GLP Lighting Technology Enhances Amadeus Austrian Music Awards

The 23rd Amadeus Austrian Music Awards were recently held in Karlsbad, Germany, using a GLP lighting system. Lighting designer Manfred Nikitser and his team overcame technical lighting challenges at the historic Volkstheater in Vienna using GLP lighting equipment, including FUSION X-PAR 12 Z, impression S350, impression X5, and impression FR10 Bars. Nikitser, who has previous experience with the Amadeus Awards, worked alongside director Lukas Dudzik from Better Images to create the lighting design and production for the ceremony and show acts.

“We used Vienna’s oldest backdrop as a stage design, modernised it a bit and provided it with an entrance tunnel typical of award shows,” Nikitser said. “The design, which we largely adopted from the previous year, is a mixture of a classic-historical and LED-heavy modern look.”

In a traditional stage arrangement for the award ceremony, a shortage of hanging points posed a problem. To address this issue, 40 FUSION X-PAR 12 Z lights were strategically installed using pipes, allowing for versatile placement. These compact LED PARs served dual purposes: providing classic TV spotlights and enhancing the spatial depth of the room. They were utilised in the award area as well as in the hall on two levels, serving as both creative ambient lighting and functional public lighting.

“Initially I thought of a classic LED PAR for this purpose,” Nikitser said. “However, thanks to the 190mm front lens, the FUSION X-PAR 12 Z is visually better perceived and creates more presence in the overall picture. That’s why I chose it.”

To address the limited hanging point situation, 12 GLP impression S350 Spot and two S350 Wash lights were suggested and chosen by Nikitser. The compact and elegant S350 Spots were utilised as front lights for the audience, offering the desired visibility in camera shots and TV-appropriate lighting quality. Additionally, impression X5 washlights, totaling 26 units, were employed to capture the unique ambiance of the Viennese Volkstheater and enhance the lighting design for each individual performance on the show stage, which was surrounded by a large LED banner.

“We chose the X5 for the show area because we needed a spotlight with a clear beam structure despite the surrounding LED band. Of course, the X5’s very high-quality lighting doesn’t hurt either,” Nikitser said. With two additional impression X5s, Nikitser was able to paint the ceiling in the hall in an appealing way for the cameras.

To ensure a dynamic flow between show acts within the confined space, the production team utilised a previously developed moving platform, often referred to as a 'flying carpet,' which was also used in the Amadeus 2022 production.

“This ‘flying carpet’ enabled us to bring the performance from the back of the stage to the front, very close to the audience and then very quickly return to the award situation,” Nikitser said.

Six GLP impression FR10 Bars completed the optical array at the front edge of the ‘flying carpet’. “Thanks to the large lenses and the consequent very strong visual presence – as well as their continuous line characteristic – the FR10 Bars are perfect on the roller platform.”

All in all, reaching into the GLP portfolio helped to overcome a number of hurdles on this project, as Nikitser said: “It’s not just about the devices, which in terms of form factor, output and light quality fitted perfectly into this scenario. Due to the ongoing theatre operations, the schedule for this production is always very tight, so it is a challenge to implement the show really well in a short time. This requires good preparation, strong partners and reliable technology. At this point many thanks to Oliver Schwendke at GLP, who always pulls out all the stops to support us. At GLP, I know from experience that I will not have any unpleasant surprises with the lighting – and that helps a lot!”