International News

VIENNA – LD Helmut Krammer specified around 135 Robe moving lights and LED fixtures to illuminate the 2012 Summer Night Concert, staged by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra at Schönbrunn Palace. The Robe fixtures were used to light key areas of Schönbrunn Palace’s extensive gardens including the main and ballet stages, the Gloriette structure which stands prominently on the hill above the Palace and behind where the stage was located, and the magical Neptunbrunnen Fountains.

South Kirkby, UK – Nick Howard has joined stage, set and studio specialist company LS-Live as Head of Sales. Howard will focus on the company’s staging equipment rental operation. Howard was previously Marketing Manager at international sports event management company Byrom Plc.

HONG KONG – For its season finale, the Hong Kong Ballet opened Turandot, a neo-classical ballet inspired by Puccini’s opera at the Grand Theatre Hong Kong Cultural Centre. LD Mak Kwok-Fai used more than 40 Philips Vari-Lite automated luminaires for the show including the new VL880 Spot luminaire. He was the first designer in the region to use the new fixture.

PARIS – For French electronic band M83‘s world tour, LD Sarah Landau has turned to Martin Professional’s MAC Aura LED wash light, along with MAC 700 Profiles, Atomic 3000 strobes and Martin LC Series LED video panels. She says the Aura fits well with the retro-futuristic theme. “I love the look of its bubbly face and felt it would fit really well with the retro-futuristic look of the show. When zooming, it resembles a little alien with compound eyes.”

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Famous for choosing historic sites for his concerts, Yanni’s most recent concert and DVD recording took place in another majestic location, at Castillo San Felipe del Morro in Puerto Rico. The front wall of the fortress became the central visual attraction for the two-day concert and recording, acting as a background for the stage positioned in front on the grass near the ocean. “The concept was to illuminate the wall of El Morro, as the fort was the main part of the scenography,” said LD Bud Horowitz. Musique Xpress Lights supplied the CHAUVET lighting.

MELBOURNE, Australia – Clearlight Shows in Melbourne has supplied St Leonard’s College in Brighton with an ETC Ion lighting control console for use in their main hall, where they produce three major musicals per year. Their aging console needed to retire, in favor of one that could control LEDs and moving lights.

LONDON – Martin Professional’s new 1000 W MAC Viper Profile debuted on the first European stadium leg of Coldplay’s “Mylo Xyloto” world tour with lighting / production designer Paul Normandale. “The Vipers were used to light the LED screen fascias for which they needed to be bright and have a considerable zoom, which they did well,” Normandale said, adding that he plans to put more Viper Profiles on the rider when the tour returns to Europe in late August. Lighting vendor for the European legs is Lite Alternative while Upstaging is handling the North American leg.

PARIS – Martin Professional lighting has increased visitor traffic into the Mercedes-Benz Gallery in Paris – where presentations of the latest models, themed exhibitions and special events draw international visitors along the Champs Elysees.The 16 MAC Aura LED wash lights – installed by All Events – lend a modern feel required for the brand’s image, and low energy consumption was another feature in its favor for specifiers.