Best of the Best: Team behind the stage of Eurovision 2015

The stage design has brought together some of the best creative professionals in the world with the two Prime Time Emmy winners Florian Wieder (Creative Producer and Production Designer) and Al Gurdon. In addition to them the Head of Directing Teams and Senior Producer is Kurt Pongratz.

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Florian Wieder

The Creative Producer / Production Designer is Florian Wieder, an internationally renowned lighting designer. "The challenge with the Eurovision Song Contest is the size of this production. And not only the physical size of it but also the 39 participating nations who all expect to have their act staged in the best possible way," he explains.

Wieder has designed numerous international music and television productions, including 16 MTW award shows and two Eurovision Song Contests in 2011 and 2012. Artists such as Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez and U2 have placed their stage concepts in his hands. With his innovative creative work he is one of the world's most sought-after show designers.

Al Gurdon

Al Gurdon is one of the most renowned lighting designer in the world as he has been responsible for mega events such as the Super Bowl halftime shows, Victoria's Secret fashion show, American Idol and of course, the Eurovision Song Contest in 2009 and 2010.

Gurdon:"It is a fascinating and exciting show to do. What I like the best is that you have to produce a lot of different looks, but there is some time to do that. A lot of energy is being put in this by the host nation and it's so satisfying from a lighting point of view. People expect that the Eurovision Song Contest is a state of the art production, and the possibility to just create something like that is a great job."

For his work at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and the Super Bowl Halftime Show With Madonna he was awarded with a Prime time Emmy. Throughout his career he has worked with artists such as Madonna, U2 and Robbie Williams. Al Gurdon and Florian Wieder have a long-standing collaboration with numerous large events.

Kurt Pongratz

Director and live event specialist Kurt Pongratz is the head of the Eurovision Song Contest directing teams. He is responsible for the creative conceptual design, implementation, and visual staging of the shows.

"For each director it is an enormous challenge to help to shape the largest television entertainment event in the world. Florian Wieder and Al Gurdon are among the best in their field, and I am very pleased that they are in my team. Our common goal is to present the 200 million viewers with a spectacular as well as a charming song contest from the musical capital that is Vienna," Pongratz talks about the upcoming job.

Grimme and Romy Prize winner Pongratz has been responsible among other things for ORF events such as Star Mania, Heroes Of Tomorrow, The Big Chance and Dancing With The Stars and responsible for major international TV shows.