Silver Master 2022: four nations in competition in Compiègne

On 17 September 2022, Masters de Feu made its grand return to the Hippodrome de Compiègne after two years away. A long-awaited comeback, almost symbolic, for a competition that has established a rare event in Oise: one where pyrotechnics are not merely a festive moment, but a work of precision, musical composition and staging. This fifth edition opened a new stage of selection toward the Master d'Or final, with four European houses invited to defend their vision of competition fireworks.

The question was on everyone’s lips, from the public to the aficionados: which of France, Slovakia, Spain or Switzerland would win the Master d'Argent 2022? On the bill were four signatures from distinct pyrotechnic backgrounds: Carat Pyrotechnie for France, Privatex Pyro for Slovakia, Hermanos Caballer for Spain and SUGYP SA for Switzerland. A clash of styles, rhythms and fire cultures, in an evening announced as exceptional with not five, but six pyrotechnic tableaux on the programme.

A much-anticipated return to the Hippodrome de Compiègne

After two years without an edition, the return of Masters de Feu carried special weight. The Hippodrome de Compiègne, a vast open setting beneath the sky, regained its role as a grand-scale stage. In this kind of competition, space matters as much as technique: one must work with the depth of the site, the audience’s sightlines, the width of the firing line, the reading of heights and the balance between close-range effects and large aerial bouquets.

The 2022 event was not limited to the competition itself. The announced format showcased an entire evening of spectacle: opening, competitors’ performances, then a pyrotechnic finale. This structure created a sense of rising intensity while giving the audience a clear reading of the contest. Each team had its own universe, soundtrack, colour palette and way of sculpting the sky. That is where the difference lies between an impressive firework display and a true pyrotechnic composition.

Four European houses for a Master d'Argent

France was represented by Carat Pyrotechnie, a house known for its creative approach to pyrotechnic shows. Performing at Compiègne before a French audience is always a unique challenge: expectations are high, emotion is immediate, yet the competition requires convincing beyond national enthusiasm. The audience may support a team, but it never replaces the accuracy of the pyrotechnic design, the strength of the soundtrack or the clarity of the transitions.

Slovakia entered the contest with Privatex Pyro. The presence of a Slovak team confirmed the competition’s international scope and the richness of the European pyrotechnic scene. In a competitive setting, a company less familiar to the general public can surprise with its identity: tighter sequences, rhythmic effects, breaks in tempo, work on cool colours or more narrative tableaux. It is often in these differences of language that the audience discovers another way of letting light speak.

Spain, a major country in pyrotechnic culture, was represented by Hermanos Caballer. The Caballer name resonates strongly in the history of fireworks, particularly in the Mediterranean world, where power, tempo and sonic drama play an essential role. In Compiègne, the challenge was to adapt that energy to the writing of an international competition: retain the force, but master the nuance; impress, without losing coherence; stir the audience, while captivating the jury’s eye.

Switzerland, finally, defended its colours with SUGYP SA. The Swiss house arrived with a solid reputation, built on numerous references in event shows and international competitions. Its style is often associated with great readability of the tableaux, a pursuit of precision and particular attention to the relationship between music and effects. In a competition such as Masters de Feu, that mastery can make the difference: a perfectly timed start, a breath at exactly the right moment, a colour that extends a note, a salvo that closes without excess.

Six fireworks for an extraordinary edition

The 2022 edition had a strong particularity: it exceptionally featured six fireworks displays. This expanded format gave the evening a sense of reunion. After the wait, the goal was to make a mark, to offer more than a simple return to the calendar. The audience came seeking the magic of a great night: the thrill of the first shells, the surprise of an unexpected motif, the physical vibration of the most powerful sequences, but also those suspended moments where just a few comets are enough to create silence.

A pyrotechnic competition is judged as much on the spectacular final build-up as on details invisible to the untrained eye. Musical synchronisation, variety of calibres, line consistency, smoke management, use of space, colour choices and precision of firing all form a demanding grammar. At this level, every second counts. A transition that is too long can break momentum; too many effects can tire the eye; a sequence that is too bright can obscure the finesse of the design.

The Master d'Argent, the gateway to the Master d'Or

Winning the Master d'Argent does not simply mean winning an edition. It means securing qualification, entering the circle of finalists invited to return for the Master d'Or showdown. The competition’s structure gives each evening added significance: the trophy of the night becomes a promise of redemption, progress and return. For the competing houses, the challenge is therefore artistic, technical and symbolic. The aim is to create a show strong enough to stay in the memory, yet sufficiently controlled to stand comparison with future winners.

In 2022, this prospect gave each performance a particular tension. The audience was not merely attending a succession of fireworks displays: it was taking part in the selection of a future finalist. This dimension is part of the identity of Masters de Feu. The competition creates a dialogue between expertise and emotion, between the jury’s assessment and the audience’s immediate reaction. Great fireworks succeed when they bring these two readings together: professional rigour and the public’s instinctive approval.

SUGYP SA, the answer to the suspense of 2022

The question posed before the evening found its answer on the Compiègne pitch: the Master d'Argent 2022 was won by SUGYP SA, representing Switzerland. The results also distinguished Hermanos Caballer, representing Spain, with the Special Jury Prize, while Carat Pyrotechnie, representing France, received the Public Prize. Privatex Pyro, for Slovakia, completed this European edition marked by a striking diversity of proposals.

This result reflects the balance at the heart of Masters de Feu. The winner is not simply the one who hits hardest; it is the one who imposes a vision, composure and progression. The Public Prize awarded to Carat Pyrotechnie underscores, in turn, the strength of the emotional bond forged with spectators. The Special Jury Prize given to Hermanos Caballer highlights the importance of the technical and artistic взгляд brought to each creation. Thus, the 2022 edition delivered more than a ranking: it relaunched a trajectory, reopened the path to the Master d'Or and restored Compiègne to the centre of the great European pyrotechnic stage.