L'International des Feux Loto-Québec 2009
Montréal International Fireworks Competition Report

Argentina Carousel of Sentiments Saturday July 18^th, 2009

Fuegos Artificiales Júpiter [Gold Jupiter 2005] Designed by Mario Gaston Gallo; Pyrodigital firing, Show Director choreography, 227 FM modules, ~3300 cues

Dancing on lac des Dauphins for the Argentine show at L'International des Feux Loto-Québec présenté par TELUS on Saturday: Fireworks Dance the Tango at La Ronde!

Montreal, Thursday, July 16, 2009 - The Argentine company that won the Gold Jupiter in 2005 is back at L'International des Feux Loto-Québec présenté par TELUS on Saturday to delight spectators at La Ronde with a torrid tango show. And as a rare treat, a singer will perform one of the show's songs live on a floating stage. The song is Gilles Vigneault's "Pendant que," spiced up - Argentine style!

The show, titled "The Carousel of Feelings," will take spectators on a many-themed journey through hope, vitality, peace, joy, sorrow, and - finally and fittingly - love. The creator of the show, Gaston Gallo, of Fuegos Artificiales Jupiter, has vowed to use a broad range of pyrotechnical pieces from many different countries, including China, Italy, Spain, and the United States. Variety is also a hallmark of the music of the show, with fireworks "dancing" not only to tango, but to a whole range of tango music, from traditional to up-to-the-minute, such as Bajo Fondo Tango Club's "electrotango" or the currently popular "tango fusion."

Lately, Jupiter Fuegos Artificiales has been riding high, having won first prize at 16ième nuit de feu de Chantilly en 2008. Gaston Gallo believes that winning the Gold Jupiter at the Montreal International Fireworks Competition in 2005 opened many doors for his company. And while prizes are nice, he says, right now he is focused on the performance he will deliver on Saturday at 10 PM.

A dismal weather forecast once again turned out to be completely wrong as very pleasant conditions unfolded for this anticipated display from the Argentinian team. Winner of the Gold Jupiter in 2005 with their debut display, expectations were high for their return, especially with the promise of a live musical performance and some very special dancing effects. The grandstands were practically full but wind conditions were unfavourably directed straight at the audience and maybe were responsible for a slightly late start as the floating platform for the singer had to be moved into place.

Part 1 to the music Los trabajadores agricolas by Alberto Ginastera performed by London Symphony Orchestra Large gold comet shells fired on the countdown of 2 and 1 followed by a front of mines on zero. Purple candles then fired across ramp with with volleys of large gold comet shells above. This theme continued and was followed by volleys of strobe shells and shell-of-shells of strobes. The candles continued and were followed by crossed V mine fronts in gold across ramp 3 as shells of pale gold comets with large twinkling pistils fired above. Bright triple comet shots fired across ramp 3 as the shells continued above and then angled strobe mine fronts left and right as more of the triple comet shots with bright flashes lit up across ramp 3. Large shell-of-shells burst above followed by rhythmic volleys of gold glitter comet studatas. The studatas continued and were augmented by red mine runs from centre outwards across ramp 3. This gold glitter comet studata and mine theme continued and was followed by gerb hits that danced across ramp 3 from left to right at different angles, like dance steps. The studatas returned as the music became more dramatic again and then another set of dance-step gerb hits across ramp 3. Back to studatas, a mix of gold comets and blue stars and then a huge shell-of-shells with a front of angles mines left and right across ramp 3. Then volleys of shells that burst into three colours - each colour in its own "wedge". These tri-colour shell barrages continued and were followed by two large opening fans of comets on ramp 3 and then a front of stars with another huge shell-of-shells above, turning to strobes and a WOW from me! A very powerful opening segment appreciated by large cheers from the audience.

Part 2 to the music Danza del trigo by Alberto Ginastera performed by London Symphony Orchestra. A much more serene start with gold fountains in low firing pairs across ramp 3. Crossed charcoal comet with lilac tip candles then fired and were augmented by charcoal comet mines in the centre with lilac tips. After the candles finished, there was obviously a technical problem as nothing was seen for around 20 seconds, to my consternation. Then a pair of shells in the same charcoal comets with lilac tips rose into the dark sky and again another blackout for 20 seconds or so, interrupted by a flight of the same shells. Another set of crossed charcoal comet lilac tip candles then came to life. Charcoal comet horsetail shells then fired above, turning into lilac stars and bringing the segment to a close as the music moved to

Part 3 to the music El Escolazo by Astor Piazzolla Shells of rings of tourbillons alternated with dense mine fronts and then wide comet fan fronts on ramp 3. Shells of charcoal comets turning to pale gold comets burst above with twinkling pistils and were then followed by crossed star-tipped charcoal comet candles and a front of mines. This shell and candle combination continued and was augmented by criss-cross shots of glitter comets as shells of brighter comets with twinkling pistils fired above. Mines of strobes then added into the mix as the shells continued above. Two fast opening fans of gold glitter comets then fired on ramp 3 in perfect time to the music as the shells continued. Then shells of blue and gold strobes with the same in bombette candles below. Angled mine fronts in gold with blue tips fired left and right as comets fired upwards and barrages of shells of blue stars and gold strobes fired above. These were then augmented by studatas of the same blue and gold as sequenced comet shots fired to the music below. The segment came to a close with volleys of dense gold comet shells with pistils turning to silver.

