Magical moments on the Danube
September 30, 2024 | Lucia Reinsprecht
Whether it's a car appearing to be weightlessly lifted into the air, a floating network of people 40 metres above the ground, or a gigantic Ferris wheel – the multimedia production in Linz's Danube Park (“Linzer Donaupark”) has thrilled thousands of visitors of all ages every year with a symbiosis of music, visual effects and engineering. Since 2006, the heavy-duty helpers of the sky-blue fleet and their “conductors” have played a supporting role in the truest sense of the word. Felbermayr project managers Florian Katzinger, Hans Wolfsteiner and Petar Trivkovic give us a glimpse behind the scenes of this brilliant show.
Spring preparations
Every year, the Cloud of Sound tells a new story. That is why the plans for technical feasibility are worked out in the spring in collaboration with the artists, directors and the organiser. “Of course, artists have no idea of the things that can be done with our devices, so we discuss how their ideas and concepts can be realised technically,” reveals Hans Wolfsteiner, project manager of the Felbermayr Hydraulic Engineering division. Environmental factors such as wind, weather and currents are also taken into account. Wolfsteiner adds: “The artworks are often large, heavy and fragile at the same time. Therefore, the equipment used and how the objects can be moved in a safe manner are carefully reviewed’. Afterwards, a device concept and a schedule for the choreography, which takes over an hour to complete, are worked out.
Construction work in the heavy-load port
The crucial phase begins one week before the big show. “Most of the preparations are also carried out at our in-house heavy-load port in Linz. There, we can drive or load cranes, work platforms and art installations such as LED walls onto the pontoons,” reveals Petar Trivkovic, the project manager responsible for the crane department in Linz. While all the preparations are being made in the heavy-load port for the floating performers, which are up to 100 metres long, the Felbermayr work platform/lift truck rental team is taking care of setting up the lighting and sound technology. “This year, a total of 350 spotlights and 100 loudspeakers were positioned using our equipment,” says Florian Katzinger, who coordinates the use of the height access technology. Forklifts, telescopic forklifts and rotor forklifts, as well as work platforms with working heights of up to 40 metres, were used for this year's performance.
Dress rehearsal
Two days before the show, things get serious. The dress rehearsal will show whether the concept works in practice. “The requirements for the performances differ from director to director. Sometimes we have a lot of static elements, like video screens several metres high. Thanks to the supports on our pontoons, we can position them safely on the Danube. But there are also shows with a tight schedule and a lot of movement. It's like a ballet with ships and cranes,” illustrates Wolfsteiner. The stage directions tell the crane operators and captains how and when the individual ships and cranes are to “dance”. “Each of our actors is assigned a mediator who passes on the instructions,” as Wolfsteiner explains the process. The Felbermayr team has now completed 28 performances without a hitch. Technicians are also on call during the show for technical emergencies. The fact that everything has gone smoothly over the years is thanks to the dedicated team behind the scenes. Katzinger, Trivkovic and Wolfsteiner agree: Without these invisible helpers, such projects would not be possible.
