Under Cover
Designed by Johan Holländer, soundtrack by Johan Holländer edited by Martin Igelström; FireOne firing with ~5600 cues
A constant theme of the 37th Edition of the competition is the weather. Every week the forecast starts out good, but then, for display day, there are warnings and threats. And so, Once again, mother nature decided to cause stress for the incontournables who venture to La Ronde for each display. The day started with severe thunderstorm watches and the first of two distinct lines of heavy showers formed around breakfast. The rest of the day was humid and dry but the threat level increased in the evening with tornado warnings in western Ontario and continuing severe thunderstorm watches and warnings for Montreal. At around 7:40, lightning could be seen and the sky became an ominous black as the storm started to approach La Ronde. I saw Johan and he seemed discouraged. I said I believed that there was a gap in the line and that we would be spared the worst of the weather, though he was more concerned that all the special FX products could be ruined. The storm approached and the winds and rains increased, then a lull around 8:30 before they increased again. By this time, the covers were off the ramps and Johan’s stress level seemed to increase. By 9:20, the rain was pouring down, but the radar appeared to be optimistic as the aforementioned gap seemed to be heading for us. And so it was – by 9:40, the rains had slowed to a trickle and we could see storms off in the distance to the left and right and an announcement that the severe thunderstorm warning was rescinded. The show started as planned, but, once again, issues with the countdown with an announcer, not a recording of Michel Lacroix, giving the wrong name for the theme and rushing the countdown, with the Grande Roue not participating.
The display began with 2 of the 3 positions on the back ramp firing, leading me to wonder if there would be weather-induced technical problems, but my fears were quickly assuaged as The Greatest Show segment built in ampleur et profondité[which is really profondeur in French], my brain struggling to think in any language due to the emotions of the unfolding spectacle. It was apparent within the first minute that we were witnessing something very special indeed and that, if the quality of the fireworks and design could be maintained for thirty minutes, we would have the winning show before us.
For the true pyrotechnicians in the audience, this was truly a special display. Johan had promised many specially saved products would be used and, for those of us who understood the profundity of this statement, it was a very emotional journey. We saw glorious 300mm shells presented so that they could be appreciated – the Yung Feng Nishiki Kamuro shell from the interview picture, manufactured sometime in the year 2000, its glittering fronds trailing all the way to the lake as tears of emotion poured down our awe-struck faces. These are moments that are hard to put into words. Flash-break golden willow shells from Zaragozana, never to be manufactured again, a terrible accident destroying the factor and killing 6 people back in 2015. Many other brilliant products from top-quality European manufacturers, all fired without repetition and in such a way that we could appreciate their beauty. Oh my goodness, what a feast for the eyes.
The pyrotechnical design was meticulous too. Every angle perfect, all the features of the site exploited to the max. Ramp 5 floating pontoons used very effectively together with nautical flares and barrages of massive nautical shells, particularly in the finale. An attention to detail in the small FX that were fired in the “radio static” portions separating out the three main sections of the display. Perfect synchronization throughout. Exquisite harmonization of colours and effects. We had moments of serene beauty – the flights of glittering gold double-ascension girandolas during “Stairway to Heaven”. Sky-filling barrages of great power and intensity. A really well crafted sound track. Simple design ideas executed brilliantly, such as the horizontal firing of bunches of candles across ramp 5. All these elements together worked brilliantly. I screamed more WOWs in this display than all the rest put together this year. And real tears of emotion too – at the serenity and atmospheric segments and the brilliant never-to-be-seen again products. A display with all the elements, including a Silver Rain finale! The audience, small in size due to the weather, still jumped to their feet and shouted and whistled their approval.
Johan had first contacted me in 2013 and we talked about what it would take for him to compete in Montreal. I offered advice and he said he read every interview and report I’d written, plus everything else on the forum. Clearly he had absorbed everything he read, but, more importantly, had the passion and vision to make it into a reality. Like the journey of Vander, winning Gold for Dragon Fireworks in 2018, we witnessed something very special last night.