Chroma-Q Color on Welsh Opera's Die Fledermaus

Chroma-Q Color Force LED battens have been specified by UK lighting designer Howard Harrison for the current Welsh National Opera production of Die Fledermaus, which is touring the UK after an initial run at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff.

Directed by John Copley, the operetta reveals the trials, tribulations and frivolities of all the beautiful people from Viennese high society for whom attending Prince Orlofsky's Ball is a "must do" event on the social calendar, all in a swirl of music by Johann Strauss II. The Color Force battens are being supplied by London based hire company White Light, who purchased additional stock of the 6' versions (Color Force 72) especially for this production due to the high demand for their existing hire inventory.

White Light has substantial stock of all three Color Force models - 6' and 4' battens (Color Force 48) and the new 12" wide multi-purpose fixture (Color Force 12).

The eight Color Force 72s are being used to illuminate a massive white cyc at the back of the stage which is an integral and important element of the set. They are positioned on the floor pointing at a bounce cloth and then back onto the cyc -- a method often employed by Harrison to ensure the most complete coverage possible of the area.

They are a key to the impact of the overall lighting, and particularly come alive during Prince Orlofsky's second-act ball, where they slowly, smoothly, and subtly morph into a series of different vibrant and subtle pastel colors, reflecting the vibe and atmosphere of the occasion, and all the complicated scenarios unfolding

Harrison first used Color Force battens on the West End musical Flashdance last year instead of conventional cyc lighting. He decided that he would use them again at the first possible opportunity .... and this is it.

"It's a very good product," he says, "I have previously used other LED light sources for this type of task, but these are brighter and have smoother dimming; they are well-engineered, robust, and therefore ideal for touring -- and basically tick all the right boxes., They have been a huge success on the production and allowed us to create pictures that we could never have done without them."

The Color Force LED batten range has a custom-developed lens system, ensuring a smooth and even coverage across large areas with no hot spots, easily washing beautifully up to 26', the company says. The advanced ColorSure color and control management technologies offer an enhanced color palette, enhanced color consistency, a CRI of 92, and theatrical grade dimming.

White Light was one of the first hire companies to invest in the Color Force range soon after its launch in 2010. Dave Isherwood, the company's hire and technical director, comments, "We are very pleased with the Color Force. It's proving to be popular with our customers and we've increased our stocks to meet demand. The intensity, the smoothness of the fades and the richness of the color make it the first LED batten we've seen that will give a tungsten source a real run for its money."

Prior to buying their first Color Force units the company conducted a shoot out in the Royal Opera House's Linbury Studio, after which several designers started specifying them on their shows.

Die Fledermaus marks a return to Welsh National Opera for Howard Harrison after some years, and the first time he has lit Strauss's classic, ubiquitously popular work.