Christian Farla
Encyclopedia
Christian Farla is a Dutch illusionist/magician whose homebase is in Barendrecht
, near Rotterdam
. Christian Farla is one of the few magicians who are specialized in mega-illusions. In 2006 and 2009, he won the Merlin Award
, the highest international award for magicians.
In 1993, 1999 and 2001, the magic duo won the first prize in the Dutch Magic Championships. In 1996 they got their first big contract with Vd Ende Events to perform in many large productions in the Studio´s in Aalsmeer. After winning the Henk Vermeyden Trophy, Christian Farla got a contract for 80 shows for the Sunflower Foundation Tour. They got spotted by Frank Wentink who offered them a place in the grand scale Dinnershow in Hilversum. When Hans Klok left the Amazing Efteling Show in the amusement park The Efteling, Christian Farla took over his part in the show. New illusions were created and he won the award for Best Show in an Amusement Park Worldwide in 2003.
After more than 2000 shows in Studio 21 and The Efteling in 2003 and 2004, the duo was invited for a couple of shows in Las Vegas by Siegfried and Roy. David Copperfield (illusionist)
, who was visiting one of this shows was blown away by Christian's act and soon after, the two become friends. This resulted in the exchange of magic acts like the Drill of Death
and Steelplate, where one of Christian's assistants seems to be floating through a plate of steel.
After all the success, Christian Farla started his first tour with a grand scale 2-hour illusion show through Holland in 2006. The International Magicians Society awarded this with the Merlin Award
, sometimes called the Oscar in magic, for magician of the year. He also received the Champion d’Europe de Magie in Lido Paris in 2007. After three years performing during summer holidays in the amusement park Drievliet, he switched to the larger Walibi World Themepark in 2009. There Christian received the Merlin Award for the second time in April 2009.
Barendrecht
Barendrecht is a town in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. The municipality had a population of 43,104 in 2007, and covers an area of 21.72 km² of which 1.45 km² is water....
, near Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
. Christian Farla is one of the few magicians who are specialized in mega-illusions. In 2006 and 2009, he won the Merlin Award
Merlin Award
Merlin Award is a recognition instituted by the International Magicians Society. It is regarded as the highest level prize in the field of Magic/Illusion and the top recognition a magician can achieve.-History & Norms:...
, the highest international award for magicians.
Biography
Christian was born in Rotterdam on May 5, 1970. When he was 8 years old, he began performing magic at birthday parties of his schoolmates. When he was twelve, he won the Dutch Junior Championships for stage magic and decided to become an illusionist. During school holidays, he traveled with the circus and learned about performing for large audiences. In 1992, he met his future partner and magic assistant, Bianca, who was performing as a dancer in a same show he was performing in. On August 19, 2008, their son, Ryan, was born.After more than 2000 shows in Studio 21 and The Efteling in 2003 and 2004, the duo was invited for a couple of shows in Las Vegas by Siegfried and Roy. David Copperfield (illusionist)
David Copperfield (illusionist)
David Copperfield is an Emmy Award-winning American illusionist, and was described by Forbes as the most commercially successful magician in history. Copperfield's network specials have been nominated for 38 Emmy Awards and won a total of 21 Emmys...
, who was visiting one of this shows was blown away by Christian's act and soon after, the two become friends. This resulted in the exchange of magic acts like the Drill of Death
Drill of Death
The Drill of Death is a large-scale stage illusion in which a performer appears to be impaled on a giant drill. It was created by magician André Kole and illusion designer Ken Whitaker for magician Melinda Saxe. It was one of Saxe's signature tricks and featured as a highlight in her various First...
and Steelplate, where one of Christian's assistants seems to be floating through a plate of steel.
After all the success, Christian Farla started his first tour with a grand scale 2-hour illusion show through Holland in 2006. The International Magicians Society awarded this with the Merlin Award
Merlin Award
Merlin Award is a recognition instituted by the International Magicians Society. It is regarded as the highest level prize in the field of Magic/Illusion and the top recognition a magician can achieve.-History & Norms:...
, sometimes called the Oscar in magic, for magician of the year. He also received the Champion d’Europe de Magie in Lido Paris in 2007. After three years performing during summer holidays in the amusement park Drievliet, he switched to the larger Walibi World Themepark in 2009. There Christian received the Merlin Award for the second time in April 2009.
Awards
- 2006 'Merlin-award for Magician of the year'
- 2007 'Champion de Europe de Magie' in Parijs
- 2008 'Mandrake O Dor Award'
- 2009 'Merlin-award for Magic Show of the Year 2009'