Eurovision Opening Ceremony 2023 | "United by Music"
Funded by The National Lottery, the ‘Big Eurovision Welcome’ party gave Liverpool residents the opportunity to be a part of the global music event.
May 2023 / Liverpool, UK / For Liverpool County Council
Celestial were commissioned to produce a celebratory drone show as part of the 90-minute live concert, witnessed by 25,000 in person and millions on BBC1 and BBC iplayer. Our award-winning artistry was brought to life above a stage of artists and aerial performers in front of Liverpool’s St George’s Hall in what was the largest single-location drone show in the UK. Two breath-taking 4-minute displays to play in tandem with performances by singers Conchita Wurst and Zara Larsson. As Conchita sang a powerful rendition of ‘Rise like a Phoenix’ graceful drones assembled to create a giant white stork, Ukraine’s national bird, overhead. The mythical liver bird (the symbolic creature for Liverpool), was also formed in the sky.
When Zara Larsson sang her hit single ‘Can’t tame her’ playful drone smiley emojis and figures formed overhead, while her song, a cover of ‘You’ve Got the Love’ beautifully aligned with giant rotating drone hearts illuminating the sky, and the lasting message to encapsulate the show: ‘United by Music’.
Our drone show for Eurovision celebrates Liverpool, music and of course, Ukraine, the previous winners of the contest. It is exactly what Celestial is all about; uniting people with a shared sense of wonder.
John Hopkins
Celestial Co-Founder
In collaboration with…
Music | The Lightning Seeds, Atomic Kitten, The Real Thing, and a special reunion performance by Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Conchita Wurst, Zara Larsson