Mexican Team Wins the 21st Hannover International Fireworks Competition

Following their performance on the evening of September 24, it was announced that first place went to the “Pirotecnia Reyes” team. The extraordinary display created by the Mexican pyrotechnics experts outshone competitors from Sweden, France, Spain, and Austria. The Mexican team captivated the audience in the Great Garden with a brilliant pyrotechnic choreography designed specifically for the event. They also impressed the jury of ten independent experts with their flawless adherence to the competition’s requirements and their harmonious blend of pyrotechnic and musical effects. Austria took second place, and Spain came in third.

Hans Christian Nolte, CEO of Hannover Veranstaltungs GmbH, the company organizing this major international competition, expressed his great satisfaction throughout the event: "We had the best teams with outstanding global reputations participating; furthermore, we have already begun to receive a veritable flood of applications from numerous countries for the 2012 edition of the International Pyrotechnics Competition. This great interest from pyrotechnicians confirms the international reputation of our event."

The competition takes place over five nights between May and September, accompanied by a themed program inspired by the participating team’s country, making it a true tourist attraction. This year, a total of 49,000 visitors came to the Herrenhausen Gardens to admire the art of pyrotechnics. Before the fireworks displays, the audience had the opportunity to enjoy demonstrations of Baroque equestrian skills, flamenco, and other musical and dance performances while enjoying a relaxed picnic in the Baroque-style park.

The history of the family-owned company "Pirotecnia Reyes" dates back to 1910. Its current director, Ignacio Manuel Arias Reyes, is part of the third generation to lead the company, and he has been highly successful in his role. In 1992, the company won the national “Pirotecnia de Torre” competition in Tultepec, and since then it has showcased its expertise on the international stage, delighting a wide variety of audiences around the world. Pirotecnia Reyes won third place at the 13th International Fireworks Competition in Hanover in 2003.

The rules of the International Fireworks Competition are very clear: the fireworks display must last at least 22 minutes and include a mandatory segment before the pyrotechnicians can give free rein to their creativity. When planning their presentations, teams draw inspiration from Baroque gardens; they must include a specific number of basic elements, but otherwise there are few restrictions on creativity, music selection, and imagery. In addition to the overall impression, the jury evaluates technical execution, technical perfection, variety of effects, and musical interpretation.

The 22nd International Fireworks Competition will begin on May 12, 2012, with a performance by this year’s Mexican winners. Tickets will go on sale in November.

Competition dates in 2012: May 12, June 9, August 25, September 8, September 22.

For more information, please visit http://www.hannover.de/english

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