France, Brazil, Italy, the Czech Republic, and Japan at the International Fireworks Competition!

This year’s approximately 4-minute compulsory piece is Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Egmont Overture.” In 1810, at the request of the director of the Vienna Court Theater, Beethoven composed the music for Goethe’s “Egmont,” creating an overture that has since become a staple of many orchestras’ repertoires. Following this standard musical requirement, the five teams are free to design their own approximately 20-minute free program. The 10-member expert jury will then announce the winner at the finals on September 21.

May 18, 2019: Welcome to France – Fantasias

© M: Coers

The season kicks off with a French flair in the baroque Grand Garden: at the Garden Theater, dreamy chansons from the City of Love meet Berlin’s brash wit. Antoine Villoutreix and his band blend both worlds, infusing their music with swing and folk. The creative poetry-pop trio Milou & Flint coax enchanting melodies from their many instruments on the rehearsal stage and crown them with perfect harmonies—songs that are sometimes cheerfully playful, sometimes contemplative. Meanwhile, whimsical cancan dancers show off a lot of leg, Madame Lavande enchants all our senses with lavender-inspired creations, and a German-French choir delights the audience. So, all is well? Almost everything: Because Asterix the Gaul has lost Obelix and is now setting to work alone to create a new magic potion. Kicking things off in the sky above the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen at 10:00 p.m. is the only woman to have made a name for herself in the male-dominated world of pyrotechnics: Delphine Picarat. She has already been to the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen four times with other teams and has enchanted the audience in Hannover time and again. With Fantasias, she has assembled a team that boasts 20 years of experience and international success. This includes, among other achievements, first and second-place finishes at the Belgian fireworks festival in Knokke-Heist and at French festivals in Cannes, Montgenèvre, and Courchevel.

June 1, 2019: Bem Vindos, Brasil - Fireworks do Brasil (Already sold out!)

© Hassan Mahramzadeh

Colorful samba performances, with and without stilts, welcome guests and set the stage for a lively, festive evening. At the Garden Theater, Marcia Bittencourt and her top-notch musicians present the magic of bossa nova and samba—a tropical seduction! Soraia Drummond and the Soul Rebelz reinvent the samba-reggae genre on the rehearsal stage with warm soul and plenty of groove. Magnificent baroque horsemanship can be admired at the Western Crescent. The exciting Capoeira dance show brings an authentic Brazilian vibe to the Kinderwiese, inviting everyone to join in. At 10:30 p.m., the team from Brazil takes the stage. Accompanying stars like Katy Perry, J-Lo, Eminem, and Bruno Mars during their performances with fireworks is a dream for many pyrotechnicians—and has long been a reality for the Fireworks do Brasil team! The team is based near Rio de Janeiro and has an incredible track record: they have been recognized by the World Record Company for their shows and have won international competitions, such as the 2013 Shanghai Jinshan International Beach Music Fireworks Festival in China.

August 24, 2019: Buon Giorno, Italia - Pirotecnica Vaccalluzzo

© Matz Mask

A gondolier in love has finally found his lady: Full of joy, the happy couple welcomes the guests and accompanies them to the Great Garden. At the Garden Theater, the charismatic singer Armando Quattrone performs the best Italian classics in his own unique style, blending new songs with reggae and Calabrian tarantella—dancing and singing along are encouraged! The Maramao Trio, with a passion for Italian music from the 1930s to the 1950s, takes you on a musical journey to the land where the lemon trees bloom. At 10:00 p.m., the Italian pyrotechnics team takes over: “Inspiring the audience”—that is the motto of Pirotecnica Vaccalluzzo. The team successfully combines old Sicilian traditions with modern technology: they have won international competitions, such as in Rome in 2015 or in Portugal in 2010, where they took home the prize at the 12th International Symposium on Fireworks. With a love for detail, every show is designed exclusively with their own products to express all the emotions exactly as the Italian team envisions them.

September 7, 2019: Dobry Den, Czech Republic - Makalu Fireworks

© Gage Costume

With their stunning plumage, a fairy-tale wren and a magnificent peacock delight not only the Little Mole from the Czech animated series, but also fireworks enthusiasts. At the Garden Theater, singer Sisa Fehérová and her band Féhéro Rocher perform smooth and groovy jazz, soul, and blues, as well as classics and nearly forgotten folk songs. On the rehearsal stage, Michal Müller captivates the audience with his unique playing style, creating a relaxed yet energetic groove. At 9:30 p.m., the curtain will then rise on the pyrotechnics team from the Czech Republic. Special effects for film, theater, and concerts, original shows, and everything related to pyrotechnics—that’s what Makalu Fireworks, the team from the Czech Republic, is all about. Through their fireworks, they tell stories; behind every show lies a narrative carried visually and acoustically by music and spectacular fireworks. Makalu Fireworks has enjoyed great success at international events and festivals—whether at the Chinese New Year celebration in Prague or on the winners’ podium at competitions in Germany and Poland.

September 21, 2019: Welcome, Kangei, Japan – Marutamaya Co.
The Sky Dreams, large, airy silk blossoms, enchant the audience with an atmospheric performance. Majestic geishas in magnificent robes make their way to the Grand Garden for the finale, where they encounter Drumime, who playfully invites them to join in the grand drumming. With tremendous power and tension in rhythm and choreography, Masa-Daiko ignites a veritable drumming extravaganza in the Garden Theater. Traditional clothing, ranging from children’s garments to wedding kimonos, is presented on the rehearsal stage. Hands-on origami, the traditional Japanese paper-folding art, along with exquisite calligraphy and manga portraits, will be offered for children and adults on the Japanese Family Lawn near the rehearsal stage. Special thanks go to the DFK Hannover-Hiroshima-Yukokai e.V. for their kind support of the supporting program. At 9:00 p.m., Japan will then kick off the final fireworks display of the year. The team could also be described as a leading Japanese company for pyrotechnic shows and their design.

© Marion de Castellane

The team at Marutamaya Co. creates its own performances, which are characterized by high quality, flawless choreography, and exquisite colors. Perhaps this is precisely why their shows have been so successful internationally: the team has showcased its talent in Europe, Africa, and Canada, among other places. For example, in 2018 they took second place at the “Flammende Sterne” competition in Heilbronn.

Afterward, as has become something of a tradition, Juliano Rossi entertains the audience on the podium until the 2019 winning team is announced, with his unmistakable voice, cool understatement, and swing.

Tip for fireworks fans
A season pass for all five events (€90) or a family ticket for €54 (valid for one event) for two adults and two children. Both special tickets are available only through the online store and at the Tourist Information office at Ernst-August-Platz 8, 30159 Hannover.

For anyone who would like to combine a visit to the International Fireworks Competition with an overnight stay in Hannover, Hannover Marketing und Tourismus GmbH has put together the “Hannover Explosive” experience package: www.visit-hannover.com/explosiv.

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

2019 Fireworks Schedule:
May 18: France, Fantasias
June 1: Brazil, Fireworks do Brasil (sold out)
August 24: Italy, Pirotecnica Vaccalluzzo September 7: Czech Republic, Makalu Fireworks
September 21: Japan, Marutamaya Co.

Tickets are available at www.visit-hannover.com/onlineshop, at the HAZ and NP ticket shops, and at the Tourist Information office at Ernst-August-Platz 8.