Top Teams at the International Fireworks Competition in the Herrenhausen Gardens

This year, the approximately 4-minute compulsory routine is an excerpt from Jean Sibelius’s “Finlandia.” Following this uniform opening, the teams are free to choose their own music and choreography for their approximately 20-minute free routine. The ten-member expert jury will evaluate all participating teams and announce the winner at the closing ceremony on September 16, following the U.S. fireworks display.

© Marion de Castellane

May 20: Hola, Spain!              
Playful birds from the south and a spirited Spanish duo on stilts welcome visitors to this year’s season opener. Gina, a pilgrim on the Way of St. James, can’t find her way in the Great Garden: She’s off—and I mean really off. At the Garden Theater, “Encuentro Flamenco” brings together old and new styles in a multifaceted, cross-generational performance while remaining true to classical flamenco.

On the rehearsal stage, the band Nordakas blends traditional sounds from northern Spain with Andalusian vocals and Latin American world music. On this opening night, the screen above the Great Garden will be illuminated by the Spanish team from Astondoa Piroteknia. Their shows and designs emphasize tradition and custom craftsmanship: the music selection and special effects create emotional and powerful fireworks displays. Their collaborations with musicians such as Paul McCartney and Beyoncé further highlight the company’s artistic flair.

June 10: Hello, Austria!

© Ludgero

With Viennese flair and splendor, gleaming golden figures on stilts greet visitors at the entrance gate. The perfect Baroque horsemanship of the historic riders led by Richard Hinrichs can be admired this evening at the Western Crescent. The band Holler My Dear serves up acoustic pop on the rehearsal stage, mixing in some swing and funk. Lively waltzes and well-known melodies from opera and operetta at the Garden Theater—the Melange ensemble knows exactly what once set the tone in the salons.

At 10:30 p.m., the Austrian pyrotechnics team led by René Langer and Kurt Reichenpfader will wow visitors at the Herrenhausen Gardens. steyrFire has already demonstrated its quality through a wide variety of projects and competitions. For example, the show marking the opening of “Linz09 – European Capital of Culture” garnered significant international attention.

August 19: Welcome, England!

© Gage Costumes

70 Years of the Bristol-Hanover Sister City Partnership: The International Fireworks Competition Joins in the Celebration! On the rehearsal stage, Daisy Chapman from Hanover’s oldest sister city, Bristol, sings her way into the hearts of the audience. 50 Years of *Sgt. Pepper’s*: With a modern sound, the four musicians of ReCartney present a tribute to the Beatles’ universe at the Garden Theater. The Roaring Clubsters Mike & Mike offer comedy and acrobatics near the sundial, straight from the melting pot of the Golden Twenties.

We would like to thank the Hannover Cultural Office for its support of today’s program. Hans Christian Nolte, Managing Director of Hannover Veranstaltungs GmbH (HVG), is particularly looking forward to this event: “For the second time, the Herrenhausen Gardens and the fireworks competition will serve as the backdrop for an anniversary celebration of our city partnerships. In addition, this weekend will feature the Festival of Cultures around the New City Hall and the finale of the Maschsee Festival—a diverse and exciting weekend of events.” Starting at 10 p.m., visitors can look forward to the show by Pyrotex Fireworx. The British fireworks team arrives in Hanover with a string of victories under its belt: they took first place at the International Musical Fireworks Competition in Monaco in 2012 and 2014, second place at the Pyronale in Berlin in 2015, and first place at the 7th Philippine International Pyromusical Competition in 2016. 

September 2: A warm welcome to Poland!

© Animaplanet

Two spirited street performers juggle and dance to the sounds of the accordion, welcoming visitors back to the Great Garden after the summer break. At the Garden Theater, Magda “Magic” Piskorczyk performs funk, blues, soul, rock, and jazz with infectious energy, her expressive voice perfectly complemented by her guitar. On the rehearsal stage, the Polonia dance troupe showcases its skills, and Evelyn Kryger’s musicians push musical boundaries. Hip-hop grooves, Balkan-inspired sounds, jazz, and techno: music for the heart, the mind, and the dance floor!

True to the motto of the Polish team SUREX, “Our passion, your emotions,” visitors can look forward to a spectacular musical fireworks display. The Polish team specializes in the technical design and execution of large-scale fireworks displays for special occasions, such as the opening of the Polish Olympic Training Center in Szczyrk in 2014, the city anniversary celebrations in Wrocław, and the Tall Ship Races in Gdynia.

September 16: Welcome America!

© In Love with Fire (UK)

Majestic and dignified, the Statue of Liberty greets visitors at the entrance gate alongside the mysteriously shimmering Cosmardon. On the children’s lawn, the young performers of the UBC Cheerleaders captivate the audience with their athletic and acrobatic shows! Meanwhile, Gina Astronauta has also landed and is now looking for the perfect spot to plant her flag. True cult status awaits on the awards stage: Juliano Rossi, aka Oliver Perau, presents the New Generation of Swing with his unmistakable voice and cool understatement.

After 19 years, the International Fireworks Competition is once again welcoming a team from the U.S. to the Herrenhausen Gardens. Rozzi’s Famous Fireworks will stage the closing fireworks display for this year’s competition. Founded in southern Italy in 1895, Paolo Rozzi immigrated to the United States and settled in New Castle, Pennsylvania. Today, the family business is run by Nancy Rozzi, the fifth generation of the family. A willingness to try new things, vibrancy, color quality, complex imagery, and perfect timing are the hallmarks of the team’s fireworks displays.

Tickets and Experience Package

Tickets for the International Fireworks Competition are available in the online shop at www.hannover.de/onlineshop, where they can also be printed directly as e-tickets. Adults pay €21, seniors €18, and children 5 and under get in free. Physical tickets can be purchased at the Hannover Tourist Information office, Ernst-August-Platz 8, as well as at all known ticket outlets.

Gift idea:
The family ticket for two adults and two children (€54) is available at the Tourist Information office at Ernst-August-Platz 8. Ticket hotline: 0511 / 12345-123.

For anyone who wants to combine a visit to the International Fireworks Competition with an overnight stay in Hanover—or who would like to give the gift of a taste of the fireworks competition—HMTG has put together the “Hanover Explosive” experience package: www.hannover.de/explosiv.

For more information on tickets and experience packages, visit: www.hannover.de/feuerwerk.

Images for editorial use and other press materials are available at www.hannover.de/feuerwerk-presse.

2017 Dates at a Glance:

May 20 Spain, Astondoa Piroteknia
June 10 Austria, steyrFire
August 19 England, Pyrotex Fireworx
September 2 Poland, SUREX
September 16 USA, Rozzi’s Famous Fireworks

© HVG

Tickets, teams, info

2027 International Fireworks Competition

Dates, tickets, and information about the International Fireworks Competition at the Herrenhausen Gardens.

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