Grupo Luso Pirotecnia delivered an outstanding performance on July 12th in Montreal with the high-level pyromusical art work by the world-renowned Portuguese team. Titled "And the winner is...", the display was designed on the music of award-winning movies. Although this kind of music is often chosen by pyrotechnic designers, Luso's show was creative and different than other ones. Despite claims of the team, the title looks also as the expression of the ambitious spirit of Grupo Luso Pirotecnia, determined to conquer Montreal and the podium highest position.

The Portuguese collection of products clearly demonstrated their ambition. The conquest has not been run with archs, but rather with a set of 8 arcs and a lot of shells.  According to Paul Csukassy, technical director of the competition, Grupo Luso Pirotecnia brought the largest number of aerial shells ever fired within the framework of the Montreal International Firework Competition. "There were about 5000 aerial shells. We had to find more than 800 3-inches- and 4-inches mortars, because our 2600 mortar for that size of shells were not enough", said Csukassy. The show had around 8000 pieces, less than the American show performed by Pyro Spectaculars by Souza in 2001, according to La Ronde's officials. However, the press release of 2001 about this display stated that it was going to be made of 7738 pieces. At the end of the day, it remains unclear if the Portuguese show was actually the largest, but it was obviously one of the biggest produced at La Ronde.

Though quantity does not always equal quality, the display designed under the direction of Vitor Machado successfully combined these two components, as shown with these video extracts. All available space was used, note-synchronization was flawless through the show, a wide range of colours and effects were displayed, and no apparent technical problem detracted from the show. The audience was also surprised by some special effects, like sequences of mines shot from a set of 8 arcs installed on the fourth ramp, a sort of special structure which is Luso's signature. In the same way, at the beginning of "Mission: Impossible", a fast sequence of silver jets appeared along the front ramp and was followed by a barrage of nautical mines, causing cheers from the capacity audience. "These silver jets are usually used by Luso for in-door shows" explained Mélanie Cagnon, a Canadian who is now member of Luso crew (see our report about Mélanie Cagnon here). The following segment, on the James Bond theme, was made of several shells of multiple photo-flash as we seldom see in the competition.

Grupo Luso Pirotecnia's extravaganza was highly anticipated by loyal pyro fans owing to the previous shows of this Portuguese firm. In 2002, Luso did a first appearance with a very original display designed around a large ring suspended from a crane and firing various special effects throughout the show, which was awarded a Silver Jupiter. Three years later, Luso was back with one of the most creative display ever seen in Montreal, featuring Japanese shadows made with two performers behind screens on floating platforms, a rhythmic segment entirely made of different kinds of salutes, and a spherical pyrodome hanged to a crane making large 3D effects with massive mines. Despite all these innovations, Luso did not make it to the podium in 2005.

Though she was reluctant to say that Grupo Luso Pirotecnia has chosen a more traditional display following the 2005 experience, Mélanie Cagnon admitted that it might have had an impact. "Grupo Luso Pirotecnia is renowned around the world to do innovative shows. We did not choose this sort of soundtrack because we were not on the podium in 2005... But at the end of the day, it may be true that we wanted a show which is more accessible to the audience" she said.

It would not be surprising to see Grupo Luso Pirotecnia on the podium this year. However, the South Korean display was also praised by many viewers and five other contestants have to display their show before the end of the competition. We will know if the Portuguese team success to conquer the most prestigious prize on August 6th, following the anticipated sentence "And the winner is...".

The setup of Grupo Luso Pirotecnia, for sure one of the largest in the Montreal International Fireworks Competition history, was impressive. About 3500 pieces were launched from the second firing ramp (our picture).

Rather than to hang a special structure as it did in its previous shows, the Portuguese contestant installed on the roof of the control room (ramp 4) 8 special arcs shooting massive mines.

One more unusual feature of the Portuguese display was made of nautical shells installed under the water and attached to iron cables tightened between floating platforms, which were located on both ends of the firing area. In opposition to the traditional nautical shells shot on the lake, this technic allowed to pinpoint the effect with much more precision and to synch in perfect choregraphy.

During the official ceremony hosted by Michel Lacroix, a singer performed the Portuguese national anthem.

As the official countdown came to zero, a climactic start with Fox Fanfare and a barrage of angled and vertical mines.

On the music of "Jaws", nautical shells rose out of the lake.

On the song "Be Our Guest" (Beauty and Beast), several sequences of multicolour mines erupted from the set of arcs.

Following a large number of bright colours aerial shells, the finale segment came to a close with the traditional "The End", made of lances in the centre of the firing area.

Few minutes after their performance, the 8 members of Grupo Luso Pirotecnia crew proudly stood behind photographs inside the Salon des artificiers.

For a comprehensive report, more photos, a full video and discussions, please visit Paul Marriott's website, montreal-fireworks.com. Info and comments in French are also available on Mylène Salvas's blog.

The soundtrack of each firework display is broadcast live on local radio station 105,7 FM. To listen the music on the web, click here and select "Radio en direct" on firework nights at 10:00pm Eastern Time.

Text, photos and video: Frédérick Bastien