This event was no street party as others were. On May, 23th, the Federal Republic of Germany celebrated its 60th anniversary along a political party mile, the 17th June Street. According to estimations of the Press and Information Office of the Federal Republic almost 700.000 guests joined the party at Brandenburg Gate. The party area ranged from Brandenburg Gate to Victory Column. Besides a lot of information desks of various Federal Ministries there was a 12–hour lasting show on both stages in front of Brandenburg Gate. Parts of this programme have been broadcasted by the German ZDF. Under the direction of Daniel Barenboim the Berlin Staatskapelle performed – appropriate to the Republic’s Anniversary – Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. PUR, Otto Walkes and Udo Jürgens as well as many pop stars of the 60s, 70s and 80s went on stage, announced by the most popular German TV presenters – first of all Thomas Gottschalk, who arrived from America specifically to join this event.

audio technology lighting description of the event

The scope of service of design and realization for this event regarding to the requested audio technology was realized by unit POOLsound. The directive sound reinforcement of both main stages were realized by 4 main arrays containing 12 Meyer Sound MILO loudspeakers each, and 44 Meyer Sound HP700 subwoofers built as cardioid-clusters. Also numerous of Meyer Sound melodies have been used for infills and side-PA-systems. The sound system was driven variably by digital components, depending on the constellation of the stages and also the bridge, which was used as an additive stage platform. To cover the spacious public area on the 17th June Street and the area behind Brandenburg Gate, further 4 delay systems were installed. The delay systems were driven by redundant digital wireless systems. About 70 wireless systems were used as microphone and system drive-lines for the different acts and connected TV-stations.

A total number of 5 digital mixing desks were used at FOH and Monitor position.
Due to the connection as a star network topology and the use of optical fibre cable, a very flexible signal routing could be achieved.

lighting description of the event

For this event the design and realization of rigging and lighting regarding to the requested needs were scope of service of unit POOLlight. To illuminate a TV Show, a daytime event and a classical rock show properly, POOLlight used 8x 5kW daylight Fresnel lens, 6x 2,5kW daylight follow spots, 70x LED moving lights, 80 x 700W moving light spots, 20 x 1200W moving light wash and 100kW daylight. To bring out the architecture of the stage, the construction including lights, stage roof and trussing were fitted together. Another challenge was the illumination of the Brandenburg Gate, which was realized by 24 architecture lights with colour changer and 8 showguns.

POOLgroup characteristics

In relation to the complexity of this event there was only a short period of time for planning activities due to the fact that there were different concepts at the beginning, which varied not only with regard to its content but also to the total extent of the event. When the concept was finally approved, there were only a few weeks for the realization of the technical requirements. Once again POOL synergies could efficiently be used with regard to technical planning, logistics and personal disposition.

anecdote

As all other participating artists, OTTO, the East Frisian bard, had a strict time limit for his performance together with his Frisian group within the frame of this event. Due to the changing live broadcasts between the various TV stations, this time limit was necessary. There was, however, one thing the stage direction had not taken into consideration: the Frisian interpretation of time. No less than 6 allowances were performed and thus the time limit was exceeded. Even intermediate interventions of Kai Pflaume, TV anchorman, could not change the situation. Nothing else remained but a twirly artist, a desperate director as well as thousands of enthusiastic spectators.