This was a spectacular display with, according to the local press, over 3000 shells being fired through the 30 minute music coordinated display.
Some unusual effects were created – one that springs to mind is the creation of “palm trees”. These appeared to be shells which, instead of ascending in darkness, left a “trunk” of sparks and then exploded into “palm fronds” complete even with glowing “red berries”. Also interesting were the huge displays of “twinkling stars” (the formulae for which have been discussed in this group) with many thousands of the stars filling the sky at any one time.
All in all, this was a terrific opening to the competition, especially the finale which was performed to the finale of Grofe’s Grand Canyon suite.