The official opening was marked with a ceremony and concert in the presence of HH the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and included the launch of the world-class sculpture '7', by international artist Richard Serra. This 24m high creation is the first work of art produced by Serra to be displayed in the Arab region.
The ceremony was also attended by a number of Their Excellencies sheikhs, ministers and heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Qatar.
A temporary concert shell housed musicians from the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra who performed Hughes de Courson's The Magic Lutes and prior to that a dramatic light show heralded the presentation, with guests seated facing Doha Bay and scenic views of the city's skyline.
Dubai-based technical production company TechnoPro, with a branch in Qatar, provided the Litec Alusfera Dome Structure, PR Lighting equipment and Meyer Sound sound reinforcement for the event.
The event itself was organised by Auditoire, a well known French event management company in the region. The lighting, which was designed and directed by Alexandre Lebrun, incorporated 32 x PR XL1200 Wash, 24 x PR XL1200 Spot, 32 x PR XLED 590, along with two PR Mega Color 4000 architectural features and 24 x PR Pro Par 600w stage luminaires.
The opening of the park was timed to precede Qatar's National Day, with the purpose of attracting the attention of the local audience and visitors through a variety of cultural activities and exhibitions, as well as to keep pace with the urban development witnessed by the state.
(Jim Evans)
