Reports Book Forum Photos Information Links

L'International des Feux Loto-Québec 2007
Montréal International Fireworks Competition Report

USA An American Idol July 14th, 2007

Pyro Spectaculars by Souza - designed by Jim Souza Pyrodigital firing; Show Director choreography; 350 FM-16 modules, ~5000 cues

MONTREAL, July 14 /CNW Telbec/ - Tonight at La Ronde starting at 10 p.m., Pyro Spectaculars by Souza will treat fireworks aficionados to a breathtaking performance entitled An American Idol as part of L'International des Feux Loto-Québec presented by TELUS.

A salute to eternal idol Elvis Presley, this pyromusical extravaganza will mix fast-paced, energizing songs with more melodious, romantic tunes. Pyro Spectaculars by Souza president and creative director Jim Souza, a passionate fan of the rock 'n' roll legend, has designed a 100% Elvis spectacular that promises to provide Montrealers with many memorable moments.

The show will feature unique design segments for each song and include such performances with dancing Souza comets and fountains and a beautiful use of brilliant colours of oranges, lemons, and purples. Other dazzling effects will be Popcorn, The Rainbow and the Golden Eagle. Also blending with the various musical pieces will be other colours, including, of course, blue during the classic "Blue Suede Shoes".

Jim Souza, a painter as well as a fireworks magician, sees his firm's shows as sky canvases. Artfully combining the carefully selected soundtrack with precisely chosen pyrotechnic pieces, he adds fascinating colours to create a luminous concert in the night sky. Founded by Manuel de Sousa in the early 1900s, the family firm managed by Jim now spans five generations, Christopher and Paul, his two sons, being the youngest Souza pyrotechnic artists. Proud to have presented performances at the 1984, 1996, 2002 and 2004 Olympic Games and to have staged shows in more than 400 U.S. cities during Fourth of July celebrations, Jim is delighted that his firm is taking part in L'International des Feux Loto-Québec presented by TELUS, which he considers one of the most popular competitions of its type in the world.

Dreary weather threatened to dampen enthusiasm for the highly anticipated return of this US company. Their previous visited had presented the most complex display till that date (over 5000 cues) but had been overly complex and didn't place that year. This time there was anticipation that a simple, well developed theme would win the audience over. An all-Elvis theme (save for the very introduction) was used and, to the delight of the audience, Elvis was seen on the stage during the pre-display ceremony receiving huge cheers from the audience. Despite rain during the hour before the display, the clouds thinned just before 10pm and we were treated to perfect conditions - the damp air actually enhancing the already brilliant colours.

Part 1 to the music from the film 2001. The display began with nautical strobes lighting up on the lake as sequences of silver comets fired from the centre and then sequence of star mine comet shots. Above these large shells silver spiders with strobing pistils and then shell-of-shells of stars with titanium salute bursts. The comet sequences repeated as did the silver spider shells and shell-of-shells of titanium salute burst stars. More silver spider with strobing pistil volleys and a final front of star mine comets as the music moved to

Part 2 to the music It's Alright. "ELVIS" lit up in lances on the top of ramp four as a line of strobes lit up across ramp three and barrages of titanium salutes fired above. Glitter comet sequences fired left and right, then star mine comet shots and mines of serpents ending in salutes. Above these, large farfalle shells with red and blue pistils. Star mine comet shots fired left and right below as well as more mines of salute-terminate serpents. This theme continued and was followed by fans of thick comets and more mines of salute-terminate serpents as the music moved to

Part 3 to the music Jailhouse Rock. Meteor comet shots with star mines left and right of each were augmented by shells of red stars above, the star mine comet shots in perfect synchronization with the music. The star shells were then augmented by cakes of red crossettes and whistles and by shells of silver comets turning to red star crossettes above. Suddenly huge mines of red stars turning to dramatic go-getters fired to gasps from the audience. Above these, the same in shells and more mines to yet more cheers from the crowd. A return to the star mine comet theme with red shells above. These were followed by candles of silver "accelerating" comets with shells of red crossettes above. The main theme returned as did the go-getter mines, the segment coming to a close with a volley of multibreak shells of red stars.

