Ballet, Based on Carmina Burana, Uses Philips Vari-Lite 3000 Spot Luminaires

Belgian lighting designer Francis Mannaert used Philips Vari*Lite VL3000 Spot and Wash luminaires to create a dynamic supernatural lightscape for the National Opera Ukrainia's touring ballet, set to the music of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana.

Conductor Grigori Penteleîtchouk originally commissioned the production for a small classical music festival -- Festival des Nuits Sainte Victoire -- in 2009. However, so successful was it that producer, Franck Dompietrini, and Penteleïtchouk decided to take an exploded version of the production across France and play to the largest audiences possible.

Mannaert used VL3000 spots and washes, as part of a traditional ballet lighting rig, he explains: "I use the Vari-Lites for punchy key, back and side lighting. There are no props or scenery on stage except for a painted cyclorama that represents the elements earth, wind, fire, water, and air. My mission was to bring the images and colors of the cyc out into three-dimensional space while avoiding the trap of delivering a pop- or rock-style light show."

Mannaert says that the VL3000 Spot Luminaires offered him boundless creative possibilities. "I spec'd both the washes and the spots for their sharp bright beams, smooth dimming and rich color, all absolutely crucial in ensuring the playing environment was sculptural and atmospheric. The Vari-Lite gobos combined with accurate focusing allowed me to create specific, dynamic looks that worked with the music and the movement of the dancers."

"My biggest artistic challenge is to ensure that all the performers have a perfect view of one another and of the conductor," explains Mannaert. "The choirs stand on each side of stage on risers and the ballet performance is staged in between, with the orchestra at the front. With a choir of 66, orchestra of 56 and 30 dancers, lighting was crucial. Not only to create the atmosphere of the piece but ultimately, to its successful delivery."

Mannaert says he has been a keen Philips Vari-Lite user for many years: "I started to use Vari-Lites for the Belgian Eurovision song Contest In 1987, he points out. "As head of lighting for Béjart Ballet Lausanne for more than 10 years, I used Vari-Lite's in my designs as often as budget would allow. In fact it was there that I met Laurent and Serge Begnis, owners of PAN-POT, the lighting and sound company that has supplied the lighting kit for this tour. For Laurent Begnis there is no other luminaire than Vari-Lite, we were destined to meet and work together!"