With only 119 days until the first semi-final of Eurovision 2015, we know you guys are dreaming of the contest. Well this morning host broadcaster ORF has made the picture a bit clearer by revealing the very first photos of the Eurovision 2015 stage.
First photos of the Eurovision stage (ORF)
“The vision for the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest is the bridge from the past to the present and the future,” says ORF’s TV Director Kathrin Zechner. “The eye is a symbol of this bridge – a mutual respect between cultures, countries and people.”
As ever, the stage is backed up by some pretty impressive figures. It will have 1,288 individual pillars, stretch for 44 metres, and rise 14.3 metres high. It will be up to 22 metres in depth (giving potential acts plenty of space to churn their butter and backing vocalists plenty of space to hide). The LED pillars will create a variety of lighting effects, as will the stage floor, which will have a diametre of 11 meters. In the background, there will be a 22-m-wide LED wall that will rise 8.5 metres. Basically, don’t drop your disco ball or you might shatter a very expensive LED something.
When I first saw the stage one word came to mind: EYE. It’s rather appropriate, right? We’re watching the ESC stars, but we’re also watching Austria build its bridges. Not only that, but it also reminds me of a fish. Let’s hope everything goes swimmingly.
It wasn’t easy dreaming this up. Kurt Pongratz, the head of the Eurovision Song Contest directing team, is steering the conceptual design, implementation, and visual staging of the shows. “For each director it is an enormous challenge to help shape the largest television entertainment event in the world,” he said in ORF’s official announcement. “Florian Wieder and Al Gurdon are among the best in their genre, and I am very pleased that they are in my lead team. Our common aim is to present the 200 million viewers a quasi spectacular and charming Song Contest from the music capital of Vienna.”
Well done Florian Wieder, Al Gurdon and Kurt Pongratz. Florian, you’ve created yet another great Eurovision stage.
So, what do you think of the 2015 Eurovision stage? Please vote in the poll below.
[polldaddy poll=8595924]
Photo Credit: ORF/Thomas Ramstorfer
Alright, everyone. I was doing a little bit of research and a few calculations; the stage is roughly the size of the circular part of the Malmö stage (not the one on the catwalk), and the LED wall is slightly higher, which means that almost everything that artists could do in Malmö (with a couple exceptions) can also be done here.
Looks like Oslo 2010. And that’s veeeeeery bad. Really.
No catwalk either? Sigh. Guess we gotta wait till we actually see it in action to give it a proper judging but right now…eh
Yeah, I also want to know how the people on the sides will be able to see… oh well, at least hopefully it’ll still sound good?
Josheey17
Haha okay, That is still pretty big. I already watched video, which was very cool.
as long as the stage is not as small as it was in Helsinki i will be pleased. the helsinki stage was not good…. plenty of the contestants complained that they had to change their performances for eurovision because the stage was too small
i see another led-fest in sight
we wont have anything beat copenhagen for another 10 years
@DR I thought the same thing when I read his comment. I’d say we hosted the Olympics pretty damn well haha! A british eurvision in the modern age would be a-freakin-mazing. Especially if it was at the O2 Arena, cos it looks so different from the outside, and its huge inside.
No catwalk?
btw: please watch my esc 2015 preview video about the Theme, the Logo, ORF, Vienna and Austria. It also includes a Trailer 😉
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7iZmrT3k4o
@Deniz@TurkNL it’s actually way bigger than the 2011 stage, even the stage itstelf without all the LED-Pillars around (the eye), is bigger than the one in düsseldorf.
vienna: 11 metres
düsseldorf: 6 metres
I like small stages but this looks kinda small. Plus if they are just lights around I’m not a fan, because the LED screens really made the performances from Copenhagen 2014, JESC Malta 2014, and Düsseldorf 2011 special.
Plus they need atleast one catwalk, with a bridge in it, over the audience. How amazing would that be.
@Briffa Damn you! You beat me to my joke! I am OK with it but it looks over done. Please put in a catwalk, PLEASE! Small stages fine…but it looks like the artist will be trapped on stage. But that will be fine for Georgia since the lyrics say she is stuck in her mind. They did well with the logo for this year but if I were to look at this without knowing ANYTHING, I would have no idea that it had something to do with bridges. It is just an eye staring at you….again….illuminati…
Is this the Illuminati….
I like the idea of the stage. But I don’t like the lights around. I think they should put LED-Screens around. My idea of the stage was a mix from the ESC stage of 2012 and the JESC 2014 stage. But without the catwalks. But I relly like the idea of focusing the participants which present their country and song!
