Tarragona [Informations] 18. Int. Fwks. Display Competition Tarragona 2007

THE 18TH INTERNATIONAL FIREWORKS DISPLAYS COMPETITION OF TARRAGONA CONSOLIDATES THE BUDGET AND PRIZES OF LAST YEAR'S SPECIAL PRIZE

The jury will be allowed to use the weighted vote system in case of bad weather.

The City Council of Tarragona has published the specifications for the 18th International Fireworks Displays Competition "Ciutat de Tarragona", that will take place during the first full week in July. Those companies interested in taking part will have to hand in their proposals by Friday 2nd February.

This 18th competition consolidates the budget and prizes, which were increased last year on occasion of the Great Champion of Champions Special Prize. In this respect, the local Councillor for Festivities, Carles Sala Roca, pointed out "the really high standards reached by the participating companies that get to Tarragona with outstanding proposals make it necessary for the organisation to rise to the occasion as far as budget and prizes is concerned".

With the consolidation of budget the City Council wants to guarantee such a good level as that of the Champion of Champions special Prize. Therefore, the companies with headquarters in the Spanish Peninsula will get 22,200 EUR, while foreign companies or non-peninsular Spanish ones will get 24,700EUR. The prizes, which were increased last year, are now also kept. The first prize will be worth 9,000EUR, apart from the Trophy Venus City of Tarragona and the award of the pyrotechnic displays during the St. Tecla Festivities, which are worth 41,580EUR. The second prize will be worth 6,000EUR and the trophy City of Tarragona.. The City Council of Granollers (an institution associated to the competition in Tarragona) also keeps their contribution for the best peninsular company and will award them the fireworks displays for the local Festivity of White and Blue, which is worth 18,000EUR.

Changes in the jury's voting system
Last year the organisation of the competition in Tarragona saw how two splendid displays (by the Valencian Ricardo Caballer and by the Italian La Rosa Lorenzo) were ruined by bad weather conditions. The lack of wind and the extremely high humidity in the environment made it impossible to see the displays. Neither the great majority of the public nor the jury, which is usually right in front of the display, could enjoy the beauty of those displays.

Obviously, the public cannot change their location, but if such bad weather conditions occur again in 2007, the jury will have another point of view. In this sense, the organisation has decided for the first time the location of two members of the jury (out of seventeen) in a boat on the sea. This transport will allow them to see the displays from a different angle. If this measure were necessary, those two members of the jury might be essential, as their points could get to be fifty per cent of the total amount of points given by the seventeen members. This innovative weighted vote system will make it possible to assess the companies in a much more suitable way than before if the weather conditions are bad.

Acceptance of sea catamarans
Last year the pyrotechnic company Pirogestió from the Igual Group asked the organisation of the competition in Tarragona to let them set up sea catamarans so as to widen the already wide firing area. The City Council accepted, the change was enjoyed, and for 2007 this possibility has been included in the specifications. Also, the companies will not have to prepare the luminous sign with the name of the main sponsor of the competition, as the name Carrefour will appear on an electric board, thus avoiding the potential concentration of smoke at the beginning of the display.

 

Participants

Today the competitors for 18th Tarragona International Fireworks Competition were drawn:

Monday 2th July
Orzella (Itàlia)

Tuesday 3th July
PiroQuiles / Group Vicent Caballer (València)

Wednesday 4th July
Parente Fireworks, de Melara (Itàlia)

Thursday 5th July
Xaraiva (Galícia)

Friday 6th July
Flash Barrandov (República Txeca)

Saturday 7th July
María Angustias Pérez (Granada, Andalusia)


It looks like it could become a very good competition this year, again!

