“ The Great Welcome ” sets the tone for the entire show . PHOTO BY LAURIE SAPP
“ The use of pyrotechnics in Luminous The Symphony of Us is a critical element to tell our story ,” Williams said . “ Fire is an element that is symbolic of many emotions — everything from energy and strength to love and courage .”
“ The Great Welcome ” opens with crowd-pleasing perimeter launches — a beloved staple of EPCOT nighttime shows — that immediately convey a sense of occasion and grandeur . Luminous also introduces numerous new pyrotechnic effects , both subtle and grandiose , that help establish the show ’ s heartbeat .
“ I think most people think of fireworks as only being big and explosive , but we are able to use a wide variety of effects that connect to each movement of our show ,” Williams said .
As the opening song , “ Heartbeat Symphony ,” begins , bursts of pyro are synchronized to the beat of the music . Additional visual effects come from the fountains , their motion and colors reflective of the shifting song lyrics and changing moods — tall , green fountains for the “ wind through the trees ,” blue waves of color and water for the “ tides of the ocean ,” and red , pulsating light to the question , “ Can you feel the beat of a million hearts ?”
“ Sometimes we wanted the power and impact of large visuals like in the finale , and other times , we wanted to be delicate and beautiful like in our family or romance
The show uses a variety of effects to tell the story . PHOTO BY DANNY SHUSTER