Classical Spectacular celebrates with Claypaky
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“Each season I create a different truss architecture to keep the show fresh for repeat customers,” says Marenghi who has worked on the production for 30 years. “In addition to being visually entertaining, the structure must create the correct positions for lighting the orchestra, choir, military bands, and solo singers without glare, so they can read their music.”
Marenghi specified 16 x Claypaky Sharpy, 48 x Claypaky Sharpy Wash, 12 x Claypaky Scenius Spot, four Claypaky Scenius Unico and eight Claypaky Mythos 2.
The versatile Mythos 2 were employed to perform a number of roles. “I mounted the Mythos 2 on the floor to add texture with gobos to the acoustic discs on the ceiling, and to add movement across the orchestra and audience,” says Marenghi. The Mythos 2 has a zoom range of 4-50˚ for gobos, with an inbuilt ‘pipe’ beam effect of a 2.5˚ aperture.
“The Scenius Spot fixture has a fantastic optical system and excellent light source with a very high CRI. It allowed me to use pinspot gobos and still see some light coming out of the fixture!” says Marenghi who used the fixtures’ inbuilt two rotating gobo wheels for aerial effects, rigged overhead on the main truss structure.
“Claypaky Sharpy fixtures produce a perfectly parallel laser-like beam with unprecedented brightness, free from any halo or discolouration. The Sharpys do what Sharpys do best. I used them to create high contrast beam effects above the orchestra.”
Making the most of the 6.5-48˚ zoom range, Marenghi rigged the Sharpy Wash fixtures to provide colour washes and beam looks across the orchestra. “The Sharpy Wash is really unique in terms of its size, zoom range and output,” he comments.
The Claypaky fixtures were supplied by events specialist Lights Control Rigging (LCR). Ryan Hopkins of LCR programmed the design on behalf of Marenghi, and Pedro Marcé Socias operated during the shows.
Lasers for the production were supplied by Definitive Laser, with sound by RG Jones, indoor fireworks from JustFX and production management by Chromatic Productions.
Raymond Gubbay’s Classical Spectacular ran from Thursday 21 to Sunday 24 of March 2019 at The Royal Albert Hall, London, performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
(Jim Evans)
