Martin shines at Eurovision 2000

Lighting Designer Kristoffer Röhr and set designer Mikael ´Valle´ Varhelyi needed to create an environment versatile enough to provide a unique feel for each song and every performance style for each of the 24 competing performers. They achieved the goal, by utilizing over 300 MAC fixtures as well as 30 PAL 1200’s. Instead of a backdrop behind the stage, Röhr and Verhelhi created a colored wall of light by using 80 MAC 600’s, each placed inside an individual "box" and arranged in a half circle three layers high.

Lighting operators Emma Landare, Palle Palme, and Frederik Johnsson, ensured that the massive Martin rig generated lighting moods and effects which perfectly suited the mood of each of 24 competing songs.

Despite the competitive atmosphere of the Eurovision Song Contest, teamwork was the key for Martin’s Swedish partners and dealer network as they joined forces to provide equipment for the event. Martin distributor Oscar lighting provided over 200 MAC moving heads for the event, including MAC 600´s, 500´s, 300´s and 250+’s as well as other Martin luminaires. Belgian company Groupe Son Privé (through Martin distributor EVDV) provided 60 MAC 600’s.

The Eurovision Song Contest lighting rig was the largest intelligent light show ever produced in Sweden using 69 MAC 500´s, 163 MAC 600´s, 38 MAC 250+´s, 30 MAC 300´s and 30 PAL 1200´s all controlled from the Martin Show Designer simulation software program. All MAC’s were preprogrammed using ShowDesigner version 4.1, capable of remarkably realistic real-time, solid beam representation. In fact, the Eurovision Song Contest was the largest ShowDesigner project ever undertaken, reading some 3000 DMX channels.

Additionally, the Globe Arena - the world’s largest spherical building, was brightly illuminated with 8 Exterior 600s every night leading up to the show. All Exteriors were controlled via Martin’s PC-based ProScenium multi-media controller.

Participating Martin Swedish Partners and Dealers for the Eurovision project included:

Spectra
Prisma
Diroco
Ljus&Nöje
Music&Lights
PA-service
Technisound
Soundforce
Livesound
Light Trade
Samljus
Audio-Lights
Ljus&Dekor
PSI
Fremlab