Info found on Feuerwerk.net
PARTICIPATING COMPANIES
Monday, 7th July. 22.30.
GÖTEBORGS FYRVERKERI FABRIK, from Göteborg, Sweden.
Artistic director: Martin Hildeberg
www.fyrverkerifabriken.se
In spite of its relative short life, as it was founded in 1994, GFF is the largest company in Scandinavia and the one that performs the most important displays in that area in the North of Europe. It was born from the joint efforts of two local competitors: Martin Hildeberg and Anders Hallinder, who set up business in what had formerly been military outbuildings. Since then, they have had a notable international presence, offering really good artistic taste and elegant and beautiful fireworks displays. Among the prizes they have obtained are: first prize at the Competition in Sweden in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007, and the second in 1997 and 1999; first at the Competition in Stockholm in 1997; first prize at the International Competition of Knokke-Heist –Belgium- in 2001 and 2007; first prize at the Competition of Hannover –Germany- in 2002, 2003 and 2004, and the second in 2005; second prize in Rome in 2002; second at the International Competition of Donostia in 2003; and the first in Berlin in 2007. They have also fired the largest display ever in Sweden, on occasion of the New Year in Stockholm in 2000; the celebration of the 750 anniversary of the foundation of Stockholm in 2002; and several other displays in Canada, Denmark and Norway. This is their first time in the Catalan Countries and it is also the first time a Swedish or Nordic company takes part in the competition of Tarragona.
Tuesday 8th July 22.30
ZAMORANO CABALLER, S.A. PIROTECNIA, from Tous, Valencian Country
Artistic direction: Miguel Zamorano Caballer.
www.caballer.com
Miguel Zamorano Caballer is the head of this company that represents the fifth generation of the pyrotechnic family that is best-known internationally, as its origins are in 1877 in the Valencian town of Montcada. After one-hundred and thirty years of uninterrupted fireworks in this family, Miguel has got fifty-four years of experience as the main designer of this company. The present factory is 15,000 square metres. Zamorano Caballer is one of the biggest who take part in the Falles in Valencia year after year, both with displays and with “mascletàs”. Some of the many prizes they have obtained are: first prize at the Fireworks Displays Competition of Burgos in 2004 and 2000; second prize in Alacant in 2003; first prize at the “Mascletaes” Competition in Alacant in 2003, 2000, 1999 and in 1996; first prize at the “Mascletaes” Competition of Castelló in 1988, 1989, 1992 and 1995; first prize at the International Fireworks Competition of Donostia in 1979, 1982, 1985 and 1990, and the second prize in 1991 and 1992; second prize at the Logroño competition in 1990; first prize at the International Competition of Bilbao in 1985 and 1986; first prize in Acapulco –Mexico- in 1994; first prize in New York in 1997; first in Macau –China- in 1997; first in Johannesburg –South-Africa- in 1999; first in Toronto –Canada- also in 1999; first in Cordoba in 2000 and 2002; first prize in Vancouver –Canada- in 2000 and 2001; and first in Brno in the Czech Republic in 2003. Important events in their history are: their participation in the Universal Exhibition in Barcelona in 1909; the fireworks on occasion of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II of England in Gibraltar in 1953; and those on occasion of the 500 anniversary of the discovery of the American continent that took place in Huelva in 1992. They have also fired displays in Ivory Coast, France, the USA, Portugal, Switzerland and the Soviet Union. They were suppliers of the theme park Terra Mítica in 2002, and they were in charge of the fireworks at the local festivities of Vitoria (Basque Country) in 2000 (“the way up and the way down of the Celedón”); also, the bell concert by Llorenç Barber in Valladolid in 2001, and the presentation of Fernando Alonso’s new McLaren in Valencia in 2007. They have only taken part in the competition in Tarragona once. It was in 2002.
Wednesday 9th July 22.30
FIRST CLAS PYRO-EVENTS, from Gronau, Leine, Germany.
Artistic Director: Stefan Falkenau
www.first-class-pyro-events.de
This is the youngest participant this year as this company was founded in August 2004. They will be in Tarragona this year because it’s the policy of the organisation to give opportunities to young companies that would like to make themselves known internationally in the world of fireworks, as it has happened on several occasions before.
