With the ski opening on 28 November 2003, Ischgl will once again become the winter sports Mecca of the Alps. On Saturday, 29 November from 6.00 pm, the German world-class light designer Gert Hof will bathe the whole of Ischgl in light: to the classical sounds of "Amici forever", the square in front of the Silvretta cable car, Ischgl hotels or even individual cable car gondolas will show a completely different, new face before the eyes of Ischgl's guests thanks to Hof's spectacular light and laser effects.
"As a pioneer in the field of event experiences, Ischgl is constantly setting new trends," explains Andreas Steibl, Managing Director of the Ischgl Tourist Board. "After a pop concert with Ronan Keating at the opening of the 2002/03 winter season, this year we are surprising our guests with something completely new and unexpected: The most spectacular light and laser show in the Alps by German light designer Gert Hof to the music of "Amici forever"."
The German light designer - or "director for heaven and earth", as Gert Hof describes himself with a grin - has already thrilled an audience of millions in cities such as Athens, Berlin and Beijing with his gigantic light spectacles.
Gert Hof was commissioned by the Chinese government to stage an unprecedented spectacle to celebrate Asia's millennium on 31 December 2000 at the "China Millennium Monument" in Beijing. This was the first time in the history of modern China that a foreigner had been entrusted with the artistic direction of a state event. People in China were particularly impressed by the skilful incorporation of traditional stylistic elements. The mega event in Beijing was broadcast by 180 TV stations worldwide. Four million people joined in the celebrations on site, with a further 1.8 billion people around the world watching on television.
On 1 January 2002, Gert Hof staged the "Night of the Euro" event for the city of Athens: huge fireworks and a Euro monument made of hundreds of neon lights - this image went around the world to inaugurate the new European currency and to celebrate the arrival of the Euro in the first European country. One million people came to the "Night of the Euro" in Athens' main square, 6 million watched the live broadcast on television in Greece and 400 million people worldwide saw reports and extracts on CNN, BBC, ARD and many other channels.
In Ischgl, Gert Hof will be musically supported by the five-piece classical formation "Amici forever ". The two sopranos Jo Appleby and Tsakane Valentine, the two tenors David Habbin and Geoff Sewell and the bass-baritone Nick Garrett, who also composes and arranges some of the music for "Amici forever", have classically arranged pop songs in their repertoire alongside "classics of the classics" such as "Nessum dorma", such as the Righteous Brothers' biggest hit, "Unchained Melody".