Part 4 to the music Hound Dog. Candles of orange and green stars turning to reports and shells of the same in rings above formed the main theme. Then wide mines of silver comets ending in salutes followed by a return to the coloured salute candles and shells. More silver comet salutes mines and again back to the coloured salute theme continuing in this fashion until the end of the segment, save for a wide front of star mine meteor comet shots.

Part 5 to the music Heartbreak Hotel. Green mines firing right and then left were augmented by shells of crackling willow comets with strobing pistils and the same in cakes at a lower level. The mine sequenced repeated as did the crackling'willow comets shells with strobe pistils. Next shells of silver comets turning to green crossettes with cakes of crossettes below. A return to the green mine crackling willow comet strobe pistil shell theme, the segment coming to a close with overlapping fans of meteor comets in sequence and a front of green mines firing left and right simultaneaously.

Part 6 to the music All Shook Up. Candles of orange and green salutes with shells of rings of salutes with glitter pistils fired above were followed by criss-crossing meteor comet shots and then large mines of bright green go-getters. A return to the salute candles with large star shells above with pistils and then shells of heart shapes as a front of criss-crossing meteor comets fired below. More go-getter mines and then a return to the coloured salute candles with the same in shells above as well as the rings of salutes with glitter pistils. As the salute candles contined, shells with pistils above and more shells of hearts. The overall sequence repeated the segment ending with criss-cross meteor comets and mines of salutes as the music of the next segment already began.

Part 7 to the music Don't be Cruel. Cakes of bright stars with crackle fired as shells of bright pastel colours burst above. The colour shells continued with coloured rising tails. Then shells of coloured strobes and shells of crackle with glitter comet candles below. The bright coloured strobe shells continued with the glitter candles below. Then larger shells with popping clusters of vivid coloured stars at a high level with the other colour shells below, the segment coming to a close with crossed meteor comets and large colour shells above.

Part 8 to the music Wonder of You. Fast cakes of fans of glittering colour stars were followed by shells of strobing kamuro comets and the same in candles below ending in crackle. This theme continued (with a couple of low breaks) and then shells of strobing comets. These were followed by multi-break comet shells and fans of strobing comets below. Volley after volley of multi-breaks and then a return to the strobing crackling kamuro comet shells with candles below, continuing to the end of the segment which closed with a front of pale gold mine fans.

Part 9 to the music Suspicious. Mines of serpents turning to strobes were augmented by shells of red and white strobes above. This theme continued and was augmented by shell-of-shells of strobes. Then a return to the red and white strobe shells and more shell-of-shells of strobes. Silver girandolas then rose into the air as falling leaf shells fired above. The girandolas rose, fell and then rose again to cheers from the audience as the falling leaves continued. Then fans of strobing comets and bombettes of strobes as the coloured strobe shells returned above, continuing to the end of the segment.

Part 10 to the music Rubber Neck'n. Large "smiley face" shells burst above mines of whistling comets. Then shells of multi-break blue stars and comets and more sequenced multi-breaks shells of comets as the whistles continued. The multi-breaks continued and were followed by a return to the "smiley face" theme with whistles below. The multi-break sequence returned and was followed by a sequenced run of mines in red and then blue below. Large shells of silver stars turning to blue were followed by more multi-breaks bringing the segment to a close.

Part 11 to the music Blue Suede Shoes. Shells forming the numbers "1" "2" and "3" went perfectly with the music to cheers from the audience. Then shells of blue stars and double-ring farfalles with blue pistils - the texture of the farfalle tourbillons fitting perfectly with suede. The alternating blue shell and farfalle sequence continued and was followed by runs of blue mines across ramp 3. The "1" "2" "3" shells returned and were followed by more farfalles, some with blue pistils some with gold strobes as well as shells of blue stars. The segment came to a close with a barrage of blue multi-break shells.

Part 12 to the music My Way. Fans of candles of glitter comets were augmented by shells of electric comets above. These were followed by shells of stars turning to crackle and cakes of crossettes. More shells of electric comets above followed by fans of kamuro mines turning to blue stars below. Kamuro shells continued above as fans of kamuros continued on ramp 4. The size and number of kamuros increased, filling the sky and trailing to the lake to cheers from the crowd.

