Country participant: Germany
Company: IP
Date of presentation: July 25th, 2007
The most ideal and perfect Summer weather conditions so far this season were present for IP's display with a reasonable level of humidity, warm temperatures and the right amount of wind to get the smoke out of view. This was set to be a very promising display from the debutant German team with an expected Italian feel to go along with it. With a large audience present, expectations were certainly as high as ever for the performance.
Many effects were present throughout the display, including the shots of shells of red central stars and some bright low level mines to assist them at the opening of the show. Additionally, we witnessed some exquisite farfalle shells of light purple stars, shells of sparkles/glitters (both white and a transitioning light pink at one point), shells of horsetails, frequent and distinctive crackling pistils, scattered shots, weeping willows and kamuros. We've also seen plenty of the specified shell of shells and multi-breakers that often made a perfect integration in between with other shells being fired at the same time along with the rapid bursts of titanium salutes (a very IPON-like combo pattern). This always made things exciting and I was so sure they would use this sort of pattern in the finisher.
Low level effects included crackling mines, mines of salutes, mines of screaming serpents (which went from left to right in a half fan-like pattern), candles, and some spinning wheels of white and brownish sparks along ramp 1. The most interesting, as I'm sure many of you would agree, is the segment of solely the use of the small mines of varying colored stars that were in perfect sequence (more on this later).
Synchronization was practically flawless, but not just in the sense of music-fireworks connection, but also in the way it was executed. A lot of the sequencing patterns, to me at least, typically created a different feeling, something that I did not experience in other performances. The most apparent tight connections of rhythm were at low level, but much of it was also seen at levels directly above. The choice of music was fair, but some of it felt a touch redundant while other selections were not too appealing to me. On the other hand, while these fitted in with this sort of display, a lot of the other soundtrack used was rather enjoyable and hence quite the variety.
The design of the show was actually quite remarkable and seemed to take aim at a more artistic sensation. I personally had fun trying to guess how many of the shell of shells would take place in conjunction with other effects, but a lot of this display had some effective transitioning and pivotal points, particularly with both color and pace. There was also a fairly diverse set of effects used as well, though this seemed more predominant with the color choice.
The finale was, for the most part, powerful and had excellent starting crescendo in its debut. The segment started off vehemently with some shell of shells to introduce the more intensified following pieces of rapid bursts of assisting shells of green, red, white and a mixture of other colors that contrasted beautifully. Not long after this, more and more shells began to fire at mid level and near higher levels at a slightly higher pace while massive and deafening titanium salutes served as enforcement to all the activity already involved. All of this continued for a good while longer, though at approximately the same level of pace, until a few final barrages of shells and salutes were deployed. Coming to a close, a final piece soon followed this powerful part of the finale at high level leading many spectators to believe that the previous section was indeed a faux finale. However, this final part was much less intense shooting only a few large brownish shells at high level with a final series of very loud salutes to accompany it. This did indeed feel anti-climatic, but the finale as a collective whole was still quite powerful and ranks 2nd best for this season in my books. The audience was ecstatic after such a thrilling finale and certainly roared their approval afterwards! The actual faux finales and intensified pieces that felt like the finisher during the show and before the real finale were, as always, most welcomed.
Trav's personal rankings
-Synchronization: 10/10-Some of the best connections between music and fireworks that I've seen this season were shown brilliantly by the German team.
-Design: 8.5/10-Some very impressive pieces demonstrated, but I found a lot of the display perhaps a little too simple in technique compared to what we're typically used to. Color choices were well chosen and had some good variety. The quality of the show and the products was superb (a lot of very sweet Italian product; that's for sure!). There was a reasonable set of effects shown as well, which always made things interesting.
-Creativity/Originality/Concept: 7.5/10-I wouldn't call it totally original, but there was not too much in the sense of creativity. The theme was simply vague at times and didn't have enough enforcement during the show. However, the theme itself did show some promise and was apparent at times in terms of
unusual, especially the way the synchronization criterion was taken advantage of, which ultimately created a different atmosphere altogether in some respect. The sequencing was just fantastic.
-Choice of music: 8.5/10-Some of the music selections sounded rather identical, but they were all generally enjoyable. There were a couple of soundtrack I couldn't really abide to, but it worked well with the performance nevertheless.
-Finale/Overall appreciation: 9.4/10-A very powerful finale that was 2nd best, in my opinion, though just not quite to the point in delivering that successful final series of explosions. It had some excellent color choices and the perfect Italian structured finale we were all hoping to see. I know everyone loved it, especially Pierre.
-Overall: 8.8/10
This was an incredibly well executed display and it offered some of the most unusual sequencing and music coordination I have seen this season from low to high level. Most of the shells themselves at mid level were noticeably in perfect harmony with the music, which is often not as distinctive in most displays compared to the more easily perceptible lower level effects consisting of the common mines or candles. The coordinated movement at mid level with the blue and red shells was particularly interesting as they advanced from the right to the left and vice versa, but I was most particularly fond of the display construction as an integrative whole because it established a different perspective in a pyromusical. A lot of the product used was in good mixture, as were the colors and associated transitions as well.
The segment dedicated to the perfectly sequenced mines was actually very enjoyable, though a touch long, and nicely done in its entirety, especially the way it ended it off with the elongated front of mines across the ramp. As Fred pointed out as well, each xylophone note in that segment was right on cue. The theme was often vague and I couldn’t really point out the essence of it through the performance. However, as Enkil mentioned, the mysterious notion was certainly present and the synchronization aspect to the show really brought that out along with the way the effects were intertwined. The finale was not quite on par with my expectations, but still a highly intensely delivered and Italian-styled finale nonetheless; a lot of action and noise assisted by clever color mixtures, but the final part of it just after the main set was not in connection with what was happening before hand, which left a little feeling of anti-climax. Most of the show, however, was very exciting, moving and dramatic. I must also agree with Paul about the nostalgic feeling of this display bringing us back to the mid to late 90s in how those shows were enjoyably concocted and how they were generally brought forward to the audience.
Thank goodness the weather cooperated, but just look at how it turned out. We had perfect weather and the second hottest evening present during a fireworks display this season.
Still a little skeptical about Saturday with the conditions, but we'll see what happens.
My final report of the season is up. Can you believe it? I honestly don't know where these years are going.
I look forward to everyone's predictions. Like Paul, I also need some time to review my reports, give some thought about each display and come up with my final decisions on predictions. At least 6 displays are in contention for a prize.
Trav.
