Suggestions
Vari-Lite has worked closely with Opera Sanxay to introduce the first-ever moving light rig for the celebrated Soirées Lyrique de Sanxay opera festival.
The use of the latest stage lighting and control technology successfully enabled a new level of dynamic design possibilities for this highly respected outdoor spectacle.
Now in its 18th year as one of France’s leading lyrical arts events, Soirées Lyrique de Sanxay maintains presentation standards as high as any international opera event. Illuminating the elaborate scenic and costume designs to the required standard calls for the highest quality and reliability lighting.
The carefully chosen lighting rig for this year’s production, Mozart’s The Magic Flute, successfully combined traditional and LED light sources. Moving lights, including VL4000 SPOTS and VL6000 BEAMS, plus LED-based VLZ Wash and SHOWLINE SL BEAM 300 FX LUMINAIRES, were used alongside fixed units. Control was provided by the latest NEO system.
In exploiting the possibilities of this advanced set-up, lighting designer Nevio Cavina enjoyed comprehensive on-site support and programming assistance from Bobby Harrell and Gregg Brooks.
“The lighting package allowed a new dynamic in the narrative to be explored,” says Cavina. “I was impressed by the richness of the color and effects and the accuracy of the stored positions of the moving lights. The water and fire effects were particularly satisfying. And NEO’s multi-user capability meant that looks could be achieved and stored quickly.”
Further design options were presented by another motorized fixture in the rig, the SL Bar 720 ZT, which Cavina used to line the octagonal, overhead centerpiece of Keiko Shiraishi’s set design. The color-changing, tilting bars brought an important additional movement to the automated set-piece, as well as giving Cavina further possibilities for lighting both the set and performers.
Overall, Cavina found much to praise in the performance, versatility and reliability of the fixtures. He says, “Considering the difficulties posed by the weather, I was also pleased to be able to experience the quality of the moving lights. Some of the fixtures we used are not normally used in lyrical production, but at Sanxay our experience with these has been hugely positive.”
Mathieu Blugeon, president of the Soirées Lyrique de Sanxay, was thrilled with the result of the partnership wit. He says, “The feedback from the technical team and audience was extremely positive and enthusiastic. The show took on a new dimension thanks to these incredible lighting fixtures and the Neo control console. This gave a real added value to the festival.”
He adds, “I would like to highlight Bobby and Gregg for their skills, kindness and expertise. They were particularly appreciated by our entire team and the festival’s leaders. It was so important for us to have the support of such knowledgeable personnel to help with the adoption of new technology in this setting”
Coghi adds, “The lighting design could not have been achieved without the excellent team work of all the creative departments, and the quality increased a lot in this second season, thanks to the new Phillips technology implemented at the theater.”
