Crash! Boom! Bang! Technicians have been working hard in Wiener Stadthalle over the last few days to give shape to the awe-inspiring stage of the 60th Eurovision Song Contest. When Il Volo, Edurne, Mans Zelmerlow and the other acts vie for the trophy this year they’ll do so on the most technologically advanced stages ever.
The Eurovision 2015 stage is 44 meters wide and 14.3 meters high. There are 1,288 LED poles, which are perhaps the most visually distinctive elements of this year’s staging. The stage floor has a 14 meter LED screen, so that artists can play with the graphics beneath their feet like last year. The stage may be relatively small compared to, say, Baku’s, but there is plenty of space for the audience. Around 10,500 standing Eurofans will hoot, holler and celebrate during the live shows.
As you can see above, 26 cameras will cover the three shows, including spidercams and a camera hanging from Wiener Stadthalle’s ceiling. That hasn’t been used in Europe before. Austria has taken the contest to the next level, y’all. It’s like Eurovision on steroids and we love it!
58 commentating booths have been placed just behind the green room, which will include a wide LED wall and a catwalk to the stage, dividing the arena in two.
Kinetic Sculpture
What’s more, producers will utilize impressive new technology at this year’s contest. It’s called Kinetic Sculpture. The installation by Danish company Wahlberg features 650 motorised balls hanging from Wiener Stadthalle’s ceiling. Using fantastic lighting and 3D effects, the system can create all sorts of visual effects, which you can see below. The company actually has previous experience at the Eurovision Song Contest, as it installed the curtains used in Oslo.
What do you think? Is Vienna’s stage better than the ones in Baku, Malmö and Copenhagen?
I am a lifting engineer and this kinetic sculpture simply boggles me. I just need to know how the balls are hoisted and lowered? Is it. A series of tiny fast acting winches? Or something else because insimply cant figure it out and its annoying me. Please could somebody clarify this for Me
i think no one in the audience is going to be able to see anything on the stage, they’re just going to be blinded by stage lighting.
Let’s have a look at the stage from 2009, it was gorgeous with effects, LED screens and it was spent a lot of money on it. Then in 2010 we had a small stage withoutt so good background and with no LED screens. In 2012 the stage was awesome again with lots of money spent on it. The next year – a completely different stage not as good as last year’s too. In 2014 – again huge stage and what is this in 2015? This always seems to happen in Eurovision – the one year they do their best –… Read more »
I’ll judge it when it’s actually in motion.
Baku was spectacular, Malmo was great and Copenhagen took it to the next level – I don’t doubt that Vienna will do well too.
This is absolutely dazzling! I just can’t wait!!
I think Sweden should start worrying because a lot of countries will be using this technology to make their entries more spectacular than we expect them to be…
The stage looks ugly. Like from the 90’s. Plus, it seems a little bit small and it’s to colourful. Not my cup of tea.
http://youtu.be/ICixCazf6-k
WATCH.. NOW.. !!
the kinetic sculpture seems a bit lame, and 10.500 people is really small imo (but somehow larger than Copenhagen??)
however, I can’t really judge the stage until the event happens
For me best stage for me from 2000 to 2014
1. 2014
2. 2009
3. 2008
Worst stage 2006, 2013, 2010
Best stage for me from all Eurovision is stage from 1988 in that time very modern stage and looks good at in 2015.
I don’t really think you can compare this to Copenhagen, they were just so different. I like both equally though. I really loved Malmö’s stage because it really focused on the artist rather than flashing lights. Copenhagen and Dusseldorf were just gorgeous too.
Whatever happens, it’ll look great on TV I’m sure.
I don’t understand the fuss about this thing. They are lightbulbs that go up and down. It’s hardly “new technology”.
Every year they boast about the new stage and every year I couldn’t care less. But this is just amazing! For the first time, I’m impressed with staging!
Love the idea of the kinetic sculpture, it is really going to make the Theme and graphics come to life! 😛 looks stunning 🙂 I knew my favorite city of Vienna wouldnt disappoint! 🙂 The stage looks awesome…not too big, like Copenhagen, Moscow, or Baku..where the artists look lost but not too small either, like Malmo! Well done ORF, Austria and WIEN!!! 😛
The new technic and the stage looks great. I did not enjoy Denmark that much last year. way too much playing with the cameras and the lights in every performance was the same.
anyway…I think 2015 will be a good year.
I don’t think I quite understand how the kinetik sculpture thing works, or what the pourpose of those poles is. I’m just happy there will be a catwalk. The stage itself looks like a throwback to the more classic Eurovision stages of old, quite good for the 60th anniversary.
this stage for suuure can’t beat Copenhagen….last year’s stage was just epic
awww this is the stage that Måns will win ESC 2015 on!
