fired in front. These were followed by kamuro mines
on ramp two ...
Ave Ignis by Nicholas Lens
Large weeping willow shells were followed by shells of comets turning
to stars and then more weeping willow shells turning to colour stars ...
Ah! Joan, Joan by Richard Einhorn
Large shells of silver comets turning to strobes were followed by comet shells firing left and right ...
Ave Ignis by Nicholas Lens
Large weeping willow shells were followed by shells of comets turning
to stars and then more weeping willow shells turning to colour stars. Comet shells fired
left and right as fans of comets fired on ramp four and ramp three. The left and right firing
shells continued and were followed by shells of go getters and gold glitter studatas.
Fans of purple stars fired on ramp three with more go getter shells above and then
willows turning to purple. More gold glitter studatas followed by large shells with silver pistils ...
Hanging by Craig Armstrong
Red flares lit up on ramp three as shells of silver comets fired above at the left and right.
These shells continued and were followed by higher shells in the centre as bright white nautical flares
lit up on the lake and turned to strobes. Nautical fountains were then added into the mix which shot
comets into the air at the end of their burn as comet shells burst above ...
Ave Ignis by Nicholas Lens
Weeping willow shells burst above as a line of strobes lit up across ramp three. Then barrages
shells of willow turning to blue and palm tree shells. These were followed by fans of willow
comets on ramp three and huge shells of weeping willow above and willows turning to blue ...
Tambour battant by Bruno Coulais
Gold glitter fans on ramp 5 were followed my small mines with great synchronization
and a fan of comets in the centre. The sequenced mines continued with strobe shells
above, going well with the percussion in the soundtrack. More strobe shells, getting bigger
and bigger and then orange stars turning to strobes ...
Pater Noster by Richard Einhorn
as shells of go-getters turning to strobes were followed by meteor charcoal
comets with blue heads on ramp five and then ramp 3 in well coordinated sequences, emphasizing
the three dimensional space. Comet shells fired above these and then mines of bombettes
on ramps three and five in gold turning to blue ...
Othila by Achillea
A line of wheels opened on the right hand side of ramp 3, a couple of them unfortunately refusing
to spin. Left and right firing comets fired on ramp 3 but a few positions were absent as mines
then fired correctly from ramps three and five. Well choreographed sequences firing from the left and
right were followed by ...
A human sacrifice by Carlo Silioto
a line of fountains on ramp five. These were followed by low and high firing crossed charcoal
comets on ramp 3 and five in left and right sequences. Next, gold kamuro crossed comets and shells
of blue turning to silver above. These were followed by shells of charcoal comets turning to blue then silver and then the same in green ...
Cantus by Faith and the Muse
A line of mines fired on ramp three and then bright illumination flares in red with pale blue
smaller flares coming into play in every alternate position. The red flares continued as a second
set of pale blue flares lit up. Then shells of tourbillons followed by fans of glitter bombettes ...
Sky Blue by Peter Gabriel
Candles of meteor headed charcoal comets fired on ramp three with the same in shells above. These
were followed by thick comets on ramp 3 and then barrages of comet shells, getting bigger.
Crossed comets continued on ramp 3 and then on ramp five as shells of blue and gold burst above followed
by huge studatas of blue. Next strobe shells were augmented by go getters
and then interesting multi-break shells of small sequenced bombettes. Comets fired from the left and right as more barrages of the sequenced
bombettes continued above. These were followed by large shells of kamuro comets and then
shells of silver with blue pistils, this theme continuing ...
Dionysos by Jocelyn Pook
A line of flares lit up at the back of ramp two. Single silver girandolas then took flight one by
one. Nautical flares appeared on the lake and turned to strobes as more girandolas took flight. Shells
of go getters burst above and more nautical flares appeared in the lake as silver go getters< flew in the sky above ...
Pompeii by ES Posthumus
Dense red mines fires fired on ramps three and five and then mines of colour changing stars. These
were followed by charcoal meteor comets on ramps three and five and then comets of glitter. More mines
on ramps three and five in great synchronization ...
Ah! Joan, Joan by Richard Einhorn
Flares lit up at the back of ramp 2 and then a return to the multi-break shells of sequenced bombettes as left and right firing comets fired below. This theme continued and was followed by huge silver
comet studatas. These were followed by shells of purple and comet spider shells. Then shells of red
go getters and shells of tourbillons ...
Signal to Noise by Peter Gabriel
Brilliant gold strobe shells were followed by charcoal comets on ramp 5 and then mines
on ramp five in interesting synchronization at the left and right. Above these, comet shells
as mines fired below. Nautical kamuro shells then burst in the lake as well as mines of kamuros
on ramp 5. The kamuro mines continued as the sky started to become filled with larger and larger
kamuros as more nautical kamuros burst. The sky became filled with gold filaments as the kamuro
bombardment became more intense, filling the sky and trailing to the lake to cheers from the crowd.
A final volley of large titanium salutes brought the display to a close to cheers from the audience.
This was a very artistic and three-dimensional display. It was a great challenge for me to
take accurate notes and I apoligize to the designer if my transitions aren't in quite the
correct places. The soundtrack was very well done, but perhaps a bit more variation in tempo might
have been included. The music, though, as very well produced and gave the feeling of a very long
single piece. The display stage area was very well used with the extra ramp five being particularly
well utilized in a strongly three-dimensional way, augmenting the display rather than masking it
as can be the case. There was a bit of repetition in the fireworks used, but this reflected the
recurring themes in the music. Overall, an excellent display which will either be hit or a miss
with the jury and therefore we may see FiatLux on the podium depending which opinion prevails.
Thanks to the public relations people of La Ronde for the official
press release material, shown in white.