Part 13 to the music Viva Las Vegas. A line of pink strobes lit up across ramp 3 as multi-colour shells fired above. Then Z-cakes of stars on ramp three as the bright multi-colour shells continued above. These were followed by shells of comets turning to serpents and amazing shells bursting dramatically into cube shapes - representing dice! Sequences of brilliant meteor comets were augmented by shells of silver comets turning to colour star crossettes and more shells of serpents. Then a line of wheels started to spin on ramp three as more cube-shells fired above with sequences of meteor comets below bringing the segment to a close.

Part 14 to the music Burning Love. Flame effects fired on ramp three as shells of red spiders fired above. Then shell-of-shells of red clusters of stars and saturn shells. These were followed by more flame effects on ramp three and shells of spiders with shell-of-shells of red clusters. Next, shells of rings with strobing pistils and more flame effect sequences on ramp 3. This theme continued with more runs of flames and multi-breaks ending in popping brocade, the segment coming to a close with a huge volley of multi-break shells of crackle, to cheers from the crowd.

Part 15 to the music Conversation. Fast fans of stars fired an ramp four with shells of stars turning to salutes above. These were augmented by more of the colour star turning to salute candles and then dancing gerb hit sequences across ramp three (recalling the magnificent "Lord of the Dance" sequence from Souza's display in 2001). The colour salute shells returned as did the candles and were then followed by waterfall shells with more salutes below and another sequence of gerb hits across ramp 3, and a barrage of salutes as the music of the next section already stared

Part 16 to the music Kentucky Rain. Shells of bright coloured falling leaves with the same in cakes below were followed by single star shots at the left in purple. These continued and then a second stream of shots in blue was addedd and then another in turquoise and so on until an entire rainbox of colour star shots filled ramp three (similar to the Parente rainbox in 2003). As the rainbox built in intensity, it was brought to a conclusion with a front of mines in the rainbow colours. Next, a move to Niagara falls shells with kamuro fans on ramp 4. This theme continued to the end of the segment.

Part 17 to the music American Trilogy (Glory, Glory Hallelujah; Summertime; Dixieland. The final segment began with a several fountain-based set pieces across the seven rafts forming ramp 5 as well as nautical flares turning to strobes. Triple fountains also lit up on ramps three and four with wheels in the centre of them on ramp 3. Shells of farfalles burst above with strobing pistils and then bright meteor comet shots fired below. This theme continued and was followed by silver Niagara falls shells with colour tips. These were followed by large shells of comets bursting to blue clusters of stars with fans of comets below. Flights of gold glittering girandolas then rose into the air, fell and rose again to cheers from the crowd as strobes lit up across ramp three and the music transition back to the Glory, Glory Hallelujah theme. Comet shots and sequences on ramp 3 in fans as massive barrages of red, white and blue shells fired above. The barrages increased in size with shells of salute-terminated comets and barrages of salutes below. It was difficult to keep up in my notes as barrages of mines of salute-terminate tourbillons were augmented by massive colour shells above making the music difficult to hear. There was the sound of applause in the music as barrage after barrage of studata lambi salute shells filled the air with salutes below. A dramatic pause and a short narration announced "Elvis has left the building" as two huge 12" kamuro shells filled the sky to thunderous cheers from the audience!

This was a dramatic display with incredible sequences and amazing richness of colour and range of product. It was fun to try and guess the manufacturers of the many beautiful shells. The biggest compliment I can think is that the display was deceivingly simple. This meant the choreography was done in such a way that it appeared to be perfectly synchronized where needed by wasn't over-choreographed. Jim Souza later told me that they were using nine Pyrodigital field controllers for this display! Despite the underlying technical complexity, the natural rhythm of the fireworks still shone through. A couple of minor criticisms were that sometimes there wasn't enough pause between segments so the effects from the end of one would overlap the start of the next and that a couple of the sequences were repeated (the salute candles and shells springs to mind). Also, given the richness of the display, the finale was somewhat disproportionately small. All that said, a thoroughly enjoyable display which is extremely well executed and given a well-deserved standing ovation by the audience. The competition is certainly hotting up now, with two displays that are clearly in the running for a podium position (England and the USA) with China also in the running.

line

Thanks to the public relations people of La Ronde for the official press release material, shown in white.