Part 4 to the music Mas de lo Mismo & Viajero Inmovil by Tanghetto. A line of angled fountains across ramp 3 moved with the music and were followed by star shots. Then another line of moving fountains and another augmented by more star shots. Five six-pointed fountains then lit up across ramp three and suddenly started to rotate, to cheers from the audience. Huge triple ring farfalles then burst above with a front of mines below and were followed by fronts of glittering comet shots up, left and right as more farfalles burst above. The comet shot and farfalle theme continued, the amazing farfalles making me say WOW! Then fans of comets below and more farfalles above with vivid blue pistils followed by the same in brighter pistils with comet shots below. Denser angled mine of comets fired left and right below with more farfalles above and then mines of blue. Photoflashes in gold then lit up rhythmically across ramp 3 followed by a front of bombette comets which turned over and dived onto the lake, filling it with flares - the famous magic carpet effect! Starmine comet shots then fired left and right across ramp 3 as the nautical flares in the magic carpet continued to burn. Inward and outward firing starmine comet fronts fired and were followed by studatas in blue and gold comets. The studatas continued and were followed by low breaking "sky mine" shells of gold strobes, falling to the lake. This theme continued and moved to huge shells of gold turning to silver with twinkling pistils as crossed gold comet candles fired below. Even larger shells of gold with gold pistils all turning to small strobes followed and then a huge broad fan of comets as blue and gold comet studatas started to fire above. This theme continued and then a volley of enormous charcoal comet shells turning to silver stars and a front of star shots below bringing the segment to a close.

Part 5 to the music Otra luna by Carlos Libedinsky performed by Narcotango. Crossed star tipped charcoal comets candles fired across ramp 3 and were augmented by the same in shells above. This theme continued and was followed by shells of strobes at a lower level and shells of gold strobes with blue pistils above. A front of blue tipped charcoal comet mines then followed and they were followed by mines of strobes and more strobe shells above. The mines and shells of strobes theme continued with different patterns of mines fired. Larger volleys of strobe shells then fired, filling the sky, bringing the segment to a close with a front of strobe mines.

Part 6 to the music La Cumparsita by Gerardo Matos Rodriguez performed by Mario Cavallero Dance-step sequenced gerbs fired across ramp 3 as shells of short silver comets with pistils fired above. This theme continued as the gerbs danced and huge shells with twinkling pistils surrounded by comets fired above. Then sequenced comet shots on ramp 3 in perfect time to the tango rhythm as the huge shells continued. Then a move to mines below as more of the same huge shells fired above. Next, starmine comets firing left, right and up formed the tango rhythm as shells of tourbillons and stars fired, some with deep blue stars. Then a return to the dance-step gerbs with the huge shells above followed by a return to the comet sequence and then the mines. Next, mines of serpents with shells of blue and serpents above. This theme continued with different colours of star and serpent shells and then glitter comet shots left, right and up below. Mines moved across ramp three as huge broccade shells opened above and then a return to the serpent mines and shells of serpents and stars. Two sequenced fans of comets fired rapdily to the music on ramp 3, followed by a large fan in the centre and huge shells of stars and short silver comets above bringing the segment to a close.

Part 7 to the music Pendant que by Romulo Larrea and Veronica Larc, performed live by Veronica Larc Angled mines left and right were augmented by silver comet shells above alternating with mine fronts. As the large silver comet shells continued, a spotlight lit up Veronica Larc who was stood on a small pontoon in the lake close to the audience for a live rendition of the song. The large silver shells continued, some with pistils, and then volleys of red heart shells keyed to the word "amour" and alternating back to the silver comet shells. Mines fired left and right on the notes as more silver comet shells burst above. Then comets left and right on the notes followed by mines. Crossed candles fired as strobe shells fired above. This theme continued, again with heart shells in all the right places. This strobes and hearts motif continued and was then augmented by crossed comet candles and mines of strobes. The strobe shells and mines continued with the crossed comet candles and then were dramatically augmented by nautical shells of strobes, which, given the wind direction, must have been disconcerting for the performer as they exploded behind her! This strobe mine, crossed comet, strobe shell and nautical strobe theme continued, eliciting a WOW from yours truly. Then angled mine hits of glitter comets on the tango beats with strobe shells continuing above. The strobe shells then formed the theme and were augmented by falling leaf shells of strobes which, given the wind conditions, descended alarmingly towards where I was sitting and even landing amongst the audience as the segment came to a close with Bob Burch shouting "incoming" next to me!

