Kristof
van Mensel is one of a new wave of highly original LDs from Benelux, and
currently part of innovative design and programming collective, TCF bvba (The
Creative Factory). He’s involved in a myriad of exciting lighting and visual
projects that embrace multiple performance genres from hardstyle dance to
choral!
The
eleven 20th anniversary concerts staged by Scala & Kolacny
Brothers at the Stadsfeesthall in Aarschot, where their whole concept which is
now world famous started was a great opportunity for him to utilize nearly 150
Robe fixtures to deliver these memorable and visually compelling sold-out
performances, playing to 750 people a time.
The award
winning women’s choir is conducted by Stijn Kolacny and accompanied by Steven
Kolacny on piano. Their material is an eclectic mix of special arrangements from
well-known artists like Coldplay, Metallica, Radiohead, U2, Nirvana and many
others, interspersed with their own material. As you might expect, it veers from
classical to rock to full-on techno; from raw and intense to delicate and ephemeral
in the same breath!
The 20th
anniversary shows featured around 70 members of Scala and also had a narrative,
running through Scala’s timeline and highlights from the last 20 years. They
are constantly touring worldwide, and Kristof has been the lighting and visuals
designer and operator for the last four.
The
biggest challenge was shoe-horning the amount of production needed to deliver
the show of this stature into the venue, which offered a 20 metre wide stage,
but with no more than 5 metres of headroom and almost no wing and backstage
space. It was also optimised to fit as many seats as possible with the demand
for tickets sky high!
The
lighting rig included 9 x Robe BMFL Blades, 40 x LEDBeam 100s, 38 x CycFX 8s, 22
x 600E Spots, 24 x CityFlex 48s and 12 x LEDWash 600s.
A row of 20
x CycFX 8s along the back were rigged to low profile truss. These were above a
20 metre wide 10 mm pitch LED screen which formed the backdrop and integrated
seamlessly with the lighting.
He wanted
a big wash at the back to cover the whole stage, and with the output and
effects, the CycFX 8s were “perfect” explains Kristof. Being only 10 cm deep,
they made an extremely neat linear statement, virtually flush with the truss.
The other 18 were positioned along the front of the stage, positioned
unobtrusively in the footlights positions. “Together they gave a fabulous even wash
coverage which was nice and tight and easy to focus”.
The 12 x LEDWash
600s were hung around the sides and front of the stage on scaffolding and used
for illuminating the audience during the
song “Evigheden”, where members of the choir stand out amidst them. He also
used them for strobing and a few other surprise funky effects!
The nine
BMFL Blades were on the advanced truss which was tight to the roof above the
front rows of audience. Ideal for general washes and specials, “It’s pretty
awesome being able to do everything on just 9 lights,” stated Kristof.
The LEDBeam
100s were scattered all along the back truss which was actually two ground
supported trusses side by side, one facilitating lighting and the other the LED
screen.
“The LEDBeams
are great for long, low spaces like this where you can really increase the
sense of depth by using them judiciously. Being reliable, light and small, you
can squeeze a lot into a small space!”
The 600E
Spots were also chosen for their small and neat dimensions, and rigged along
the top and bottom rails of the back truss, creating breakups onto the floor,
hard-edged beamy looks and and slow movement effects.
In the
side wings Kristof created special boom positions and rigged the CityFlex 48s
to provide a contrast to the front light. The video was used intelligently to introduce
another layer of texturing in specific songs.
TCF also
created content for the show which was stored on an AI media server triggered
by Kristof via his ChamSys MQ console with Playback and Execute wings.
All the
equipment was supplied by Belgian rental company L & L Stage Service based
in Herentals.
Stijn
Kolacny underlines the importance of the lighting and Kristof’s role as both
designer and operator, “Our live shows overturn many people’s conventional
expectations of a choir and the lighting and visuals are an essential element
of that experience”.
Stijn
personally likes the Robe LEDWashes in particular and the way they can change
colours extremely slowly and subtly, “helping to create a real magical
environment for the more delicate pieces of music”.
Kristof
has been a Robe user for several years and was one of the first LDs in Benelux
to beta test the prototype BMFL Spots – in the Pussy Lounge arena at
Tomorrowland 2014 – just ahead of their launch.
“I like
the diversity of Robe’s ranges, and the fact that there are multiple choices of
fixtures, so you can keep going to Robe whatever the style and genre of show
you’re lighting,” he observes, adding that he thinks the manufacturer is also
good at keeping a few jumps ahead of the competition!
Scala and
Kolacny Brothers have used Robe lights on their touring rigs and riders for a
very long time – way before Kristof was involved and are probably one of Robe’s
longest-running touring artists!
Photos : Louise Stickland
