International News

DUSSELDORF, Germany — The 2011 Eurovision Song Contest, held at Düsseldorf Arena, hit more than a few high notes this year, with entrants from 43 European countries competing and three live broadcasts produced. They included two semi-finals (May 10; May 12) and the finals on May 14 before the largest live Eurovision audience yet — 36,000 people. Another 200 million TV and Internet viewers saw the performances.

HUINGSEN, Germany — OBO Bettermann marked 100 years with VIPs from 60 nations, and the celebration included theatrical performers and a full orchestra. To add visual excitement, tarm Showlaser put on a show within the company’s manufacturing facility, bathing its the interior of its manufacturing plant in a sea of light and colors

BRATISLAVA, Slovak Republic — Lighting designer Martin Kubanka specified more than 100 Robe moving lights for the 2011 Miss Universe Slovak Republic beauty pageant, which was staged at the Sibamac Arena at the National Tennis Centre in Bratislava and broadcast live on the main national TV channel, RTVS.

REGGIO EMILIA, Italy — SGM says its X-5 white LED strobe, the world’s first professional LED strobe, delivers the same output as conventional high-wattage strobes at one-fifth the power.

LAGOS, Nigeria — Nick Gray from U.K.-based Renegade Lighting designed lighting for the first Arise Magazine Fashion Week, which featured 50 runway shows, live performances by Tinie Tempah, Estelle, d’banj, Keri Hilson and local DJs, and an awards show.

ISTANBUL — The inaugural TRT Music Awards, which honored Turkey’s musicians, singers and music productions, was staged at the Lütfi Kirdar Convention and Exhibition Centre. Elit Light & Sound Technologies provided Robert Juliat 714SX 2.5kW profile spots to light the Istanbul Music and Jazz Orchestra and the Istanbul Chamber Orchestra.

LONDON — The recent seven-performance run of Anna Nicole at the Royal Opera House (ROH) was a study in contrasts, with Miriam Buether’s sets and lighting by Mimi Jordan Sherin and DM Wood bringing lurid strip club visuals to the venerable stage.

LONDON — XL Video UK recently purchased another 250 square meters of Pixled F-11 screen, which will be used on the upcoming Take That tour. This latest version is also 3D ready, expanding the array of future applications.

SANDYFORD, Ireland — Production Services Ireland (PSI) has opened a new facility near Dublin to complement operations taking place at its office in Belfast and warehouse in Carryduff. The Dublin-area location is managed by Ciaran Tallon, who has worked in lighting and production for 24 years.

CONVERSANO, Italy — Telenorba, a TV, cinema and multimedia production company, updated its lighting inventory recently with an eye toward energy efficiency, and chose Coemar fixtures, including some of the company’s LED fixtures.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Complete Event Solutions (CES) supported the South African leg of DJ Armin van Buuren’s five-continent A State of Trance 500 Tour, and the timing was right: Martin distributor Electronic SA had just received their demo stock of MAC 101s.

LONDON, UK – Goboland has made a variety of custom and standard gobos for the wartime-era musical Betty Blue Eyes which opened last week at the Novello Theatre in London’s West End. Based on Alan Bennett and Malcolm Mowbray’s BAFTA-winning 1984 film A Private Function, Betty Blue Eyes is set in the ration-stricken Britain of 1947. It tells the story of a pig, raised illegally to provide the local dignitaries with a feast to celebrate the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip – a wedding feast out of keeping with the austerity of the times.