It was hardly going to stay a secret. The dress rehearsal for the spectacular laser show to mark the completion of The Shard was not an event that could be kept under wraps.
The dazzling display saw coloured beams from 12 lasers and 30 powerful searchlights shoot across the night sky to illuminate the city’s great landmarks in an hour-long display.
The real thing will take place at 10pm tonight to herald the completion of external work to the £450 million, 310-metre tower at London Bridge.
Insurance worker Andreas Langer, 50, from Munich, was one of the lucky few who witnessed the trial run from the bank of the Thames.
“It’s fantastic. I just came out for a late cigarette and couldn’t believe my eyes. The Shard is an incredible building and this is the sort of thing that London’s all about,” he said.
“Every time I come to London there’s an exceptional new building being built, it sends out a message of real confidence.”
Engineers based in a booth in Old Billingsgate Walk on the opposite bank of the river will use a bank of computers to choreograph the light show with a performance of classical music from the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
As the music reaches its finale, the show will culminate in the illumination of the Shard itself, lit from all sides by searchlights in the sky above St Paul’s Cathedral which recall wartime images of the Blitz.
Prince Andrew will be among the first people to step into the 72nd-floor, 360 degree viewing gallery for the official inauguration tomorrow (july 5) along with the Prime Minister of Qatar, whose country has financed the building.
The tower, the tallest in Europe and designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, has taken three years to complete.
Pre-bookings for the public viewing galleries will start to be taken via the Shard’s website from July 6.
The £50 million price of one of the apartments will be beyond most people’s means, but the laser show can be viewed for free.
The show will also be streamed live at www.the-shard.com.