In spite of their youth, this company has got two-thousand mortars or cannons of their own. This work autonomy has let them expand in their own country, where they have been acknowledged great prestige by several experts and local journalists. Among their performances, one of the best was the one in Hamburg in 2006, which caused a big expansion the following year. Their displays are based on designs made from high-quality products. Theirs is a special fusion inspired by the fact that Germany has already obtained first prize in our competition, apart from the fact that the latest winner of the Champion of Champions in 2006 was a company whose origin was half German and half Italian. Creative ideas, passion as an essential element of art, growing feelings, enthusiasm and evocative dreams mix up and present a different proposal. They are firing for the first time in Spain.
Thursday 10th de July 22.30
MACEDO’S PIROTECNIA, from Serrinha-Lixa, Portugal
Artistic Director: Fernando Manuel Machado de Silva Macedo.
www.macedos.com.pt
This family’s pyrotechnic activity started in 1934 with Joaquim da Silva Macedo,
who transmitted all his knowledge, technique and methods to his children and grandchildren. The starting point of the present company was Fogos de Artifício-Joaquim Macedo & Filhos, Lda. In 2002 they obtained the Certificaçao da qualidade according to the Norm NP EN ISO 9001. In 2006 they got the world Guinness record for the greatest exhibition ever, with 66.326 pyrotechnic devices fired on New Year’s Eve. Among the most important prizes they have obtained are, at international level: second prize at the International Competition in Macau –China- in 1997 and the first prize at the same competition in 2000 and 2002; the gold medal of the city of Shanghai –China- in 2000; first prize at the National Pyrotechnics Festival of Coimbra –Portugal- in 2005; first prize at the international competition of Monaco on the same year ; first prize, the prize of the Television and the prize from the Public in Brno –Czech Republic- in 2005; first prize, the one from the Public and the prize for the Music at the same Czech festival in 2006; first prize, the prize of the Television and the one from the Public in the same place in 2007; second prize at the World Pyro Award of Leipzig, Germany; first at the competition in Hannover –Germany- also in 2007; and first prize at the Mercè festivities in Barcelona on the same year. Also, they’ve been collecting many prizes in their own country since 1969. This company has 128 skilled workers, eighteen warehouses and thirty-two production sections. They were in charge of the displays to promote the Universal Exhibition in Lisbon in 1998. This is the first time they have participated in Tarragona.
Friday 11th July 22.30
A.P.E. DI PARENTE ROMUALDO SPETTACOLI PIROTECNI, from Bergantino, Italy.
Artistic Director: Romualdo Parente
www.parenteape.it
The Parente family dates back to the end of the 18th century, when they settled in the area of Puglia, in the south of the country. Generation after generation, the Parentes have always been on the job making the typical Italian shells, so much appreciated internationally and in Tarragona as well. Today, Romualdo Parente’s factory, the “Antiga Pirotecnia Emiliana” (A.P.E.) has a surface of 35,000 square metres. Among their usual participations in Italy we find the important Redeemer’s Festivity in Venice (with a display that is extraordinarily respectful with the natural and urban environment) and the New Year celebration at Castell dell’Ovo in Naples (the pyrotechnic epicentre of Italian manufacturing) and in Mantova. As far as their international performances is concerned, they have fired at the competitions of Toronto, Vancouver and Hull (Canada), and in Johannesburg (South-Africa).They got first prize at Cape Town in South Africa and in Loto (Quebec) in 2005. Romualdo Parente was the first Italian and foreign company that fired a diurnal display during the Valencian “fallas”, in the style of the Catalan “tronades” and the Valencian “mascletades”. They fired from the Malvarrosa beach and this kind of display has become indispensable during the festivities of Valencia. They are suppliers of the Ferrari and Ducati stables. On New Year’s Eve 2006 they presented a pyromusical display in the monumental area of the Arena of Verona. They are coming to Tarragona for the second, where they obtained the second prize in 2005.
Saturday, 12th July
ASTONDOA PIROTEKNIA, from Areatza-Villaro, Bizkaia, Basque Country.
