For the show, the whole Friedrichsplatz was transformed into a concert stage area of 65,000sq.m. Entertainment included a gig by leading band Söhne Mannheims in addition to the autosymphonic show that was specially commissioned for this event and performed by the SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden Baden. One hundred percussionists joined in by opening car doors in time with the music, or turning on windscreen wipers as well as playing on wheel rims and other car body parts with sticks.
Horst Hamann's multi-media show used lights and lasers to illustrate the history of automobiles. Lighting designer Thomas Gerdon, opted for a grandMA2 system for control, comprising four grandMA2 full-size and four grandMA2 light consoles, four MA NPUs (Network Processing Unit) and 18 MA 2Port Nodes.
"I made the decision to go with the grandMA2 because there are no comparable consoles and it is extremely straightforward to use," commented Gerdon. "Throughout the entire pre-and-live programming phases and the final show everything worked completely smoothly, totally underlining my decision to use the grandMA2."
Sascha Matthes, Matthias Meyert, Thomas Dietze, Matt Finke and Timo Weinhold worked as lighting operators. The overall technical direction was by Jens Diefenbach of m:con Mannheim. Lighting equipment was supplied by EBS Light.
(Jim Evans)
