LISBON, Portugal — The 2018 Eurovision Song Contest (ESC), staged at Lisbon’s Altice Arena May 8, 10 and 12, was the 63rd contest and a first in Portugal, with the total of 43 countries competing tying the record set in 2008 and 2011.
The event, seen by a live audience of more than 12,000 and more than 200 million via TV and internet, featured a dramatic set and lighting design overseen by a crew that included technical directors Ola Melzig and Tobias Aburg, set designer Florian Wieder and lighting designer/director of photography Jerry Appelt.
The production tempered the trend toward video overload, with the visual balance shifting back toward impressive lighting effects from the massive, 2,000-fixture lighting rig deployed by Appelt — one of the most sizable lighting setups in the history of the singing contest. Appelt, lighting his fourth ESC, worked with set designer Florian Wieder to present visuals emphasizing Portugal’s nautical heritage, while allowing for a wide range of visual expression.
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