Artistic Director: José Manuel Martín Crespo.
www.astondoapiroteknia.com
The origins of the present fireworks supplier of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao date back to the 19th century. In 1885 Eustaquio Astondoa Zabala founded this company. His son Luki Astondoa Sopelana (1890-1975) continued the pyrotechnic tradition. Luki went to Valencia to improve his knowledge and apply it to the manufacturing of different colours, rockets and “tracas”. His sons Eustaquio i Andoni continued the family tradition during the 20th century. Nowadays, Eustaquio’s daughter, Izaskun Astondoa Sarria, is directing the company. Such a long history has made the Astondoas one of the most widely recognised powder families in the Basque Country, in Spain and even internationally. This company is especially mindful about respecting the environment. In this sense, in 2005 they obtained the Rules Certificate ISO 9001:2000, and Quality and ISO 14001:2001 Environment, about the design, manufacturing and sales of pyrotechnic products and for the design and performance of pyrotechnic displays. This company works both with great air exhibitions and with traditional static pyrotechnics. Some of their best performances are the really beautiful creations for outstanding buildings of great artistic value like the Guggenheim, The Euskalduna Palace, the Arriaga Theatre or the suspension Bridge, all of them in Bilbao, or the Chillida Leku Museum in Hernani. Other important displays they have offered recently are: the fireworks displays in Maó –Menorca- in 2001 and 2003, the International Competition of Bilbao from 2001 till now –both in the exhibition and in the competition sections-, the celebrations to commemorate the 700 years since the foundation of Bilbao in 2003 and 2006, the 68th anniversary of the bombing of Gernika in 2005, the concert for peace by Bob Dylan in Donostia in 2006, the bicentennial of Sestao in 2006, the inauguration of the Victoria Eugenia Theatre in Donostia, that of the Mendibile Museum in Leioa and of the Huarte Contemporary Art Centre, all of them in 2007, when they also participated in the opera Aida in Madrid. They have participated in the International fireworks Competition of Donostia, and twice in the competition of Tarragona, in 1998, when they got second prize, and in 2004.
PARTICIPATING COMPANIES
Monday, 7th July. 22.30.
GÖTEBORGS FYRVERKERI FABRIK, from Göteborg, Sweden.
Artistic director: Martin Hildeberg
www.fyrverkerifabriken.se
In spite of its relative short life, as it was founded in 1994, GFF is the largest company in Scandinavia and the one that performs the most important displays in that area in the North of Europe. It was born from the joint efforts of two local competitors: Martin Hildeberg and Anders Hallinder, who set up business in what had formerly been military outbuildings. Since then, they have had a notable international presence, offering really good artistic taste and elegant and beautiful fireworks displays. Among the prizes they have obtained are: first prize at the Competition in Sweden in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007, and the second in 1997 and 1999; first at the Competition in Stockholm in 1997; first prize at the International Competition of Knokke-Heist –Belgium- in 2001 and 2007; first prize at the Competition of Hannover –Germany- in 2002, 2003 and 2004, and the second in 2005; second prize in Rome in 2002; second at the International Competition of Donostia in 2003; and the first in Berlin in 2007. They have also fired the largest display ever in Sweden, on occasion of the New Year in Stockholm in 2000; the celebration of the 750 anniversary of the foundation of Stockholm in 2002; and several other displays in Canada, Denmark and Norway. This is their first time in the Catalan Countries and it is also the first time a Swedish or Nordic company takes part in the competition of Tarragona.
Tuesday 8th July 22.30
ZAMORANO CABALLER, S.A. PIROTECNIA, from Tous, Valencian Country
Artistic direction: Miguel Zamorano Caballer.
