Last Saturday, Azerbaijan announced its arrival into the Eurovision Song Contest community by producing an outstanding national final of the highest quality. The stage presentation, organisation on the ground and effort from all parties has been praised by everyone in attendance.
The spectacular use of staging and lighting, along with the high production quality lead the Director of the EBU Television Department (Bjorn Erichsen) to state "I have never seena national final so fantastic as you are doing!". Indeed, such was the quality of the production and the effective use of the ‘The Land of Fire’ theme that it could quite easy have been used to stage an actual Eurovision Song Contest final.
The amazing show was made possible by Azeri broadcaster ITV, using a combination of their own production experience alongside the international technical expertise from Ukraine’s Euromedia Company, Luxen Studio, Megashow, A-Light, Martin, Film Technique, Pirates and Ekta Six. The two-level stage was an amazing 24 meters wide and 18 meters deep. A staggering 100 square meters of LED screens were used in the show with a 12-camera set creating an outstanding television picture.
This impressive staging and lighting alongside interesting choreography paved the way for three finalists: Elnur Huseynov, Unformal and Aynur Iskenderi to present their songs in the best possible way.
Encouraging for the Azeri organisers was the response give by the 7,000 capacity audience to the three finalists and in particular to the winner Elnur Huseynov. This suggests a large appetite for Eurovision in Azerbaijan. One of the biggest receptions of the night was given to Ruslanna, the 2004 Eurovision winner from Ukraine. She presented the world premiere of her new show ‘Wild Energy’ in a mini concert which included her winning ESC song ‘Wild Dances’.
Given the investment in and attention lavished on the first national final, there is little doubt that Azerbaijan officials are determined to bring success to the easternmost participant of the Eurovision Song Contest in line with Government targets. Should Elnur find glory for the Azerbaijan in Belgrade on May 17th, after this weekend there is no doubt that Baku is ready and fully capable of hosting the contest in 2009.
Azerbaijan has been drawn to take part in the first ESC semi-final, on Tuesday the 20th of May.
