Following many contestants who have designed pyromusical displays related to different themes and have used various setup pieces, Innovative Pyrotechnik from Germany opted for a more traditional show presented with a blend of classical music (Bach, Händel, Tchaikowski, Offenbach, Strauss) and movie soundtracks (True Romance, Harry Potter, Matrix). "Feel the Unusual Emotions of Original Fireworks" was highly-rated by many loyal viewers. That proves that in the era of sophisticated pyrotechnic effects and designs a room remains for a classic style.

The synchronization was flawless throughout the 30-minute show reaching a peak in a particular segment of the Hans Zimmer's  music "Your are so cool" from the movie True Romance. For two minutes and 25 seconds the designer, Joachim Berner, used only small mines bursting in perfect note-synchronization with the xylophone along the third ramp toward the left or the right sides with low and high notes. About 350 small mines were fired in this hypnotizing segment. It was much like a similar sequence made by Ipon S.R.L. 10 years ago with a piano. Berner was involved in this unforgettable Italian show. "It was also me, but I can't play the piano again. It was why I used the xylophone" said Berner.

Though Innovative Pyrotechnik competed in Montreal for the first time people behind the show were familiar with the Competition. Joachim Berner founded IP in 1994 and his company has been involved in the Rolling Stones and Tina Turner tours. A specialty of IP is to bring the fireworks close to the audience. Before Berner was technical director for Lünig Feuerwerk for 15 years he was involved in shows made in Montreal for the German companies Lünig and Nico, the Italian Ipon and the Taiwanese San Tai. Six of these displays have been awarded with Jupiter trophies.

IP manufactures small pyrotechnic effects and specialized shells. Homemade products represent about 10% of the arsenal in this show. Other material was bought from Ricasa, Ipon, San Tai and Chinese companies and was fired by 3600 cues launched with PyroDigital system.

Innovative Pirotechnik, the fourth new entrant, is the last contestant of the 2007 edition of L'International des Feux Loto-Québec.  The winners will be announced Saturday, July 28th, just before the traditional off-competition show designed by Panzera S.A.S. The official results will appear on PyroPlanet.com the night of Saturday to Sunday. Stay tuned!

Text and photos : Frédérick Bastien.

The jury is plunged into mourning as Mr. Michel Delisle, a voluntary assistant to the coordinator of the jury since 2005, suddenly died Sunday, July 22th, few hours after the French display. The master of ceremony, Michel Lacroix, announced the bad news to the audience.

 In his speech, the German Consul in Montreal, Jörg Metger, talked about the relationships between Québec and Germany.

 

 

As the German flag was hauled up, Rihad Chaieb performed the national anthem.

 

 

 

The show started with a line of 26 red strobes, here augmented by a flight of several silver comets which burst in tourbillons.

 

 

The German show featured several two colour-changing shells of stars, like these ones with a pistil in the centre.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Harry Potter segment began serenely with these blue sky mines, as red falling leaves came to the end.

 

 

Despite the gentle music from Harry Potter movie, these huge nautical shells burst dramatically over the lake, followed by original nautical shells of tourbillons.

 

 

 A very intense part was produced with Offenbach's "Can-Can". Here, a sophisticated mixture of candles shooting V-shape comets below, with a line of blue sky mines in the middle, large willow shells above, augmented with red studatas.

 

 

The pace of the "Can-Can" segment increased, accordingly with the rhythm of the music, as Z-cakes of meteor comets took the place of candles of comets, with multibreak comet shells above. The German arsenal comprised many multibreak shells.

 

 

 

 

 

The crew of IP inside the Salon des Artificiers following their performance. Managed by Joachim Berner, the German team included Benito Pagano (Ipon S.R.L.) and Michael Lünig.

 

 

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 Eastern Time. To listen the music on the web, click here and select "Radio en direct" when the firework is scheduled.