"The vibe’s off the charts."
That was the appraisal by conductor Emma Featherstone of the world-first Synthony in the Snow at Coronet Peak skifield on Saturday night.
Ms Featherstone seemed to have the 3530-strong crowd — a record for a ticketed event at a NZSki field — hanging off every flick of her baton, in the show where dance music DJs, vocalists and instrumentalists "synthesise" a full orchestra on stage.
A dazzling light show was added to the mix, illuminating both the synphony-goers plus the night skiers and boarders who silently whooshed down the slopes as an epic backdrop to the dance party.
Following the success of Auckland’s annual Synthony in the Domain, event owner Duco Touring wanted to ratchet the logistical challenge up a few notches and stage the show at New Zealand’s oldest skifield.
Duco Touring chief executive Craig Cotton, backstage with the Otago Daily Times at Saturday’s event, said "a lot of people told us it was impossible to put an orchestra on the mountain".
"But we’ve achieved that.
"We’ve got an amazing team, an amazing crew and [in] partnership with Coronet Peak and NZSki, it’s made it happen."
"The sound, the lights, the venue — it was pretty phenomenal ... people were absolutely just having a blast."
Mr Anderson said he would talk to Duco about making the event a regular on the Coronet Peak calendar.
"We’re just thrilled we can bring these types of events to town.
"It gets people booking and not just spending money here, but enjoying what the CBD’s got to offer."
Hosted by DJ Shan, Ms Featherstone’s synthony orchestra was the constant on stage, joined by a roll call of leading dance music exponents: Ella Monnery, Luca George, Cherie Mathieson, Sam Allen, Lewis McCallum and Iri Aumatangi.
Each gave their unique take on some dance classics, including Fat Boy Slim’s Right Here, Right Now which kicked the show off in thumping fashion, aided by fireworks shot into the alpine sky.
Ms Featherstone, whose day job is director of music at Auckland’s Kings College, told the ODT during Saturday’s halftime the difference between playing synthony on snow compared with sea level is the "unknown".
"That uneasiness of what’s going to [potentially] happen has made it even more exciting."
A big danger was the cold dry alpine air cracking the string instruments, she said.
"We put quite a few heaters up on the stage and tried to create a temperate climate so that the moisture doesn’t get sucked out of those instruments."
The dry air also made the brass players dehydrate.
"We’re having to make sure we’re keeping everyone topped up with water, there’s big puddles up there."
The effort was worth it.
"It’s incredibly unique.
"The crowd out there are second to none, they’re pumped and having a great time and we’re bringing some warmth to the snow which I think is pretty unheard of."