Wow, this is looking impressive so far, especially that kinetic sculpture, which I’m sure they will incorporate into the intros (flags), staging, etc. Good job, ORF! Can hardly wait to see it all in action come the contest! Bring it on! 😀
I really just can’t stand those LED poles, they seem like they completely block the view of half the people who sit on the sides! How are they supposed to see? Plus i think overall it’s like an ugly version of Athens 2006. I just don’t understand how anyone is supposed to see – whether they are blinded by the LEDs or its obstructing their view. It gives the stage this really claustrophobic and enclosed feeling like they’re about to be swallowed up. Idk, im just so disappointed by the design, I hope it’ll look better live than what i’ve… Read more »
They could utilise the kinetic tools to project things like flags or outside broadcasts above the audience
O M G !!! It looks better and better every time!! I have to say I was kinda disappointed at first, but now I’m so amazed! I think this will be one of the best eurovision organizations ever!! Congratulations Austria!
I need to see all of these in action in order to present my point of view, but last year’s CPH stage was really good. Malmo wasn’t – it was like just another Melodifestivalen, not big ESC, but it worked on its own terms. Baku’s stage was massive and going nowhere, while the Dusseldorf one was simply BIG (well, it was build inside a football stadium, so that’s that). Oslo didn’t had a stage, actually. 🙂 Moscow was one BIG LED screen – nothing else…
I was worried that anything following Copenhagen would be a downgrade because they spent so much money on it, but this is looking fantastic. :)! I just hope that whole bridge around the stage doesn’t restrict anyone’s view.
Well we have to worry better if Australia wins the Vision with that mediocre song when it is considered one of the hot favorites to win for the bookies…At least Sweden’s song is way much better & the performance of Mans is gonna be truly spectacular…Guy Sebastian even if he is skilled as top proffesional amazing performer can not get truly helped by his weak song..
8O..
amazing! Very cool. I wonder what they are going to do with everything!
This beats JLo’s “Sabina & Aliona Moon-esque” ‘s staging a few months ago.
I used to think the Vienna stage was brilliant, but these new features have totally destroyed it!
If Sweden wins this year thanks to the jury I will no longer interested in ESC, because this is too much for me, and I hope that many countries will withdraw from this faked contest.
The kinetic sculpture will make this year’s contest very memorable. This is brand new technology at it’s finest and I hope for it to pave the way for such technology to be used in TV talent shows such as The X Factor and The Voice. As this is the way forward.
However, in hindsight, I think this sort of technology should be just minimized to just Eurovision. As this is like a technological diamond. But it’s as mad AS the Eurovision itself at the best of times.
I had my doubt’s at first, but this stage it starting to look absolutely fantastic.
@Mario, i agree could be Epic for all the Ballads. but the uptempo songs maybe the graphics could be of good use for those songs.
have you seen the views for Amber’s music video it is above 500k
It actually looks quite glam!
The kinetic sculpture is really cool, it helps to create a distinctive look for each performance. Can’t wait to see how it in action.
Oh. My. God. This is utterly stunning, the kinetic sculpture is really something else…that’s going to be utterly incredible! I didn’t think last years set could be beaten…but I really think it might be now! Congratulations Austria and ORF, wow!
I love how they managed to incorporate the whole concept of the logo and visual identity into real life, first into the stage itself, and now to the whole arena, with this kinetic sculpture they can truly and literally give life to the logo and more. So well done Austria!
I’m still not a big fan of the stage itself though, but I haven’t seen it in action in it’s full glory yet, so I’m still hoping to be proven wrong in May so I can say “this is better than Copehagen’s”.
Just EPIC..! <3 Its gonna be the greatest stage ever! <3 It really reminds me of the stage of the Vision in 2006 in my country Greece..! <3 🙂 Its gonna be just dreamy un4gettable Vision..! <3 I believe that the upcoming Contest will be unique of its kind & the impression that we will get from Vienna's EuroVision will never have been experienced in any other Vision before! <3 😀 Since it will be the Diamond Anniversary 4 the 60 years of ESC this Vision really deserves to be worthy as precious Diamond in our eyes! <3 The Illuminating… Read more »
will the lights of the kinetic sculpture be able to switch color? if so they will probably use it to show the flags or just the flag of the winning country
the kinetic scuplture thing was so unexpected! And it’s so creative, and modern! Love it
Every year shoud be one step further, and this one looks like is not going to low the bar one bit. Already looks better then Malmo and Baku, let’s see if they can beat Copenhagen.
I expect Kinetic Sculpture to fall like the autumn leaves in FYR Macedonia’s song! Good job Austria!
ORF has gone all out because they know it’s unlikely they’ll host again for a while, I expect.
Tpugh to beat Copenhagen but I believe Vienna can do it! Best show in the world!