 

Official announcement from 11th of February 2007:

 

18TH INTERNATIONAL FIREWORKS DISPLAYS COMPETITION
"CIUTAT DE TARRAGONA"

The pyrotechnics competition of the Mediterranean

From Monday 2nd to Saturday 7th July 2007
Punta del Miracle, 22:30
Tarragona

Organised by: City Council of Tarragona. Department of Festivities
Main sponsor: Carrefour

Associated institution: City Council of Granollers

Cooperating:
Patronat Municipal de Turisme (Municipal Tourism Board)
Costa Daurada. Patronat de Turisme de la Diputació de Tarragona.
Polyklyn

Official vehicles:
Ruzafa
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FLASH BARRANDOV SPECIAL EFFECTS LTD., from Prague, Czech Republic.
Artistic director: Jaroslav Stolba
www.flash-sfx.cz

This is the first time a company from Eastern Europe has taken part in the competition in Tarragona. Their headquarters is at the cinema studios AB Barrandov in Prague. These studios were built in 1931 by the brothers Gustav and Milos Havel, members of the family of the president of the Czech Republic, Václav Havel. Ever since the fifties in the last century, this company specialised on the development of special effects. Political and socio-economic changes during the nineties meant that a new batch of designers started to work for the company. Thus, in 1994 the company got rid of any links to the government and became totally independent.
Every year they are in charge of the most important pyrotechnic event in Eastern Europe: the Ignis Brunensis, which takes place in Brno, in the Czech Republic.
They have made special effects related to pyrotechnics for several films, and they are suppliers for companies like Disney, French Telecom, Trident, Spyglass Entertainment Group LP, The Cannes Cinema Festival in France, and the government of Oman. They have fired displays and pyromusicals in Prague, apart from in many competitions, like in Canada -Vancouver, Ottawa, Quebec and Montreal-, in Germany -Hamburg, Hannover-, in South Africa -Johannesburg-, in Portugal -Madeira-, in Belgium -Knokke-, and in the competition at Donostia in the Basque Country. They have obtained the following prizes: first prize in Hamburg in 2001; second prize in Vancouver, Canada in 2003; and the prize from the public at the Festival Du Atlantico in Madeira in 2006. Also, they have been in charge of special effects for operas and live performances by symphony orchestras, like Carmina Burana, Carmen or Mozart's Requiem.


ORZELLA FIREWORKS S.R.L., from Trevi nel Lazio (Italy)
Artistic director: Alberto Orzella
www.orzella.it

Orzella is a fireworks company located in Altipiani di Arcinazzo, 80 Km away from Rome, in the middle of a wide green space and surrounded by mountains. The company was founded in 1884 by Luigi Orzella in his little factory of Subiaco, in Rome. Nowadays, the company has 5,000 square metres, four warehouses and two laboratories. Orzella has worked for important Italian City Councils, like Rome, Trapani, Calamonaci, Crotone, Alghero or Merano. They have taken part in cultural events like the Roman Song Festival in the area of Frosinone, the Jubilee of Castel Sant' Angelo, the millenium goodbye at Castel Gandolfo, or the tale night at Ribera en el Garda. They fired in Spain for the first time in Taragona in 2004, when they obtained second prize. They were in charge of the fireworks to welcome the Pope Benedict XVI from Città di Castel Gandolfo, in Rome. This year, they are also taking part in the festivals of Malta and Standsford (United Kingdom), apart from the celebrations organized by Tripoli (Libia) , as the capital of Islamic culture. This is the only company among this year's participants that is coming to Tarragona for the second time.


PARENTE FIREWORKS, from Melara (Italy)
Artistic Director: Claudio Parente
www.parente.it

Although the Parente family has already taken part in the competition in Tarragona, the branch of the Parentes from Melara is firing in our competition for the first time. The origins of this company date back from the end of the 19th century and are located in the South of Italy. The first factory was built a bit later, in 1900. After the First World War, the seven Parente brothers created one of the biggest pyrotechnic factories in Italy. In 1951, one of them, Antonio Parente, moved to Melara, in the North of Italy. In 1956 he opened his own factory there, which nowadays is 85,000 square metres. He has obtained the following prizes: first prize at the competition in Chantilly, France, in 1987, 1990 and 2001; first prize in Bilbao in 1998; first prize in Hull, Canada in 1999; second prize in Toronto, Canada, the same year; first prize in Quebec, Canada, also the same year; first prize in Stockholm, Sweden, in 2001; second prize in Hannover, Germany, in 2001; first prize in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, in 2002; first prize in Villahermosa, Mexico, in 2003; first prize in Knokke, Belgium, in 2004; and first prize in Courchevel, France, the same year. They fired one of the most widely recognised displays at the International Fireworks Symposium that took place by the lake of Shiga in Otse, Japan in 2005. Among the most important events where they have taken part, we find: the cinema biennial Festival in Venice, the 2002 Jubilee of the Vatican City, the Redeemer Festivities in Venice, and the well-known carnival of this city last year. They are suppliers of companies like Bennetton, Citroen, Ferrari, or Rotari, among others, and they have worked with bands like U2, Pink Floyd, AC DC, the Rolling Stones and with singers like Michael Jackson and Tina Turner.


