Tag Archive: Raphael Gallery

1. White Light Joins Monteverdi Choir & Orchestras at V&A Museum

   18 January 2018 09:42 Comments Off on White Light Joins Monteverdi Choir & Orchestras at V&A Museum

   The three Monteverdi ensembles – The Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists and Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique – are a leading force on the international music scene. World-class musicians from across the globe come together to share the distinct vision of Founder and Artistic Director Sir John Eliot Gardiner in ground-breaking projects. Last year, the Choir and Orchestras embarked on an international tour across Europe and the US. This culminated in a final concert at the V & A Museum’s Raphael Gallery and White Light provided the technical support.

   The final concert was overseen by the Monteverdi Choir & Orchestras production personnel, who comments: “This concluding concert was the only London date for the Monteverdi 450 Tour so we wanted to make it an unforgettable occasion. It was also a celebration of 50 years since Sir John Eliot Gardiner first conducted at the V&A with his newly formed Monteverdi Choir to mark the Venetian master’s 400^th anniversary in 1967”.

   As an approved supplier to the V&A Museum, WL was approved to provide the production support. WL’s Project Manager Phil Gladman comments: “Our role on the evening was to provide the lighting, PA system, rigging and staging for the concert. We also worked closely with the lighting designer Rick Fisher to ensure we brought his creative vision to life”.

   The evening offered a fully immersive event in which guests entered the Museum and walked around the various spaces enjoying seemingly impromptu performances from the Monteverdi Choir & Orchestra performers. WL was responsible for lighting each one. Phil explains: “These promenade performances around the museum were almost like pop-up shows. Along with uplighters, we also drew on guerrilla lighting to ensure each performer had complete coverage in their various positions”.

   The promenade ‘pop-up’ performances were part of the build up to the final performance of the evening within the Raphael Gallery, which was a complete sell out. WL had to provide the complete staging for the Choir and Orchestras. Phil states: “In the Raphael, we supplied a 9 x 8m deep stage on which the performances could take place. The stage needed to be vast in order to fit all of the musicians on and literally took up half of the room. We had to arrive at 8am the previous morning simply to store it all. On the show day itself, we arrived at 6am and it took three hours to construct”.

   

   Across the evening, WL drew on CORE Lighting ColourPoints for uplighting along with Chroma-Q Color Force 72 Battens. The company also supplied ETC Source 4 Profiles and Elation SixPARS; all of which were controlled via an ETC Ion 1K Console. WL also supplied the audio reinforcement, which included EMS121 Loudspeakers and an A&H QU-24 sound-desk.

   The sell-out event was a huge success and had more than 400 people in attendance in the Raphael Gallery, with even more following the pop-up events around the museum.

   Phil adds: “It was fantastic to work in a venue such as the V&A and turn it into an immersive environment. From the bespoke lighting to the custom-made staging, this project showcased the wide range of production support we’re able to offer our clients”.

   The team at Monteverdi Choir & Orchestras stated: “We were delighted with the service we received from WL and for all their help in making the final Monteverdi concert an unforgettable evening”.

   Photos courtesy of Grace Ko and T Max Productions.

    

2. White Light is Searching for Apollo at V & A Museum

   20 November 2017 09:36 Comments Off on White Light is Searching for Apollo at V & A Museum

   On Monday 13^th November, some of the biggest music acts of all time gathered at the Victoria and Albert Museum to see the unveiling of The Adoration Trilogy – Searching for Apollo. Created by acclaimed British Photographer Alistair Morrison and musician Roger Daltrey, Searching For Apollo is a piece of artwork which features photos of some of the greatest rock legends of all time. The historical photograph aims to support Daltrey’s charities, Teenage Cancer Trust and Teen Cancer America. As an approved supplier to the V & A Museum, White Light was called upon to provide the technical support on the evening.

   The event was overseen by WL’s Project Manager Phil Gladman. He comments: “The Adoration Trilogy – Searching For Apollo is a unique legacy photograph featuring over 70 of the most iconic music legends of the past five decades as street buskers. Our brief was to light the piece and ensure that it looked as magnificent as possible for its unveiling within the V & A”.

   The artwork is presented as a 4 x 5 metre altarpiece-style structure, with a jukebox at its base – allowing viewers to enjoy their favourite music whilst reflecting on this impressive contemporary art piece. As part of its brief, WL also had to create a support frame in which the piece could be positioned during its construction on site. Phil explains: “We had to supply and erect two scaff towers in order for the piece to be put into place. That said, due to the V & A being open to the public, we had to put half of this in during the morning and then later that evening before the event itself”.

   The evening took place in the Raphael Gallery with more than 350 people in attendance. These included music legends such as Ray Davies, Tom Jones, Paul Weller, Peter Gabriel, Alice Cooper, Donovan and Ali Campbell.

   Following the drinks reception and unveiling of the piece, there was a live performance by Donovan, Joolz Jones and Danny Thompson. WL supplied the microphones, loud speakers and audio mixer for the live performances. WL also had to provide additional atmospheric lighting throughout the space.

   Phil comments: “Having frequently worked at the V & A Museum, we have an intimate knowledge of the various spaces within the building. As a result, whenever we are asked to work there, we are able to draw on this experience and ensure that any event achieves its potential; as seen on this occasion”.

   The artwork is the first in the Trilogy, with influential women musicians being featured in the second piece and the third work depicting today’s rising stars.

   Photos courtesy of Allan Jenkins and Steve Gregson.