Part 8 to the music Pa Bailar & No pregunto cuantos son by Bajo Fondo Tango Club Low-level gerbs danced to the music across ramp 3 in different sequences as large shells of willow comets turning to small silver strobes fired above. Then a mine front hit, large star and comet shells and studatas began above and angled star shots fired below. This theme continued and then gerb hits ran dramatically across ramp 3 from right to left forming a chain-like pattern as the shells continued above. The chain reversed direction and ran from left to right as a huge shell of shells burst above together with large shells of stars with comets in a 4-cluster pistil, bringing the first part of the segment to a close. A fast sequence of mines then ran from left to right across ramp 3 as large crackling shells fired above. Then left and right firing mine fronts with studatas of stars above. Crossed gold glitter mines were followed by fast barrages of blue studatas at medium level and comet to colour changing shells above these. The same theme continued but with comet studatas and crossed glitter comet mines below and then returned to the blue studatas. Then huge blue shells with clusters of silver comets followed by strobe mine shots left and right and nautical silver comet shells. This mine and nautical theme continued and was followed by shots of small dim mines and then comet sequences in charcoal comets. A run of small mines rippled across ramp 3 and was followed by shells of crackling willow comets with shells of serpents below these. Triple fans of comets fired across ramp 3 with barrages of shells above. These were followed by glitter comet studatas with barrage after barrage getting larger, bringing the segment to a close with a front of glitter mines.

Part 9 to the music Balada Para un Loco by Astor Piazzolla performed by Amelita Baltar Gold fountains across ramp 3 swayed with the music. Willow comet horsetail shells then fired above. Volleys of horsetails continued and were followed by a front of large pale gold mines with shells of charcoal comets turning to gold strobes above and then skymines of gold glitter which turned over and trailed to the lake. Another front of the large pale gold mines with the charcoal comet to gold strobes. Girandolas then rose into the air from ramp 2 then descended and rose back up into the air, carried by the wind high over the heads of the audience and behind the grandstands. The crowd cheered as more girandolas followed the same flight path. Several flights of them made it beyond the grandstands as more skymine gold glitter shells fired followed by a return to the charcoal comet horsetail volleys, this time turning to silver at the end. Back to the plain charcoal horsetails with more and more filling the sky and then several volleys of shell-of-shells of the same horsetails, filling the sky and bringing the segment to a close.

Part 10 to the music Lo que vendra by Astor Piazzolla performed by El Arranque Orchestra. Sequences of gold comets in Vs across ramp 3 followed by shots of the same from ramp 4 and then a large fan. Barrages of charcoal comet shells then began and increased with more of the comet shots from ramp 4 as the shell volleys continued, with some colour star shells at the left hand side (probably in error). The shells continued and were augmented by large crossed mines of charcoal comets. This theme continued and increased in intensity, filling the air with gold which then turned to strobes to give a pause before the pace picked up with volleys of bright star shells, fans of comets below and shots of mines left and right. The barrages of shells increased with fans of mines below and studatas included above, the music drowned out by the noise as the crowd cheered and huge shell-of-shells were added to the cacophony, the display coming to a close as some titanium salutes fired beneath the shell barrages, to cheers from the audience.

This was a very enjoyable display from the much anticipated team from Argentina. The audience gave them a well deserved standing ovation. The quality of the products used was exceptional, especially the brilliant studatas and farfalles. The dancing gerbs worked really well with the music and the nautical effects were also very well done, particularly the "magic carpet" effect. The music was enjoyable, but for an audience not intimately familiar with the development of the tango, the subtleties were a tad hard to spot and it gave the feeling that it was all a bit similar. Compared to their display in 2005, I felt the low-level supporting effects were on the weak side with many candles of charcoal comets with star tips where it might have been better to have some brighter effects from time to time. Similarly some of the mine effects were also on the small and dim side. The wind direction was not conducive to enjoying the charcoal comet shells and again there was a bit of repetition here. However, the studatas and other brilliant shells made up for this, the opening segment being particularly memorable. The technical problem in the second segment was fortunately in a quiet piece and didn't detract from an otherwise excellent and enjoyable display. I just didn't quite feel that it was as memorable as their display in 2005, though it is in contention for a Jupiter at the moment.

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