Over 450 Robe moving lights will be utilised in a spectacular lighting design for the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest in Helsinki, Finland, which is being created by LD Mikki Kunttu.

This follows on from the hugely successful 2005 ESC production in Kiev, which featured 350 Robe fixtures. Once again, the show’s technical production manager is the charismatic Ola Melzig, and the production company is Spectra from Sweden. Lighting equipment for the event staged in Helsinki’s 12,000 capacity Hartwall Areena is being supplied by locally based Eastway Oy, and the Robe units will be delivered directly to the show from the Czech Republic.

As soon as Melzig had the project confirmed, he contacted Robe as he was so impressed with the reliability and performance of the fixtures in Kiev that he wanted to work with them and the Robe team again. Since then, the Robe brand has dramatically increased in worldwide popularity and the product range has expanded to meet the growing demands of the industry.

The ESC deal was cut with Robe’s International Sales Manager Harry von den Stemmen, who comments, “This is take two for Robe at Eurovision, and it’s really very exciting to be working with Ola and the Spectra team again. I caught a glimpse of Mikki’s ideas for the show, during a start-up meeting, and they were very exciting. I am sure that the final design will look absolutely amazing!”.

Kunttu, who is working closely with Finnish national TV channel YLE on the show is also very pleased to be working with Robe.

His rig will contain 100 ColorSpot 2500E ATs, 90 ColorWash 1200 ATs, 100 ColorSpot 1200 ATs, 80 of the new ColorSpot 700E ATs, 60 ColorWash 250 ATs, 40 LEDWash 136 LTs and 8 specially customised Robe Media Spinners that have been modified to hold Studio Due CS4 bars.

Robe Show Lighting is working closely with bulb manufacturers Phillips on this project, and all the Robe fixtures will contain Phillips bulbs.

For the Green Room, Robe is also supplying 48 of its new StageQube 324 LED panels which will be used for mood lighting and ambient effects.

GrandMA consoles will be used as lighting control for the show, which will be run via Ethernet – the most expedient option given the size of the event and the number of fixtures involved. Robe units are ideal for this application, with their fully functional inbuilt Art-Net capabilities.

The load in commences on 17th April and the final is 12th May. Head Moving Light Technician will be Dick Welland from the UK.

The Robe fixtures on the show have all been sold to companies in the area and will be delivered to their new owners once the final notes are sung and played, the winner is declared and the de-rig is complete!