The Montreux Jazz Festival has announced it will become the first music festival outside of Japan, to use Sony’s HDC-F5500 camera system, for the 56th edition of the festival.
In 2021, Montreux implemented a creative strategy to enhance the festival’s use of audio-visual content to further connect with their audience on a global scale. This strategy included a global streaming partnership with media platform Stingray to livestream the festival annually across the world and the launch of its original artist content series Spotlight.
To deliver the festival’s production needs, Montreux Jazz Festival has partnered with RTS (Radio Television Suisse), to bring Sony’s HDC-F5500 camera system to the festival’s Stravinski auditorium in 2022. The iconic 4000-capacity stage has hosted some of music’s biggest legends including the likes of David Bowie, Etta James, B.B King, and Prince.
Sony’s acclaimed HDC-F5500 camera system will allow Montreux to take their live entertainment production to the next level. The camera system’s super 35-mm 4k CMOS sensors will deliver the festival in extraordinary clarity from wide beauty shots of the Lake Geneva shoreline to tight close-ups of the 2022 artist line-up. As the first festival in Europe to use the high-spec technology, the camera system will bring new creative possibilities to Montreux and position itself as one of the most digitally advanced music festivals in the world.
Nick Bonard, CEO of Montreux Media Ventures said: “The Montreux Jazz Festival 56th edition will take place in Montreux from 01 July to 16 July 2022, for two weeks of unmissable live entertainment from some of the world’s most exciting and biggest names in music. We are thrilled to be continuing the festival’s tradition of innovation, by working with both Sony and RTS to deliver an unparalleled creative execution to the artists performance and a thrilling visual experience to music lovers from around the world. Sony and the Festival already worked together in the 2000’s to deliver full HD AV productions and today’s partnership is just the continuation of this long tradition.”
Norbert Paquet, Head of Live Production, Sony Professional Europesaid: “We’re delighted to add this camera to our portfolio which answers the increased demand for a cinematic look in the European music market in particular. Sony cameras are recognised for their advanced technology and workflow with reliability and length of life, making them a good choice from a sustainability perspective, and this new addition will no doubt serve our customers for many years to come through its innovative features and adaptability.”
Yannick Dumartineix, Head of Production at RTSsaid: “We did our first UHD wide sensor live shot test in Montreux during the 2014 edition. Since the Artistic Direction of Montreux Jazz Festival has decided to handle a cinematic look at the Stravinsky auditorium we were planning to use f-55. As our OBs are equipped with HDC-5500, the release of the F-5500 is time sync for us to go wide sensor on a smart way as we only have to replace the Camera head and maintain the rest of the chain.”
The Montreux Jazz Festival 56th edition will take place in Montreux from 01 July to 16 July 2022, for two weeks of unmissable live entertainment from some of the world’s most exciting and biggest names in music. More information on the Sony HDC-F5500 camera system and specs can be found here.