GIORGIO MORODER AND UNICEF LIGHT UP TYRBRIXEN’S CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL

SOUTH TYROL CHRISTMAS LIT UP BY NEW GIORGIO MORODER MUSIC-SHOW

SOUTH TYROL

ITALY

DATE: 2.12.2025

LENGTH: 07:19

SOURCE: Brixen

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Brixen/Bressanone, the oldest city in South Tyrol (901), is celebrating a decade of its annual winter light shows with a new collaboration between UNICEF and electronic music pioneer and three-time Oscar winner Giorgio Moroder. The new show, titled “Oops”, is a world premiere, that takes place inside the region’s Bishop’s Palace and is accompanied by an entirely new soundtrack composed by the 85-year-old musician from South Tyrol together with  the French light artists Spectaculaires

The production is a large-scale projection mapped onto three of the four wings and the roof of the Bishop’s Palace – the old Prince-Bishop of the South Tyrolean region.

You sense the full arc of the South Tyrol–born musician’s career. You hear echoes of his collaborations with Donna Summer, The Rolling Stones, Electric Light Orchestra, Queen and Elton John, as well as the cinematic style that earned him three Oscars for his music in Midnight Express, Flashdance and Top Gun.
Elements that Moroder hopes it “take people away from stress and help them breathe – at Christmas people want something romantic”.

Moroder “loves the story”, which in 20 minutes follows a small poppy-like character called Oops on a journey before finding its way home.

“It took about three years – that we were trying to contact him, trying to convince him,” says organizer Werner Zanotti from Brixen. “we have UNICEF onboard, so I think it was the right moment to have Giorgio Moroder.”

While the show runs, people outside the Bishop’s Palace also experience a large Christmas market, unique in the world for its South Tyrolean traditions. On the square in front of Brixen Cathedral — the oldest and most historically decorated cathedral in the Tyrolean region — stands a central fountain supplying natural mountain water from the Dolomites. The Dolomites are one of Europe’s major freshwater reservoirs, releasing meltwater that feeds farms and valleys across the South Tyrolean region.
The traditions brought by mountain farmers to the Brixen Christmas Market go back several centuries.

Among the local traditions is the dish Riebler, made with apples — fitting, as South Tyrol is Europe’s largest single-region apple-growing area. People in traditional clothing prepare the dish over an open fire: apples mixed with buckwheat, milk, eggs and butter, cooked in a pan and torn into small pieces as it fries, then served for free.

“It’s important to show the South Tyrolean traditions,” says Sophia Lechner, 31, who is seen using local sheep’s wool to spin and create traditional crafts. She explains how she works with wool from the Villnösser Brillenschaf, a sheep known for the dark “glasses” around its eyes.

Another South Tyrolean clothing tradition is Trachten embroidery, with a local craftsman stitching names into shoes, belts and accessories often given as family gifts and worn at ceremonies.

The market also features traditional wood carving, and even carving in hard local honey — made by bees foraging in high-altitude Alpine meadows — giving it a distinctive flavour.

The sound from the Oops show echoes in the background, and it is clearly a success. The music includes sounds inspired by Pac-Man, pinball, disco, and spectacular vocals.
Spectators leaving say it makes them feel like children again — and there is no doubt that children love it. Moroder himself believes the show is “not just for children — it’s for everybody.”

Organizer Werner Zanotti is proud to have Giorgio Moroder and UNICEF on board and says the partnership “is something very unique and special — for me and for all of Brixen.”

The Christmas market opens in late November and runs into early January.

 

END

SHOTLIST

  • Drone of Brixen with mountains in background
  • Drone near town’s cathedral
  • Drone flying towards Bishop’s Palace with projections and music
  • Close up of sign with title of the show and and the composer
  • Dolly shot towards Bishop’s Palace with projection mapping
  • People standing inside the court of the Bishop’s Palace
  • Gliding shot across awards won by composer Giorgio Moroder
  • SOUNDBITE Giorgio Moroder, musician – Shot: 1.10.2025:
    “Non non non hanno dovuto convincermi a far la musica per questo show. Poi è anche per l’Unicef che aiuta molto.”
    (Translation: They didn’t have to persuade me to do the music for the show. And it’s also for UNICEF, who helps a lot)

