On September 6, 2003, JSA presented a grandiose light and music mega show on Red Square in Moscow. This event was organized as part of the City Day celebrations. The project of the big show in the center of the Russian capital was developed by Alexander Strizhak and Asteris Koutoulas / Light Monument (Germany). The initiator for their meeting for further cooperation was Mikhail Shurygin (NCA). The director of the large-scale event was a well-known director and lighting designer – Gert Hof.
In the photo below, Gert Hof and Alexander Strizhak are on Red Square in Moscow during the first inspection of the area for the upcoming mega show.
After the meetings and the signing of an agreement on cooperation in the work on the project to promote and hold the event, Gert Hofom developed a concept for the show, which Alexander Strizhak, on behalf of the JSA company, presented to the Department of Culture of Moscow. A unique event for the capital on the City Day was approved and included in the Moscow 856 Festive Program.
The event was promoted by Alexander Strizhak, the project was organized by JSA in partnership with Light Monument (Germany) and Multimedia International (Hungary). The JSA team consisting of: Valery Feofanov, Yana Appazova (Gugunava), Alexey Kotelnikov, Anastasia Osnas and Konstantin Krasnopera handled all organizational issues of the project production. The preparation took place in cooperation with the stage division of the JSA. All technical issues were resolved jointly with specialists from contractor companies: Sky Spotlights – Procon (today – PRG Germany) / Fireworks – Pyro Show / Sound equipment – Live Sound Agency / Lighting equipment – A & O Lights and local Laser Kinetics / Video screens – Big Screen Show / Generator – PRO-1 / Energy supply – Nikita & Power Co / Seats for spectators – Festival Programs Agency. Security and safety issues were handled by PSC Karat C. Engineering solutions, a large stage and other infrastructure structures, security barriers and temporary fencing were installed by JSA Stage Company.
Especially for this event, based on sketches by Gert Hof, JSA developed an original stage based on elements from the Layher Allround Scaffolding, Layher Cassette Roof and Layher Event systems. The total length of the stage structure along the front was about 70 meters. It was installed across Red Square, next to St. Basil’s Cathedral and almost opposite the Spasskaya Tower. Along the upper front line, including the roof, a long platform was made for the installation of lighting devices. Tower structures for lighting devices were installed along the Kremlin wall, and special platforms for lighting devices were mounted on the roof of the GUM (State Department Store) building.
As the organizer of the event, JSA was responsible for all issues related to its preparation and holding: concept formation, coordination of permits with the city administration and the Kremlin, security, booking of artists, hotels, catering, flights, ticket sales, advertising, sponsors, work with the media, television – filming of the show, full technical support – stage, light, sound, video, seats, infrastructure facilities, power supply, fireworks, pyrotechnics and much more. In the photo below – a technical meeting on Red Square / Gert Hof, Alexander Strizhak, Asteris Koutoulas, Tim Dowdle, Gerd Helinski and Gleb Kharchenko (standing with his back).
The composition of the performers for the musical program of the show was thought out by the organizers in collaboration with Tim Dowdall from Multimedia International (Hungary): rock band Scorpions, singer Thomas Anders (ex-soloist – Modern Talking) and the Presidential Orchestra of the Russian Federation / director and conductor – Pavel Ovsyannikov. A rehearsal of the Scorpions musicians with the orchestra a few days before the start of the show was organized on the territory of the Kremlin.
The JSA team made a big promotion of the project in press, radio and TV. Below are some press articles and a photo from the Press Conference of Gert Hof and Alexander Strizhak.
JSA press release: JSA, Light-Monuments and Multimedia International present: Premiere of the Gert Hof mega-show on Red Square – the apotheosis of the City Day.
IZVESTIA newspaper September 2, 2003: Gert Hof “I take a city separately and create a light show”
IZVESTIA newspaper September 4, 2003: LIGHT OVER THE KREMLIN
Novaya Gazeta August 17, 2003: GERT HOF WILL ILLUMINATE MOSCOW
Svoboda Radio: GERT HOF IS PREPARING A LIGHT SHOW IN MOSCOW
InterMedia Information Agency: GERT HOF WILL CONSTRUCT A 7 KM LIGHT BEAM ON THE RED SQUARE
Magazine “Kommersant Weekend” №155 dated 29.08.2003: Fire with Orchestra and Thomas Anders / Gert Hof Show on Red Square
LENTA.RU News Portal: A grandiose pyrotechnic show will take place on the City Day on the Red Square
ZVUKI.RU Musical news portal: RED SQUARE WILL BE COVERED WITH LASERS AND SCORPIONS
SHOW MASTER magazine: GERT HOF MEGA SHOW
UTRO.RU Information Portal: The famous Gert Hof will arrange a light show on Red Square
JSA’s promotional department has created a special website for the event with full information and news. In 2003 it was still an unusual and separate tool for working with journalists and the public:
Версия статьи на русском языке: JSA И ГЕРТ ХОФ – МЕГА ШОУ НА ГЛАВНОЙ ПЛОЩАДИ РОССИИ
Continued information and photographs about the Gert Hof Mega Show on Red Square in Moscow on September 6, 2003, see here: LIGHT MUSICAL MEGA SHOW ON RED SQUARE ON MOSCOW DAY
JSA thanks YUKOS (“Yukos Oil Company”) for the sponsorship of our event, which we agreed five days before the show. It happened by accident when, in search of additional financing, we contacted one of the divisions of one of the largest and independent oil companies in Russia. That year, Yukos celebrated its 10th anniversary and we had the same interests. We agreed on cooperation: to provide visual advertising on Red Square, it was impossible to do more, we were no longer in time with the placement of advertising in the media. In return, the JSA received payment for their services, which greatly helped the JSA at that time to carry out the project.
It was a real cooperation of private companies in Russia. Unfortunately, as it turned out later, in October 2003, one of the main co-owners of the Yukos company, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, was arrested, and the Yukos company was destroyed by the state.
UNFORTUNATELY, GERT HOF LEFT US ON JANUARY 24, 2012 BECAUSE OF ILLNESS.
WE CHERISH THE MEMORY OF HIM…. TOGETHER WE MADE A BIG EVENT.
© All photos and promo stuff are the copyright of JSA Stage Company.