PIROQUILES S.l., from Turís (Valencian Country)/Vicente Caballer Group
Artistic Director: Juan Manuel Lucas Rodrigo

This is the youngest company that will participate in this year's competition. They come from one of the areas with a wider pyrotechnic tradition: the Valencian Country. The company was founded in 1992 by one of the most important representatives of fireworks at international level: the Valencian Vicent Caballer. Since August 2005 this company has been a member of the group Pirotecnia Caballer S.A. Nowadays, their factory is 19,000 square metres and has a storage capacity of 5,000 Kg of regulated material. Every year since 2001 Piroquiles has been firing at the Town Hall square in Valencia within the "mascletades" programme of the Falles. Also, they have fired during the Magdalena Festivities in Castelló, and at similar competitions of this kind of Valencian pyrotechnics, like in Alzira and in Benetúser. Last year, they took part in the well-known international competition of Donostia.


PIROTECNIA MARIA ANGUSTIAS PÉREZ, from Guadix (Granada)
Artistic Director: José Pérez Aranda
www.pirotecniamariaangustias.com

This is the first time in eighteen years that an Andalusian company has participated in
the competition in Tarragona. The area of Granada has a long tradition in the world of powder, with special interest in sound effects, which investigators have related to the Muslim presence in this area. This company was founded in 1889 by Juan Pérez Marruecos, and specialised in the manufacturing of different kinds of rockets and wheels for fireworks displays. Since then, they have been providing materials for many traditional festivities, especially in the area nearby. For example, The Chorpus in the city of Granada and the Horse Fair in Jerez de la Frontera. In 1988 they received the gold medal for export. They have fired at the international competition in Monaco. As far as prizes is concerned, they obtained prizes at the Fair in Almeria in 2000, 2001 and 2003, apart from the first prize at the Mercè Festivities in Barcelona last year. They were in charge of the fireworks show for the opening ceremony at the racing circuit in Jerez.


PIROTECNIA XARAIVA S.L., from Albarellos-Monterrey, Ourense, Galícia.
Artistic director: Luis Doespiritusanto García.
www.xaraiva.com

Since the second year of the competition, in 1991, not a single company from Galicia has participated. Then, the particular style of fireworks from Galicia was really enjoyed in Tarragona. Their rhythm and effects are different form those produced in other areas of Spain. Pirotecnia Xaraiva was founded at the end of the 19th century by Eugenio Doespiritusanto, also known by the nickname of Xaraiva, which is the name of the company. He was the grandfather of the present owner and artistic director. The second generation, also with the name of Eugenio, moved from Portugal to the South of Galicia in 1925. During the Spanish civil war, in 1936, he was sent to prison in Angola, where he stayed for thirty months. Once free, he continued with his task, almost in hiding, until in 1962 he managed to have the factory legalized. At that time, Xaraiva specialised on fixed light effects and girandolas or earth wheels. In 1977 there was another generation change that has continued to the present. They were a family company that became a company with growing projection abroad, and even opened a new factory in 1993. Among the prizes they have obtained we find: special mentions at Bouzas (Vigo) in 1993,2000,2001,2002 and 2003; first prize in San Cibrao (Orense) in 1991, 1993, 1994 and 1995; first prize at Mirandela, Portugal, in 1996; first prize at Vilarello, Portugal, in 1996; first prize at Orense in 1998; a special mention at the Donostia Festival in 1990; second prize at Donostia in 1999; and the great prize fom the public also at Donostia in 2004; first prize in Bilbao in 2004, where they also obtained the prize from the public; and the second prize at the international competition in Rome in 2005. Between 2003 and 2005 they fired at one of the most traditional pyrotechnic events in the North of Spain: the great "descarga" at Cangas de Narcea.