I love the stage. However there is no focal point. I didn’t like Baku because the random display of screens felt messy. Also the non symetrical stage meant the staging of some songs looked out of place like France. Thats why Euphoria was so good. Loreen created a small space and eliminated the irregularities. Düsseldorf, Malmö and Copenhagen meant that you could have very well structured staging, like Austria, and the Netherlands 2014, Denmark and Russia 2013, and Germany, and Azerbaijan 2011. Rise like a pheonix had to have a central point for the wings of fire. The staging would… Read more »
So beautifull its very unusual and respect last year stage i didnt love it, ir was good but this year stage is perfect its a central space into this big place i love it well done austria
I love the stage. However there is no focal point. I didn’t like Baku because the random display of screens felt messy T
I like small stages, it brings a bit of nostalgia to the earlier contests when the stages were small/simple. No need for a catwalk, most (not all, but most) performers dont use it and those who do have usually ranked badly on the scoreboard, I can only remember Malta with Ira using it and finished 2nd.
Overall, good stage.
I love it! I love how, just like last year, the image of the contest has come full circle, from the logo, slogan and all the visual identity, to the stage, and incorporating such an abstract logo like this year’s to the stage didn’t sound so easy! But they made it! So well done to the designers! Just by looking at the renders I think this stage has a great potential, great visual effects will be able to be done with those pillars, not to mention the whole shape is something I personally haven’t seen. I also like its size,… Read more »
It’s ok. I don’t get how it sticks out one side obviously the audience will be pushed back that side so they can see! It’s definitely no Denmark but we shall wait and see!
An eye – original and cool. Good job ORF 😀
Considering that I never understood why people love huge stages where the singers, dancers and musicians looked like tiny ants no one could see … This is more than fine by me. Plus. This is Eurovision and not America’s next top model. Leave the catwalk for the fashion world and focus on what your ears are giving you: music! It’s shame some people grew up with the shallow side of Eurovision and still worship it for God-knows-what-reasons. It’s just a stage … focus on the music. How hard can that be? Oh yeah I almost forgot … outfits, looks and… Read more »
It’s beautiful 😀
Don’t tell me there will be no catwalk. The stage itself is really interesting and unique, sure, but it certainly NEEDS a catwalk.
I hope the greenroom will be in the audience, it worked out pretty well in 2014 to me.
aka. Illuminati Stage
It looks awesome. I can’t wait to see the acts on it.
I really don’t like the whole isolated stage. I also hate it when the stage is just a round platform as it doesn’t give the artist a lot of freedom when it comes to staging. I mean artist looked lost on Dusseldorf’s stage. And it’s far too dark come one add some colour to the stage. That’s why I really liked Baku’s 2012 staging because it was bright the stage was a useful shape and it didn’t feel claustrophobic like this one. But it didn’t seem as Isolated. Oh well lets hope the UK wins hehe 🙂 The UK would… Read more »
Great! I already imagine what the stage performances will look like
Riga 2003 + Helsinki 2007 + Oslo 2010 = Vienna 2015
Noah good one!!!It’s weird!!!I can’t describe it.The pillars are werid.The should call Vienna Helsriga.Latvia had a great stage,Helsinki had a stupid stage.So great+stupid makes weird i guess
how are the fans to the singers left (our right) supposed to see anything with all those things blocking the way? I don’t like how it seems closed on one side and open on the other, i think this design could be improved a lot more cause the pillars idea is great
beautiful sculpture .. this is the size that works .. however i feel a walkway is also needed on a eurovision stage for some acts .. this is missing .. examples of songs that would be less successful on a stage like this include netherlands 2013, belgium 2010..
Riga 2003 + Helsinki 2007 made a baby. 😀 Will be born in Vienna! 🙂
Riga 2003 has grown up & bought expensive new dress! 🙂
According to my countdown calculator, the Eurovision first semi-final is in 120 days 😛
About the stage itself, it looks rather small .-. We’ll just have to wait for the real deal to see what it will look like.
Small stages are fine. If you want people running around and doing crazy things, Verka and Les Fatals Picards had a great time running around in circles on that small Helsinki stage.
What I’m concerned about is this large amount of lights – don’t blind the audience! (I expect they’ll have the common sense not to do so, but with the screenshots it seems that if you were in the audience you’d barely be able to see the performer.)
But the rest does sound interesting! 😀
Yes it is really small. I wish it was bigger like 2011.
oh my god this stage is so bad and small :'( eurovision stages should be big , i am so sad now
Oh, hi Helsinki 2007!
This is well damn amazingly beautiful.
That German designer. He is my guy.
Unique stages two years in a row. So sad that I won’t be in Vienna.