grandMA2 control was once again considered the only choice for lighting and video
control at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) staged in the Globe Arena,
Stockholm, Sweden.
Four weeks of intense technical, production and artist rehearsals and two televised
semi-finals featuring 42 participants preceded the final itself featuring 26
performances, which was broadcast to an estimated TV audience of 180 million
worldwide by host broadcaster STV, explained lighting designer Fredrik Jonsson.
Jonsson, a freelance LD with a vast fund of experience in lighting the highest profile
live TV shows, worked with a team of four lighting programmers utilising 8 x
grandMA2 light consoles. The grandMA2 network was running over 15 x MA NPU
(Network Processing Unit) and 28 x MA 8Port Nodes and was controlling around 1,
600 lighting, LED and effects fixtures, consuming approximately 26,000 control
channels over 60 DMX universes.
Mikki Kunttu was running the playback video – he also created the content – using
three grandMA2 full-size, triggering a substantial media server farm. There was a
massive amount – nearly 900 square metres – of LED elements integrated into the
set as well as some projection. Follow spot caller Q-Lan Wallertz also ran another
grandMA2 light to control all the attributes apart from pan/tilt for six over-stage
follow spots, together with some house lighting elements.
Using an MA control network enabled Jonsson’s four programmer/operators – Calle
Brattberg, Danne Persson, Fredrik Stormby and Timo Kauristo – to work
simultaneously but independently in their own sessions on different aspects of the
show. This was the only way to deal with the level of programming detail and fine-
tuning needed to perfect the cues for each of the 42 numbers given the scheduling
and time pressure through the rehearsal and build up period ahead of the semi-
finals and final.
Jonsson worked closely with assistant lighting designer Emma Landare and joining
them, the lighting operators and Kunttu at FOH were video programmers Neil
Trenell, Fraser Walker and Pekka Martti and follow spot caller Q-Lan Wallertz.
Lighting equipment for the event was supplied via Danish rental company, Lightcom.
They delivered amongst others 120 x Clay Paky Mythos, 58 x Clay Paky Scenius,
308 x Clay Paky Sharpy, 166 x Clay Paky Sharpy Wash, 5 x Clay Paky Stormy, 40 x
Philips Vari*Lite VL3500 Wash and 8 x Robert Juliat Lancelot. The winner was
Ukraine’s Jamala and her song “1944′, with Australia second and Russia third.
The winner was Ukraine’s Jamala and her song “1944′, with Australia second and
Russia third.