 

The countdown is on:

 

THE FIREWORKS COMPETITION IN TARRAGONA REACHES THE AGE OF MAJORITY
8466KG OF FIREWORKS AND 308 HIGH-CALIBRE SHELLS IN SIX NIGHTS

From 2nd to 7th July
www.tarragona.piroart.com
www.tarragona.feuerwerk.net

8466 Kg of fireworks and 308 high-calibre shells will be fired during six nights in Tarragona between Monday 2nd July and Saturday 7th July in the eighteenth International Fireworks Displays Competition Ciutat de Tarragona. Every night at 22:30 the competition will take to Miracle beach a selection of exceptional quality, with six companies that will compete for the most prestigious pyrotechnic prize on the Mediterranean. 60,000 spectators attend daily one of the most crowded events in Tarragona. Apart from the official jury, formed by several specialists and European journalists, the audience may also give their opinion and award the Great Prize from the Public. Since late afternoon, thousands of citizens arrive at the beach and the promenade to set their portable tables, folding chairs and beach towels and later have dinner there. Once the display is over, they cast their vote by means of ballot papers, sms messages or the internet.

A novel programme

The great number of companies that have applied for participation in the competition has made it possible for the organisation to renew the names of the participants. Only one of the six participating companies has ever fired before in Tarragona, the Italian Orzella, from Rome. Origins have also been diversified, and for the first time we have a company from Eastern Europe -Flash Barrandov Special Effects Ltd, from Prague, Czech Republic. As far as Spanish companies is concerned, for the first time we have an Andalusian company firing here: Pirotecnia Maria Angustias Pérez, from Guadix, Granada. This pyrotechnic company has a long history as it was founded in 1889.
The list of participants also includes the Italian Parente Fireworks, the Valencian Piroquiles, which belongs to Vicente Caballer big group of companies, and the Galician Xaraiva.

Kyoto-Florence-Tarragona, linked by fireworks

Each and every one of the six participating companies will probably come to offer the very best of their products and designs, which has aroused even more interest among professionals and pyrotechnics enthusiasts. For this reason, the competition in Tarragona will be more than ever a real exhibition fair of international pyrotechnics. In this respect, the Japanese television channel TBC (a private channel that broadcasts nationwide) has recently broadcast a one-hour-long report that related the monumental cities of Kyoto (Japan), Florence (Italy) and Tarragona with the world of fireworks. This report was recorded in Tarragona during the latest competition. Apart from Punta del Miracle and fireworks, other images of the Cathedral, the old town and the Roman ruins were also included.

 

18TH INTERNATIONAL FIREWORKS DISPLAYS COMPETITION​

“CIUTAT DE TARRAGONA”​

The pyrotechnics competition of the Mediterranean​

From Monday 2nd to Saturday 7th July 2007​

Punta del Miracle, 22:30​

Tarragona

​

Organised by: City Council of Tarragona. Department of Festivities

​

Main sponsor: Carrefour

​

Associated institution: City Council of Granollers

​

Official portals:​

Daily poll on line​

www.piroart.com​

www.tarragona.feuerwerk.net

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Private co-sponsor: WC-rent

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Great prize from the public / Telephone poll:​

Galàctic Rocket

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Official fuel: Repsol YPF

​

Cooperating:​

Patronat Municipal de Turisme (Municipal Tourism Board)​

Costa Daurada. Patronat de Turisme de la Diputació de Tarragona.

​

Official vehicles:​

Ruzafa​

PARTICIPATING COMPANIES AND TECHNICAL DETAILS

Monday 2nd July, 22:30
ORZELLA FIREWORKS, S.R.L., from Trevi nel Lazio (Italy)
Artistic director: Alberto Orzella
Foundation: 1884
Gross weight: 1489.39 Kg
Net weight: 1183.29 Kg
Special shells (200mm or more): 96
Maximum calibre: 2 shells of 300mm
Duration: 17 minutes
Number of pyrotechnicians: 10
Transport: by road
Previous participations in the competition in Tarragona: 1
Web: www.orzella.it
For: It’s the only company this year that has got experience in our competition, as they fired here in 2004 and obtained the second prize. The Italian style fits very well in the taste of the public from Tarragona.
Against: They have the difficult role of starting the first day of the competition.