  • Closeup of projection film Oops
  • Child on shoulders of adult watching Oops
  • SOUNDBITE Giorgio Moroder: – Shot: 1.10.2025:
    “Prima di tutto la storia è bellissima, non è solo per bambini, è una storia che va, che vale per tutti. 
  • Projection videomapping Oops on Hofburg, the Bishop’s Palace
  • Poi a Natale la gente vuole qualcosa di di, di romantico, che ti porta via dallo stress e ti aiuta a vivere.
    (Translation:
    First of all, the story is beautiful — it’s not just for children, it’s a story for everyone. And at Christmas people want something romantic.
    Something that takes them away from stress and helps them breathe.).
    Shot: 1.10.2025
  • Hofburg is lit up by projection film Oops
  • Pan shot of Hofburg, the Bishop’s Palace with Oops playing
  • SOUNDBITE Werner Zanotti, Organizer, 56, Brixen Culture. Italy:
    “Für uns ist es um unbeschreiblich, wie wir Giorgio Moroder hier mit ins Boot holen konnten und Giorgio Moroder, der große Meister der Musik, hat für uns ein Lied komponiert. Das ist der wichtigste Bestandteil dieser neuen Show. Und wir sind hoch glücklich. Hochzufrieden, ihm an Bord zu haben, mit ihm gemeinsam Unicef Italien an Bord zu haben und so eine einzigartige 10-jährige Musik in Brixen feiern zu können.”
  • Light and music show Oops in Hofburg
  • VOX-POP Benjamin Buhl, audience, 50, Germany:
    “Grandiose Show hervorragend war ganz, ganz toll. Wenn die Welten verschwinden. Ganz bekannte Elemente drin. Mit Flipper, Pacman, Avatar, Film-Welten, die ineinander verschwinden. Und wenn du irgendwann nicht mehr erkennen kannst, bist du jetzt in der echten Welt oder voll abgetaucht. Ergänzend um die grandiose Musik.“
  • Light and music show Oops in the Hofburg, the Bishop’s Palace
  • Drone flying above the Hofburg and towards Brixen Cathedral twin towers (Translations German: Dom zu Brixen, Italian: Duomo di Bressanone) with Christmas market on the square and more.
  • Brixen Cathedral with lights and woman filling her bottle with mountain water from one of the city fountains
  • Traditional cooking and activities in front of the town’s cathedral
  • Close up of traditional dish – Riebler – with apple, buckwheat flour, milk, eggs, a little butter, salt.
    Cooked in a pan and torn into small, irregular pieces as it fries.
  • SOUNDBITE Sophia Lechner, Yarn Spinner, 31:
    “Uns ist es sehr wichtig, diese Traditionen zu teilen. Weil wir natürlich möchten, dass sie noch lange weiterlebt und aktiv bleibt.”
  • Guests are handed a sample of the traditional dish
  • Another guest is handed a sample of the traditional dish
  • Vox-pop: Susanne Wild, consultant, 32:
    “Es ist sehr gut. Es schmeckt lecker, etwas Süßes und mit Äpfeln aus der Region. “
  • Row of guests waiting to try the dish
  • Shot of a firepit
  • SOUNDBITE Sophia Lechner, Yarn Spinner, 31:
    “Ich verarbeite hier die Wolle von einem typischen Südtiroler Schafbrillenschaf und ich spinne gerade die Wolle von diesem Schaf zu einem Faden, damit ich danach etwas daraus stricken kann. “
  • Traditional shoemaker stand
  • Close up of shoemaker working
  • Close up of traditional shoes
  • SOUNDBITE Martina Rabensteiner. Guest.
    “So when I’m in my traditional dress, I have the same shoes with this beautiful monument or motifs on the shoes”
  • Panning show of carved wooden hearts, towards window filled with christmas ornaments
  • Christmas ornaments made out of bee wax
  • Shot panning towards town’s cathedral
  • Drone flying around Brixen showing both the church and the Bishop’s Palace
  • Light and music show Oops in the Hofburg, the Bishop’s Palace
  • Shot from inside to the outside of the Bishop’s Palace
  • Light and music show Oops in the Bishop’s Palace
  • Child with mouth open in amazement of the light show
  • VOX-POP Bruno Fragiacomo, Spectator, 67. :
    “Wonderful, very, very special, especially for the kids is, is being and the program is the for kids”
  • Child dancing along the the light show
  • VOX-POP Sonia, Spectator, 57, Bolzano, Italy:
    “Very, very nice.
    Question: You liked the show?
    Yes. Very much.
    Question:Why?
    Why? Because I was feeling like a child again.
  • Light and music show Oops in the Hofburg, Bishop’s Palace
  • VOX-POP Anna Lisa, Spectator, 56, Bolzano, Italy: “Yes. That is beautiful. The story. And, also the colors that a beautiful,”
  • SOUNDBITE Werner Zanotti, Organizer, 56, Brixen Culture. Italy:
    “Wir sind sehr stolz. Wir hätten es nie geglaubt. Vor zehn Jahren sind wir gestartet als einigen, als die Ersten, die vielleicht eine große Licht- und Musikshow gemacht haben. Und heute, 2025, nach zehn Jahren Licht- und Musikshow in Brixen Giorgio Moroder mit UNICEF an Bord hier in Brixen. Das ist emotional etwas Einzigartiges. Unglaublich, dass es uns gelungen ist und wir sind sehr, sehr stolz darauf, das hier in Brixen Südtirol zu haben.”
  • Drone flying up from the Bishop’s Palace
  • Drone flying above Brixen

END

Links:

Giorgio_Moroder

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giorgio_Moroder

 

Brixen

www.brixen.org/weihnachten  

 

Let me know, if any questions or needs.