A ring 90 feet in diameter, a well-developed theme, a wide range of pyrotechnic effects and colours, and a close call of a severe thunderstorm were the components of the Pains Fireworks English display, welcomed with thunderous applause from a delighted audience. The giant ring hanging on a crane in the middle of the stage, brilliantly illustrate the theme 'Day and Night' as it came to life illustrating the sun and the moon.
The second entrant to the 2007 Montreal International Firework Competition, L'International des Feux Loto-Québec, on Wednesday, June 27 Pains Fireworks had competed in Montreal only once before. In 1985, the opening year of the event. Doing a show in Montreal is a huge task for the firework companies involved. "It takes months. It's a big stuff for us" explained Guy Deeker, Pains Fireworks managing director, in an interview to PyroPlanet following the show. Michael Jones added that he started the design process in January 2007 and that the material was shipped a month ago. "We wanted to be sure that we make a good job", continued Deeker, "We didn't want to come here and to be rushed to do something. Michael came here a couple of years... We taught about this, we wanted to do it."
Guy Deeker was in Montreal in 1985 with his father. Asked to compare competing in Montreal in 1985 to 2007, he laughed heartily. "It was a lot different! We used a manual firing system. There was a lot of difference between then and now in the overall industry. The technology has moved on." "And this competition helped that move", believes Jones. This year, Pains used a digital firing system with more than 2000 cues. Pains bought pyrotechnic pieces from several manufacturers, predominantly San Tai and Vicente Caballer.
The 30-minute extravaganza was made up of 13 segments, with music from The Beatles, U2, The Doors and Dean Martin, for instance. The end of the sixth segment with the music of Sunset was so intense that it looked like a finale. And the actual finale caused a standing ovation for the British team.
Text and photos : Frédérick Bastien
The most spectacular feature of the setup was this ring hanging on a crane.
Before the show, the 10-pyrotechnician crew stood to the U.K. national anthem performed by Nancy Carroll (on the left). Behind the singer, the British Consul in Montreal, Ms. Anne Jarrett.
With the Beatles 'Here comes the sun', the giant ring came into life. Crackling comets, ending in crossettes added on both sides.
Fans made of cakes topped pink meteor-headed comets from floating platforms across the lake. From the roof of the control room, in the middle of the stage, angled-mines burst with another shade of pink.
With the music 'Always the sun', comets erupted on the outer side of the ring. On both ends of the firing ramp, repetitive angled-mines were synchronized with the Always of the refrain.
Mines appeared on the outer side of the ring as blue stars were launched from cakes on the floating platforms.
The audience cheered these spectacular multibreak shells with bunches of poppoing coloured stars. Below whistling serpent and two cakes of crackling pistils.
With the music 'Blue Moon', the giant ring came into life again. Candles shut blue stars. Above, shells of blue stars ending in tourbillons.
Three wide fans of comets.
Pains Fireworks has a team of 10 pyrotechnicians in Montreal. They were afraid by severe thunderstorms in the area during the hour before the show but, fortunately, they didn't hit La Ronde. The crew then celebrated his performance in the Salon des Artificiers.
For a comprehensive report, more photos and discussions, please visit Paul Marriott's website, montreal-fireworks.com.
The soundtrack of each firework display is broadcast live on Rythme FM, at 10:00pm ET. To listen the music on the web, click here and select "Radio en direct".
