Now carnival is over, let festivities begin Circa's Britt Portelli atop a braced Freyja Edney yesterday. Pictures: Jack Tran Source: TheAustralian THERE was a curious air -- a political disconnect -- on Saturday night in Brisbane's cultural heartland. As the votes in the election were tallied, and as it became clear Brisbane boy Kevin Rudd would be unseated for the second time as prime minister, the Queensland capital burst to life with a dramatic laser show, set to a triumphalist classical soundtrack, bringing to luminous life its river at the Southbank cultural precinct. Thousands flocked to Santos GLNG City of Lights, which marked the official opening of the Brisbane Festival. The multi-million-dollar light show will be performed nightly during the 22-day arts festival, which will feature some 2000 performers from 136 companies around the world. While this year's $15 million festival features a strong international contingent -- German cabaret star Ute Lemper and Fame star Debbie Allen's Freeze Frame, based on gang violence in Los Angeles, headline it -- director Noel Staunton said Brisbane's annual arts jamboree had always been about maintaining a strong local base. "Brisbane has some amazing companies and talent," he said. Part of a festival such as this is about giving local companies the chance to perform and grow. One such company is Circa, the Brisbane-based circus troupe that first appeared at Brisbane Festival in 2004. The company, which has established a strong international profile, will tomorrow premiere Opus, a musical-circus act in collaboration with internationally renowned French ensemble Debussy Quartet. Fourteen Circa artists will tumble and perform around the French instrumentalists as they perform three of Shostakovich's string quartets (Nos 11, 8 and 5). For Circa director Yaron Lifschitz, performing in the company's home city is vital to the company's success. "We have a circus school in Brisbane, this is where we live," Lifschitz said. When we (hire international performers), we make them relocate to Brisbane. We say, this your your home now. It's important to us, given we travel so much, to have a strong home base. Brisbane festival is the high water mark of the cultural year in Brisbane. It's a privilege. Staunton's festival -- his fourth as director -- has this year been characterised by the oversized pink bunnies of Perth-based street artist Stormie Mills, which are moved daily around the city. Mills has also created overnight pop-up graffiti art on walls in South Bank. Other highlights of the festival include the premiere of Expressions Dance Company's When Time Stops, Rising, the Akram Khan-choreographed dance work by Aakash Odedra, Paul Kelly's Conversations with Ghosts and and La Soiree in the Spiegeltent, around which much of the festival is being held. Free concerts by Queensland Symphony Orchestra's and Opera Queensland's Opera on the Riberstage featuring Cheryl Barker will take place next week.