The 2025 edition of RTL 102.5’s Power Hits Estate once again lit up the “Arena di Verona”, turning the historic venue into a spectacular stage for some of Italy’s most beloved music stars. Now a staple of the late-summer calendar, the event delivered a succession of major hits, top-tier artists and an enthusiastic crowd that filled one of the most iconic live music locations in the country.
Among the standout moments of the evening was undoubtedly the performance by Dardust, the producer and composer renowned for his innovative, experimental approach. Making his set truly distinctive was a bespoke lighting scenography designed specifically for the occasion by lighting designer Francesco de Cave, brought to life through the exclusive use of 24 Claypaky Volero Wave fixtures.
“Dardust’s music is somewhat alternative compared to the rest of the RTL evening,” explains de Cave. “So together with producer Fabio Marcantelli, we conceived a custom scenic and lighting setup just for him. A 5×5 platform was built, hosting all the instruments he uses to compose his music live. The 24 Claypaky Volero Wave fixtures were positioned around the perimeter, creating a highly evocative kind of luminous cage.”
The Volero Wave is an LED bar distinguished by its original and advanced technical features: each unit incorporates eight independently moving heads with a tilt range of up to 220°, enabling dynamic, immersive three-dimensional projections. The resulting “wave” effect—especially when multiple units are linked together—creates a visually striking and powerful scenic impact.
“I chose the Volero Wave for their brightness, versatility and ability to generate unique effects,” de Cave continues. “I used them both in static mode and by exploiting their signature wave movement, always with a white beam to harmonize with the piano. Finally, I combined everything with strobe effects: with a single type of fixture, I was able to deliver a complete creative contribution to the show.”
The visual impact was remarkable, as confirmed by the many positive responses received from both the audience and industry professionals. “I received an incredible number of messages of appreciation from technical and artistic staff, as well as from the general public,” says de Cave.
Claypaky fixtures—12 Tambora Flash, 24 Volero Cube and 4 HY B-EYE K15 Aqua—were also used by Francesco de Cave for Future Hits Live 2025, held on June 1 at Rome’s Foro Italico. This continuity in technical setup is no coincidence: although aimed at different audiences and musical styles, the two events are closely related. Both are conceived by the RTL 102.5 Group—through Radio Zeta and RTL 102.5 respectively—and represent the two pillars of Italy’s summer music season.