www.caballer.com
Miguel Zamorano Caballer is the head of this company that represents the fifth generation of the pyrotechnic family that is best-known internationally, as its origins are in 1877 in the Valencian town of Montcada. After one-hundred and thirty years of uninterrupted fireworks in this family, Miguel has got fifty-four years of experience as the main designer of this company. The present factory is 15,000 square metres. Zamorano Caballer is one of the biggest who take part in the Falles in Valencia year after year, both with displays and with “mascletàs”. Some of the many prizes they have obtained are: first prize at the Fireworks Displays Competition of Burgos in 2004 and 2000; second prize in Alacant in 2003; first prize at the “Mascletaes” Competition in Alacant in 2003, 2000, 1999 and in 1996; first prize at the “Mascletaes” Competition of Castelló in 1988, 1989, 1992 and 1995; first prize at the International Fireworks Competition of Donostia in 1979, 1982, 1985 and 1990, and the second prize in 1991 and 1992; second prize at the Logroño competition in 1990; first prize at the International Competition of Bilbao in 1985 and 1986; first prize in Acapulco –Mexico- in 1994; first prize in New York in 1997; first in Macau –China- in 1997; first in Johannesburg –South-Africa- in 1999; first in Toronto –Canada- also in 1999; first in Cordoba in 2000 and 2002; first prize in Vancouver –Canada- in 2000 and 2001; and first in Brno in the Czech Republic in 2003. Important events in their history are: their participation in the Universal Exhibition in Barcelona in 1909; the fireworks on occasion of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II of England in Gibraltar in 1953; and those on occasion of the 500 anniversary of the discovery of the American continent that took place in Huelva in 1992. They have also fired displays in Ivory Coast, France, the USA, Portugal, Switzerland and the Soviet Union. They were suppliers of the theme park Terra Mítica in 2002, and they were in charge of the fireworks at the local festivities of Vitoria (Basque Country) in 2000 (“the way up and the way down of the Celedón”); also, the bell concert by Llorenç Barber in Valladolid in 2001, and the presentation of Fernando Alonso’s new McLaren in Valencia in 2007. They have only taken part in the competition in Tarragona once. It was in 2002.
Wednesday 9th July 22.30
FIRST CLAS PYRO-EVENTS, from Gronau, Leine, Germany.
Artistic Director: Stefan Falkenau
www.first-class-pyro-events.de
This is the youngest participant this year as this company was founded in August 2004. They will be in Tarragona this year because it’s the policy of the organisation to give opportunities to young companies that would like to make themselves known internationally in the world of fireworks, as it has happened on several occasions before.
In spite of their youth, this company has got two-thousand mortars or cannons of their own. This work autonomy has let them expand in their own country, where they have been acknowledged great prestige by several experts and local journalists. Among their performances, one of the best was the one in Hamburg in 2006, which caused a big expansion the following year. Their displays are based on designs made from high-quality products. Theirs is a special fusion inspired by the fact that Germany has already obtained first prize in our competition, apart from the fact that the latest winner of the Champion of Champions in 2006 was a company whose origin was half German and half Italian. Creative ideas, passion as an essential element of art, growing feelings, enthusiasm and evocative dreams mix up and present a different proposal. They are firing for the first time in Spain.
Thursday 10th de July 22.30
MACEDO’S PIROTECNIA, from Serrinha-Lixa, Portugal
Artistic Director: Fernando Manuel Machado de Silva Macedo.
www.macedos.com.pt
This family’s pyrotechnic activity started in 1934 with Joaquim da Silva Macedo,
who transmitted all his knowledge, technique and methods to his children and grandchildren. The starting point of the present company was Fogos de Artifício-Joaquim Macedo & Filhos, Lda. In 2002 they obtained the Certificaçao da qualidade according to the Norm NP EN ISO 9001. In 2006 they got the world Guinness record for the greatest exhibition ever, with 66.326 pyrotechnic devices fired on New Year’s Eve. Among the most important prizes they have obtained are, at international level: second prize at the International Competition in Macau –China- in 1997 and the first prize at the same competition in 2000 and 2002; the gold medal of the city of Shanghai –China- in 2000; first prize at the National Pyrotechnics Festival of Coimbra –Portugal- in 2005; first prize at the international competition of Monaco on the same year ; first prize, the prize of the Television and the prize from the Public in Brno –Czech Republic- in 2005; first prize, the one from the Public and the prize for the Music at the same Czech festival in 2006; first prize, the prize of the Television and the one from the Public in the same place in 2007; second prize at the World Pyro Award of Leipzig, Germany; first at the competition in Hannover –Germany- also in 2007; and first prize at the Mercè festivities in Barcelona on the same year. Also, they’ve been collecting many prizes in their own country since 1969. This company has 128 skilled workers, eighteen warehouses and thirty-two production sections. They were in charge of the displays to promote the Universal Exhibition in Lisbon in 1998. This is the first time they have participated in Tarragona.
