Light, Colors and Water

• Review
• Sunday, May 25, 2008

Light color and water were three elements blended together to make wonders this week-end in Québec City.  Two different events were scheduled:   the lighting of the Montmorency falls, a few miles east of the city and the International Aqua show, graciously offered by the French province of Alsace, in a public square in the center of town, near the Parliament building.   Of the two, my friends and I chose the latter simply because only three performances scheduled, whereas the falls are going to be lit every night of the season (we'll tell you more about the Montmorency Park soon).

The show started precisely at nine thirty, at night falls because, obviously, quasi total darkness was required for the full impact of the lighting effects.  And the music played, and jets of water emerging from the pond on the square began to dance to the music, coloured by the light projected on to them.  From time to time, water was sprayed in a mist that served as a screen for the projections of images of sites in Alsace and of people from the province greeting the population and visitors alike who are participating in the city's anniversary.  The most extraordinary part was when, on a couple of occasion, laser beams crossed the jets of water, making tiny droplets sprinkle like emeralds and rubies. The music varied from the works of classical masters to popular Alsatian songs and beer cellar music.  Occasionally, and superbly in the finale, a display of fireworks accompanied the sound and the colors of this most interesting event that lasted only 30 minutes.  The huge crowd attending the performance on Saturday would certainly appreciate a little more but as they say, good things often come in small packages.