Tuesday 3rd July, 22:30
PIROQUILES, S.L., from Turís (Valencia) /Vicent Caballer Group
Artistic Director: Juan Manuel Lucas Rodrigo
Foundation: 1992
Gross weight: 814 Kg
Net weight: 557 Kg
Special shells (200mm or more): 22
Maximum calibre: 7 shells of 250mm
Duration: 18 minutes
Transport: by road
Participating for the first time in Tarragona.
For: It’s the only Valencian company in this year’s competition. The Mediterranean public enjoys Valencian style a lot. Some of their pyrotechnicians used to work for other Valencian companies that had won in Tarragona. The economic potential of the group Vicent Caballer, one of the largest in Spain, is behind this participant.
Against: Their name is still rather unknown in the world of pyrotechnics.


Wednesday 4th July, 22:30
PARENTE FIREWORKS, from Melara (Italy)
Artistic director: Claudio Parente
Foundation: at the end of the 19th century
Estimate gross weight: 956 Kg
Net weight: 760 Kg
Special shells (200mm or more): 50
Maximum calibre: 3 shells of 300mm
Duration: 23 minutes
Number of pyrotechnicians: 9
Transport: by road
Web: www.parente.it
For: Their Italian origin is specially enjoyed in Tarragona.
Against: The Parente family have left very good memories in our city. For this reason, their direct competitors will have to beat the family’s previous success.


Thursday 5th July, 22:30
PIROTECNIA XARAIVA S.L, from Albarellos-Monterrey, Ourense, Galicia.
Artistic director: Luis Doespiritusanto García
Foundation: at the end of the 19th century
Gross weight: 2164.80 Kg
Net weight: 345.20 Kg
Special shells (200mm or more): 64
Maximum calibre: 13 shells of 250mm
Duration: 19 minutes
Transport: by road
Web: www.xaraiva.com
For: The only participation from Galicia in 1991, left us a very good impression because of the particularities of fireworks from the North of the Peninsula.
Against: We’ll have to find out whether Galician pyrotechnics have developed in parallel to the level of the competition in Tarragona.


Friday 6th July, 22:30
FLASH BARRANDOV SPECIAL EFFECTS LTD, from Prague, Czech Republic.
Artistic director: Jaroslav Stolba
Foundation: 1931
Gross weight: 1318.26 Kg
Net weight: 828.08 Kg
Special shells (200mm or more): 27
Maximum calibre: 27 shells of 200mm
Duration: 17 minutes
Number of pyrotechnicians: 7
Transport: by road
Web: www.flash-sfx.cz
For: First participation in our competition of a company from Eastern Europe, which has focused their business objectives for 2007 on this competition.
Against: We’ll see if their relationship with the world of special effects can surprise the public.

Saturday 7th July , 22:30
PIROTECNIA MARIA ANGUSTIAS PEREZ, from Guadix, Granada.
Artistic director: José Pérez Aranda
Foundation: 1889
Gross weight: 1724 Kg
Net weight: 1180 Kg
Special shells (200mm or more): 49
Maximum calibre: 35 shells of 250mm
Duration: 18 minutes
Transport: by road
Web: www.pirotecniamariaangustias.com
For: First Andalusian participation in the competition. One of the owners has been attending the competition regularly and has got to know very well the characteristics of the setting and the tastes of the public.
Against: The small size of this company.

 

A new sponsor for the competition...

 

The first photosof the Tarragona competition 2007 are now online in the FEUERWERK Album:



Many more photos can be found here...

 

Finally the results of the public voting for the GRAN PREMI DEL PÚBLIC by billet, telephone and on internet were published today:

1. Pirotechnia Maria Angustias Perez (9,20)
2. Pirotecnia Xaraiva S.L. (8,70)
3. Piroquilles S.L. (8,70)
4. Parente Fireworks (8,40)
5. Orzella Fireworks S.R.L.(6,50)
6. Flash Barrandov Special Effects LTD.(4,90)

Total votants: 6564
Total points: 53614,50