Friday 11th July 22.30
A.P.E. DI PARENTE ROMUALDO SPETTACOLI PIROTECNI, from Bergantino, Italy.
Artistic Director: Romualdo Parente
www.parenteape.it
The Parente family dates back to the end of the 18th century, when they settled in the area of Puglia, in the south of the country. Generation after generation, the Parentes have always been on the job making the typical Italian shells, so much appreciated internationally and in Tarragona as well. Today, Romualdo Parente’s factory, the “Antiga Pirotecnia Emiliana” (A.P.E.) has a surface of 35,000 square metres. Among their usual participations in Italy we find the important Redeemer’s Festivity in Venice (with a display that is extraordinarily respectful with the natural and urban environment) and the New Year celebration at Castell dell’Ovo in Naples (the pyrotechnic epicentre of Italian manufacturing) and in Mantova. As far as their international performances is concerned, they have fired at the competitions of Toronto, Vancouver and Hull (Canada), and in Johannesburg (South-Africa).They got first prize at Cape Town in South Africa and in Loto (Quebec) in 2005. Romualdo Parente was the first Italian and foreign company that fired a diurnal display during the Valencian “fallas”, in the style of the Catalan “tronades” and the Valencian “mascletades”. They fired from the Malvarrosa beach and this kind of display has become indispensable during the festivities of Valencia. They are suppliers of the Ferrari and Ducati stables. On New Year’s Eve 2006 they presented a pyromusical display in the monumental area of the Arena of Verona. They are coming to Tarragona for the second, where they obtained the second prize in 2005.
Saturday, 12th July
ASTONDOA PIROTEKNIA, from Areatza-Villaro, Bizkaia, Basque Country.
Artistic Director: José Manuel Martín Crespo.
www.astondoapiroteknia.com
The origins of the present fireworks supplier of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao date back to the 19th century. In 1885 Eustaquio Astondoa Zabala founded this company. His son Luki Astondoa Sopelana (1890-1975) continued the pyrotechnic tradition. Luki went to Valencia to improve his knowledge and apply it to the manufacturing of different colours, rockets and “tracas”. His sons Eustaquio i Andoni continued the family tradition during the 20th century. Nowadays, Eustaquio’s daughter, Izaskun Astondoa Sarria, is directing the company. Such a long history has made the Astondoas one of the most widely recognised powder families in the Basque Country, in Spain and even internationally. This company is especially mindful about respecting the environment. In this sense, in 2005 they obtained the Rules Certificate ISO 9001:2000, and Quality and ISO 14001:2001 Environment, about the design, manufacturing and sales of pyrotechnic products and for the design and performance of pyrotechnic displays. This company works both with great air exhibitions and with traditional static pyrotechnics. Some of their best performances are the really beautiful creations for outstanding buildings of great artistic value like the Guggenheim, The Euskalduna Palace, the Arriaga Theatre or the suspension Bridge, all of them in Bilbao, or the Chillida Leku Museum in Hernani. Other important displays they have offered recently are: the fireworks displays in Maó –Menorca- in 2001 and 2003, the International Competition of Bilbao from 2001 till now –both in the exhibition and in the competition sections-, the celebrations to commemorate the 700 years since the foundation of Bilbao in 2003 and 2006, the 68th anniversary of the bombing of Gernika in 2005, the concert for peace by Bob Dylan in Donostia in 2006, the bicentennial of Sestao in 2006, the inauguration of the Victoria Eugenia Theatre in Donostia, that of the Mendibile Museum in Leioa and of the Huarte Contemporary Art Centre, all of them in 2007, when they also participated in the opera Aida in Madrid. They have participated in the International fireworks Competition of Donostia, and twice in the competition of Tarragona, in 1998, when they got second prize, and in 2004.