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Flock Drone Art, Focus, Lavinia, Igor Studio make history with a spectacular show of lights, colors and an endless number of performing arts brought together with the same goal: to shine
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«Barcelona, Far al Món»: a before and after of the show
The night of October 10th was a night to remember. The “I was there” that Hanzel Cereza predicted at the press conference a couple of weeks ago seems to have come true.
For the first time in its century-old history, the prestigious America's Cup sailing event has had an opening ceremony, which has brought together more than 60 thousand people on Bogatell Beach. The city of Barcelona has been a pioneer in organising a spectacle of this nature, kicking off the 37th edition of the competition, the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup.
Once again, the city of Barcelona has demonstrated its ability to dazzle the world with a memorable ceremony in which, over the course of 40 minutes, the sea, the wind and the sail – symbols of human ingenuity and collective effort – have starred in an unprecedented spectacle full of music, light and colour on Bogatell Beach. More than 800 people have been directly involved in the success of a show that the city of Barcelona has not seen for years. With a work process of more than a year, the show has been put on jointly by the Barcelona Capital Náutica Foundation – and the institutions that are part of it –, the organisation of the regatta (America's Cup Event Barcelona) and the artistic team as a demonstration of the strength of teamwork that is part of the story of the ceremony.
Directed and produced by Catalan companies and artists
The Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup ceremony has been directed and produced by the UTE 'BARCELONA, FAR IN THE WORLD', formed by the four business structures Focus SA (specialized in the creation and staging of cultural and audiovisual content), Lavinia (with a long and recognized career in television services and creations), Igor Studio (internationally multi-award-winning creative studio) and Flock Drone Art (Catalan company specialized in drone shows).
More than 800 people have been involved in the creation and production of the show: original creative idea by Igor Cortadellas; stage direction by Hansel Cereza; musical composition by Albert Guinovart; set design by Carles Berga; audiovisual creation by Glassworks; costume design by Txell Miras; sound design by Ferran Conangla, Enric Giné and Pepe Ferrer; lighting design by Xavi Costas, and choreography by Barbarana Pons.
The event was broadcast live on TV3, TVE, betevé and more than 10 international channels, including CanalPlus, Fox Australia, MBC, MediaSet, STUFF NZ and Supersport, among others.
Barcelona, a beacon in the world: a complete show
The show has been conceived with the aim of strengthening the city's pride and collective enthusiasm, while also wanting to mark a historic and global milestone with a unique and exceptional competition that will once again open Barcelona to the world, through the sea, sport and culture as a great network of connection.
The show is structured in 13 scenes divided into five blocks (the firmament / meeting of cultures; the sea, a point of confluence / the same universal impulses; connection and symbiosis; the lighthouse, and Barcelona, a beacon in the world). The story is based on three essential elements: the sea, the wind and the sail, and focusing on the value of ingenuity and teamwork, making evident how humanity, through navigation, has traced paths of connection between cultures that now give us the keys to reading the present.
Light has united these three concepts and, at the same time, becomes the protagonist, being the communication channel and historical language of navigation and with which, tonight, the message of Barcelona and the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup has been conveyed to the world.
The main protagonist was a lighthouse-shaped structure - created ad hoc for the show -, a historic symbol of navigation, which was also the main stage for a memorable multidisciplinary event, which featured a high technological component, visual effects, drone constellations, LED screens, avatars and seas of light, all enlivened by musical performances and immersive symphonies by top-level Catalan artists and groups.
Catalan artists and choral groups of the highest level have shone on stage, with live performances by soprano Sara Blanch, pop tenor Arnau Tordera, actress Asia Ortega playing the role of the “Captain” with a thirst for freedom. The Castellers de Vilafranca have represented the strength and collaboration of teamwork. Special mention should be made of the group of volunteers of the regatta, who have also been a key part of the cast. All of this was enlivened by the collaborations of the Liceu Orchestra and Choir and the Escolanía de Montserrat.
In the sky, a thousand luminous drones have flown in stages and in swarms over the skyline of Barcelona, uniting two emblematic points such as the Torre Mirador Glòries and the Sagrada Família, and breaking the Spanish record for swarms of drones flying throughout a multidisciplinary event full of light, music and color.
Another of the evening's highlights was the premiere performance of the soundtrack "Barcelona, beacon in the world", composed, orchestrated and conducted by the Catalan composer Albert Guinovart and sung in duet by the soprano Sara Blanch and the pop tenor Arnau Tordera. The stage direction of the entire event was in the hands of Barcelona native Hansel Cereza.
The sea and sailing have also played a key role in the show, with the appearance of 27 illuminated LÚDICO class sailboats - beginner sailboats - led by the Catalan Sailing Federation, including 6 Hansa, inclusive sailing boats, captained by the Mi Alex Foundation.
