Spectra supplies Nobel Prize Awards

Lighting specialists Spectra supplied creative design and production management services, plus all lighting and AV equipment for visual requirements at the prestigious 2005 Nobel Prize Awards Banquet.
The entire evening was also broadcast live on Swedish national television’s SVT1.
Spectra instigated several important technical ‘firsts’ for the occasion, including stunning roof projections, created using the brand new Catalyst Version 4 digital media server. It was also the European debut for Wybron’s new Nexera tungsten colour changing wash fixtures.
Spectra also utilised SGM’s the latest Giotto Synthesis 700 moving lights with inbuilt W-DMX, Barco R18s for the projection and the dual award winning Wireless DMX system from Wireless Solutions, Sweden.
Spectra has lit the event in the past, but this year was the first in a new three year contract for its busy Stockholm office.
Lighting designer was Per Sundin and production manager was Spectra’s Ola Melzig.
Melzig said: “It is a great honour to be invited back to produce the Nobel Banquet. Having the three year contract will enable us to develop innovative ideas as well as provide a continuity of service and quality."
Another major challenge of putting a production into the Blue Hall is the complete absence of rigging points.
However, there is a half metre wide ledge or lip around the very top of the building, so Spectra’s starting point was the installation of four ‘bumper’ trusses in each corner, each secured across two sides the ledge. This gave flying points for four pieces of mini beam. Rigged to these and also positioned strategically along the ledge were a total combination of 13 SGM Giotto Synthesis 700s, four Giotto 400s, four SGM Palco LED floods for washing the roof, and fifteen 2K profiles. All SGM equipment was wireless controlled by W-DMX.
From below, near ground level, the Hall’s walls were up-lit by 25 colour changing LED battens, carefully fixed to the pillars via custom brackets designed by Spectra at approximately three metres high. The arches around the Hall were illuminated with forty 500 Watt floods, and 14 ornate second floor windows were individually lit with short nosed PARs.
The majestic staircase that sweeps down from the first floor balcony onto the hall floor was back-lit with two bars of six PARs, and the Golden Hall adjacent to the balcony and its ornate mosaic Byzantine style interior was boosted with four 2K softlights. This was also where the after-party dance took place.
The lighting was programmed and operated by Emma Landare using a WholeHog II.
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