French pyrotechnics company Groupe F will be in charge of Taipei 101’s New Year’s Eve fireworks show, Michael Chia-hao Liu, assistant vice president and corporate spokesman with building owner Taipei Financial Center Corp., said Dec. 17.
“The event this year, different from previous ones that embraced the concept of more is better, will emphasize elegance and aesthetic design with an astounding musical array,” Liu said.
“We have chosen to import this year’s pyrotechnic displays from Spain, the world’s No.1 producer of fireworks,” he continued, explaining that “Spanish fireworks are most renowned for their cold luminescence and low emission levels.”
Liu stressed that carbon emissions from the fireworks are not expected to exceed 4.500 metric tons, only two-thirds of those from previous years.
GPS precision technology will also be used to light the fireworks this year, Liu said, explaining that the method “can ignite each shell individually to create a cascading sky full of fiery elements.”
The French team views pyrotechnic designs as performance, devoting special attention to the integration of music and fireworks, Liu pointed out.
Sidney Cheng, deputy manager of corporate public affairs with TFCC, said Groupe F has even adapted “The Firebird,” the famous 1910 concert piece by Russian composer Igor Stravinsky. “Stravinsky-Firebird” will be played throughout the fireworks display, she said.
According to Liu, the fireworks show, using more than 22,000 sparklers and shells at a cost of NT$30 million (US$1.03 million), will last for just over 3 minutes.
The countdown event at Taipei 101 was chosen by U.S.-based CNN as one of the 10 best places to welcome the New Year. In its “From Dubai to Kyoto: How to See in the New Year in Style” published Dec. 14, it said, “The Taiwanese capital thinks big when it comes to New Year’s Eve, transforming the 509-meter-high Taipei 101 into a fireworks frenzy with a 188-second show.
“If you can’t secure a spot at Rainbow Riverside Park or Elephant Mountain, head to Miramar Entertainment Park, where an equally dazzling display will fill the night sky.”
The other locations on the CNN list are Berlin, Dubai, Edinburgh, Hong Kong, Kyoto, London, New York, Samoa and Sydney. (THN)
Write to Grace Kuo at mlkuo@mofa.gov.tw