A gallery of pictures of the TV broadcast of Vangelis' opening ceremony.
Vangelis did not only write the music for the opening ceremony of the worldchampionship athletics 1997 in Athens but he was also involved in the general direction of other artistic aspects like lighting, the lasershows and projections.
Those elements formed a visual feast, during the dances and shows as well as during Vangelis' personal concert performance which ended the event.
These photos taken from the broadcast by Eurosport intend to give a slight indication of what images accompanied the music and in which settings it took place.
After some parades of Athletes and the customary speeches the entertainment begins. It is introduced by projected computer animations, and after that the lights set the tone as dancers prepare to enter. All of this synchronized to recordings of new Vangelis music.
Dancers are performing in the middle of the stadium to recordings of Vangelis music, early on in the show. At the back are 5 screens showing fitting moving images and below them is the stage. On the sides of the arena are people with candles. The floor is projected with various moving colors.
After the dancing was over, Vangelis appeared and played "Chariots of Fire". Now he starts to play "Conquest of Paradise".
An overview. At the back is the main laser and lightshow. Five screens are positioned showing film images, and other parts of the scenery and background are used for light, projections and lasers as well. Right under the main lightshow is a giant stage featuring the orchestra and chorus and in front of that are the stages were Vangelis plays. The big arena is now empty, but still functions as a projectionscreen to set the tone, and some spectacular effects are being projected on it.
Moving light effects at the stage where Vangelis has his piano and synthesizer setup.
Blue lights and projections as Montserrat Caballe is about to enter with her daughter.
Montserrat Caballe sings a duet together with her daughter Montserrat Marti. It's the worldpremiere of a new song composed by Vangelis.
Vangelis and Montserrat Caballe, performing "March with Me". Vangelis sits at the piano and behind him is the setup of synthesizers which he used for "Conquest of Paradise".
A triumphant herd of athletes marches into the Arena (for world peace, as Montserrat announced before the song started) to the sounds of "March with Me".
In a perfect rhythm they carry their flags and eventually fill the entire arena.
The song is almost over, and the show comes to an end.
At the end of the ceremony, just after the performance of "March with Me" the pyrotechnics form a fitting finale, accompanied by the most important musical theme of the evening. Vangelis and Montserrat are watching. The black spot at the top is a balloon, centered above the arena with robes, which includes a camera (and projector?) to film from above.
