International News

STUTTGART, Germany – A Jands Vista T2 is at the heart of the lighting control system at Friedrichsbau Varieté in Stuttgart, a venue featuring variety shows. Technical Director/LD Torsten Schulz specified the console to to run up to 156 dimmers, a number of automated lights and a media server. Friedrichsbau Varieté stages four of its own well known productions each year, featuring internationally acclaimed artists as well as new talents.

HELSINKI, Finland – During the darkest days of winter, Helsinki brightens the nights in an event called Lux Helsinki. High End Systems lighting consoles commanded one of Helsinki’s most visible landmarks – the Olympic Stadium Tower – which was transformed into a light installation called the Variant Spectrum. LD Jukka Huitila designed the architectural project.

WAKEFIELD, UK – British electronic music group Leftfield, with the help of Red Bull Studios London, recently performed a special show at London’s Brixton O2 Academy in aid of War Child. For the event, Prolyte Group supplied two branded versions of LiteConsole, which were internally lit for maximum visual impact.

LOS ANGELES – For rapper/pop singer-songwriter Pitbull’s PlanetPit World Tour 2012, LD Justin Geiger of Impulse Creative Group designed the rig to highlight multiple heights and depths. He’s using six Clay Paky Sharpy fixtures on band risers and four Sharpys in each of the two wings, with eight more across the top. Briere Production Group is supplying the gear.

BLACKBURN, UK – HSL supplied lighting, Kinesys automation system and crew to international operatic / pop vocal superstars Il Divo’s UK/European leg of their “Wicked Game” world tour. HSL was brought on-board by tour director and production manager Andy Proudfoot, for the design team of LD Matt Pitman and artistic director Brian Burke.

SINGAPORE – Wireless Solution Sweden AB Singapore distributor Laservision recently delivered a multimedia spectacular on display over the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. The water and sky show, “Wonder Full,” was designed to act as a beacon to draw locals and tourists to visit the resort.

LONDON – The new Canada Water Library in London’s southeast Docklands sees its four floors tapering upward in an inverted pyramid, with the cultural space at ground level. It presented some unusual challenges in designing containment, facilities panels and drapery. Darren Beckley, Stage Electrics Divisional Sales Manager – Installation Projects, said, “As not one of the walls is square, we created a unique fan style lighting grid.”

COLOGNE, Germany – “Deutschland sucht den Superstar” (DSDS), the German equivalent of “The X Factor,” held casting calls in 35 cities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. LD Manuel da Costa lit the nine live evenings using 30 Clay Paky Sharpys and 16 Clay Paky Alpha Spot HPE 1500s.

MANAMA, Bahrain – Manama, capital city of Bahrain, is celebrating its appointment as Capital of Arab Culture 2012. As part of the festivities, the city produced an opening ceremony, Path of Pearls, which was packed with imagery and effects. Belgian LD Luc Peumans used 170 Clay Paky fixtures to light the tiered stage, full-sized orchestra, aerialists and dancers during the event.