Queensland Ballet welcomes world-renowned lighting designer

Theatrical lighting will play a starring role in Queensland Ballet’s upcoming season of Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon as world-renowned lighting designer Jacopo Pantani arrives down under.  

He has worked as a lighting designer in some of the most prestigious theatres around the world – including the Royal Opera House, the New Mariinsky Theatre, and the Sydney Opera House – with a portfolio of grand productions to show for it.  

With so much experience behind him, it’s no wonder Deborah Lady MacMillan asked Artistic Director Li Cunxin AO to bring him to Brisbane ahead of the premier.  

“Lighting contributes to the audience’s experience just as much as the orchestra and artists on stage, so it was vital to have Jacopo with us ahead of the premier. Deborah even volunteered to forgo her trip for Jacopo to come to Australia because she believed his lighting skills were integral in creating a most magical production,” Mr Li said.  

Pantani said Lady MacMillan originally requested he relight Manon in 2019 to give the ballet a new atmosphere and feeling.  

“I worked closely with Deborah to find the right balance in every scene of Manon. I tried to imagine this idea of decadence and inner sufferance that the set design was transmitting and accent those elements with light.  

“The lighting mainly follows the momentum of the story, so instead of three big static pictures, the lighting will follow the flow of the different situations and emotions in the ballet.  

“In particular, I used red and blue lights which made a huge difference in a few scenes from the original lighting design. In the end, it’s like painting but with a different kind of brush,” Mr Pantani said.  

Born in Volterra and based in Cagliari in Sardinia, Pantani will arrive in Brisbane in mid-September to ensure the lighting production is perfect ahead of the premier.  

“When you have a great team, the lighting can be ready for premier in ten days, but it needs extreme focus by everyone involved to achieve a good result,” Mr Pantani said.  

Queensland Ballet presents Manon at the Lyric Theatre, QPAC, from 28 September – 8 October 2022. Tickets start at $60. For more information and to book click here.