On 3 October, 200 drones took to the skies above Burg Giebichenstein in Halle (Saale) and assembled themselves into symbols and catchwords of German Unity. The exclusive multimedia drone show by Jens Hillenkötter and his company JH Technology Arts was the highlight of the closing celebrations for German Unity Day, which were broadcast live on television. One floor further down – in the inner courtyard of the castle ruins – numerous moving lights from Ayrton set the scene for the multi-layered live setting in parallel.

« The castle ruin is a very special location and combines the historical with the digital, because the whole show is designed to be followed via TV or digital streams, » says Jens Hillenkötter, who has already been responsible for numerous sensational light and drone shows in recent years. « The lighting design plays an elementary role here, because we not only have various camera formations for the broadcast, but also live musicians and orchestras in the show, which all have to be set in perfect light. We want a big look that makes its impact even from a distance. »

In total, the experienced lighting designer relied on 64 Ayrton Perseo Beam, as well as 14 Ayrton Domino-S, IP65 moving lights placed throughout the winding castle ruins as well as along the large bridge at the foot of the castle. « We needed fixtures that were not only compact, lightweight and weatherproof, but also offered a tremendous amount of flexibility, because with this show and this setting, it was clear from the start that there would always be changes. What is a beam fixture today, I might need for an open white wash tomorrow. »

In the course of a large lighting shoot-out in the run-up to the show planning, Jens Hillenkötter and his team had the opportunity to compare all potential manufacturers. The underlying question was: what is the ideal tool for each specific use? « The Perseo Beam convinced us above all with its compactness – especially when you consider that this is an outdoor lamp. In addition, it has a nice, defined beam and can also produce a soft fading light when needed. » Hillenkötter used the Perseo Beam again and again for the live musical acts on site – for example for singer/songwriter David Vidano, who switched between two stages during the show.

Jens Hillenkötter was equally impressed by the large zoom range of the Ayrton Perseo Beam. « I immediately noticed that the fixtures have a homogeneous beam without a hotspot, as you often find elsewhere. »

Wherever Jens Hillenkötter needed even more light output or wanted to achieve break-up effects, the Ayrton Domino-S were used, which with their large and defined zoom range and precise optics additionally provided structure in the lighting design. « In addition, the shutters were a great help in acute-angled lighting situations to avoid shining out of the castle everywhere. »

The video of the show can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/pdhOpps8urQ

Text: Courtesy of Lightpower GmbH.
Photos:  © Saxony-Anhalt State Chancellery Thomas Meinicke / Alexander Cevolani

 

Other news

Ayrton’s Cobra Strikes the Right Light for Luciano

Throughout February 2024, German Rap artist, Luciano, worked his way across Germany, Switzerland and Austria on his Seductive tour. One of the first German-speaking rappers in the […]

Ayrton Lighting Fixtures and grandMA3 Control Love the Nightlife at LIV Las Vegas

With its expansion to the famed Strip, Fontainebleau Las Vegas has launched LIV Las Vegas, the city’s newest nightlife destination, which Lighting Designer Stephen Lieberman has illuminated […]

Vietnam Army Theatre Welcomes Ayrton Fixtures

Ayrton is extremely happy to announce that new Ayrton lighting fixtures have been installed in the Vietnam Army Music Hall and Theatre.  The theatre which belongs to […]

Ayrton Cobra, Huracán Profile and Ghibli light Amsterdam’s biggest EDM event

Created in 2013 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of dance in The Netherlands, the Amsterdam Music Festival is the biggest electronic dance music event of Amsterdam Dance […]

Roland Greil scores a hat-trick with Ayrton Domino, Huracán and Cobra for the AFC Asian Cup Opening Ceremony in Qatar

On 12 January 2024, Qatar hosted the Opening Ceremony of the AFC Asian Cup at the 88,000-capacity Lusail Stadium, the largest stadium in the Middle East. Unusually for a […]

LIT Lighting installs Ayrton, MA, MDG and RapcoHorizon gear in Footprint Center for the Phoenix Suns

LIT Lighting in Tempe, Arizona recently specified, designed, sold and installed new lighting and production equipment in the Footprint Center, home arena of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns […]