This year's project was created through the use of light in harmony with other artistic languages: music, theatre and dance. As in the past, the choice of event took account of both the artistic potential and audience participation, reinforcing the meaning and significance the Nights of Lights festival has assumed over the last few years.
The event opened on 2 September with a spectacle of hip-hop and break dance. Started as a social and artistic movement of the ethnic minorities in the United States, hip-hop is now a genre widely studied and practised in Italy.
The evening of 3 September was devoted to a spectacle of music, theatre and light continuing last year's route dedicated to Italo Calvino and inspired by his cult book Le Città Invisibili" (The Invisible Cities).
Claudio Angeleri, artistic director of the event, told us: "It was our intention to show how light is a fundamental element of artistic expression and along with music and dance bring out the best from the historic and architectural elements, such as the ones in this Piazza. Last years light show was conceived as a dynamic picture that could interpret a rhythmic piece of music. This year, however, we decided to offer a light spectacle built on an atmospheric piece of music, proof of the versatility of the technology involved in lighting events today, invented by Clay Paky of Bergamo and exported by them all over the world."
The light project was the work of Renato Neri of Xenon, with the technical and artistic support of Andrea Mantovani. Xenon also looked after the organization and the setting up of the stage. Oreste Castagna, famous for his previous work in both theatre and television, directed the shows. The light system included Stage Profile Plus SV for front lights and for lighting and shaping the projections on the Courthouse, Super Scan Zoom, Stage Light 300, Stage Zoom 1200 and Stage Color 1200 plus about twenty CP Colors for the pilasters of the Courthouse and the gardens of the Piazza.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
