The same trough arrangement continues around a large 'tongue' platform protruding from the front of the stage used as the main performance area. These fixtures are used to throw wide angle light all around the stadium on up into the audience, including onto the five-ringed performance structure at the opposite end to the stage.
A further 80 Robe fixtures are rigged in the stage roof - overhead across four trusses - used for lighting performers and for general stage effects. Another 20 ColorWash 1200s are placed on a truss over the top of the 5 ring structure, down-lighting its performers.
Marenghi and the event's scenic/production designer Mark Fisher were initially approached to create a high impact visual scheme for the opening and closing Torino shows at the end of 2002 by Filmmaster who then formed production company K2006 to co-ordinate all the event's technical and production aspects.
Marenghi says he chose Robe ColorWashes because he wanted a powerful, wide-angle light-source. He particularly wanted plenty of lighting near the performers on the Olympic rings that would cut through potential environmental elements like fog, and he also needed plenty of concentrated, flexible light for the stage action and to light the seating stands. Also, says Marenghi the fixtures in the exposed trough needed to be robust enough (even though encased in plastic domes) to survive sub-zero temperatures, heavy snow and rain. Marenghi reports that the Robe's are "really excellent" all round.
The majority of the Robe fixtures were supplied by L'Aquilla based lighting company Agora, a main lighting contractor for the opening/closing events, with Robe Italia co-ordinating the sourcing of additional fixtures.
Marenghi's team of programmers includes Ross Williams, Pryderi Baskerville, Emiliano Morgia and Mark Payne, with his company Lumitect also employing lighting managers Eneas Mackintosh, Nick Jones and David Bartlett, PA Jennie Marenghi and HDTV consultant Chris Bretnall. The shows are operated via four Wholehog 3 consoles from High End Systems.
(A full review of the Olympics Ceremonies in Turin will appear in the April issue of Lighting&Sound International magazine.)
(Lee Baldock)
