Info from www.feuerwerk.net
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.
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.