Portuguese team wins the 22nd Hannover International Fireworks Competition

In the final round of the world’s most prestigious competition, held last night (September 22), the “Grupo Luso Pirotecnia” team was declared the winner following Croatia’s performance. With their outstanding show, the Portuguese pyrotechnicians outperformed their four international competitors. The team captivated the audience in the vast Herrenhausen Gardens with the philosophical-poetic fireworks choreography "Astrum," specially developed for the competition. In addition, they impressed the independent jury with their perfect adherence to the competition’s rules, a harmonious staging of pyrotechnic and musical effects of high artistic quality. Second place went to Croatia, while China took third place.

Between May and September 2012, top-level teams from Mexico, Croatia, China, England, and Portugal competed with spectacular fireworks displays on five Saturdays for first place, attracting some 49,000 visitors to the Baroque setting of the Herrenhausen Gardens. A complementary program tailored to the participating country—including Baroque horseback riding, mariachi, fado, and variety acts, as well as numerous dance and music performances—was presented to visitors while they waited for the grand fireworks displays to begin.

Hans Christian Nolte, managing director of Hannover Veranstaltungs GmbH (HVG), the contest’s organizer, was very pleased with how the event unfolded: “This year we once again had top-tier teams that thrilled the spectators. We are also very pleased that the pyrotechnicians already consider themselves winners simply for participating, confirming that the Hannover International Fireworks Competition is among the most renowned and appreciated in the world."

The "Grupo Luso Pirotecnia" team is made up of a consortium of several pyrotechnics companies and has enjoyed great international success. In recent years, the Portuguese have lit up the skies at countless events around the world and won numerous awards in international pyrotechnics competitions. Their portfolio includes many commissions for major events, such as the 2004 European Championship, the Africa Cup of Nations, the signing of the Lisbon Treaty, and the 50th Anniversary of Nigerian Independence. The hallmarks of "Grupo Luso Pirotecnia" are, first and foremost, artistic quality, creativity, and innovation, a well-structured project, and technical precision. Not to mention that the group manufactures its own fireworks.

The rules of the International Fireworks Competition are clearly defined: the show has a total duration of approximately 25 minutes and includes a mandatory segment lasting about four minutes. This year, before the pyrotechnicians could give free rein to their creativity, they had to create a pyrotechnic choreography for an excerpt from Ludwig van Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony. In their staging, they must be inspired by the Baroque garden. The minimum number of ground-level elements is specified; beyond that, there are no predefined limits on creativity, musical selection, or the show’s visual language. The jury evaluates, among other things, technical execution, flawlessness, the quality and diversity of the effects, as well as the synchronization between the music and the fireworks.

The 23rd International Fireworks Competition kicks off on May 25, 2013, featuring Portugal’s current champion. Advance ticket sales are expected to begin in November.

Here are the dates for the 2013 performances: May 25, June 8, August 24, September 7, September 21

Mais informações em: http://www.hannover.de/firework

For more information, visit: www.hannover.de/es

Media contact:
Julia Sellner
Hannover Marketing und Tourismus GmbH
+49-(0)-511/123490-13
presse@hannover-marketing.de

Images and text (in English) can be found at the following link: www.hannover.de/en/press