Peter Marvey
Encyclopedia
Peter Marvey is a magician
and illusionist best known for his combination of sleight of hand
and large-scale stage illusions
.
, whether the flight of birds, stage "flying" or aviation
. He expressed his passion by creating simple wings made of wood and textile. His parents booked a flight from Zurich
to Geneva
, for the exclusive reason of allowing him to "experience flight".
He was also fascinated by magic. He soon became aware of his talent for this art and invested all his time and energy in it. He was caught doing finger practice under his desk at school. While still in high school, Marvey created his first illusion, a version of levitating girl. Later on he interrupted his studies to concentrate on creating illusions.
Marvey has created seven different flying systems so far. These and other achievements renewed the long history of the flying illusion and gave it new dimensions. Marvey invented a system to turn and move while flying in more directions than ever done before. He made it possible to fly in bright light, also for the first time in magic history. He was the first magician who changed his costume in mid air.
For an exihibition event in Bremen in 2002 Marvey developed an illusion which allowed him to fly over the audience, which some magicians had previously believed to be impossible. In 2005, he designed a flying illusion for the singing star Ayumi Hamasaki. In the Saitama arena in Tokyo and later on in other stadiums, the superstar flew 60 metres over the audience together with two dancers in a turning ball.
In 2006, Marvey presented a flying illusion for and with dolphins for the Japanese TV channel TBS
. In 2007, Marvey created the "Flying Coach" illusion for a leading indoor international horse show, the CSI Zurich. The floating coach was pulled by seven horses, and escorted by fairies with huge wings, all in white. About 40,000 spectators had the chance to see this illusion from all around the arena.
Aside from flying illusions, Marvey has created many levitation systems. These include the levitaion of spectators live on stage and floating objects which can be watched at close range.
Other grand illusions in his shows include being cut in half at the waist. The legs are on a unicycle which circles the stage, disconnected from the upper body. In another illusion, he dons a Superman
-like costume and proceeds to shorthen his legs to less than half their normal length.
Marvey is also a champion prestidigitator, able to make cards appear out of thin air and disappear again.
in 2002. He won third prize in the Grand Prix Manipulation category at the 19th world championship of the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques
(FISM) in 1994 in Yokohama, Japan. In 1993, he received an award from The Society of American Magicians
. He was Swiss National Champion for 1993-1995.
), Switzerland. He regularly performs there and the theatre can be booked for private shows
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
and illusionist best known for his combination of sleight of hand
Sleight of hand
Sleight of hand, also known as prestidigitation or legerdemain, is the set of techniques used by a magician to manipulate objects such as cards and coins secretly....
and large-scale stage illusions
Stage illusions
Stage illusions are large-scale magic tricks. As the name implies, stage illusions are distinct from all other types of magic in that they are performed a considerable distance away from the audience, usually on a stage, in order to maintain the illusion....
.
Biography
In his early childhood, Peter Marvey was fascinated with any form of flyingFlight
Flight is the process by which an object moves either through an atmosphere or beyond it by generating lift or propulsive thrust, or aerostatically using buoyancy, or by simple ballistic movement....
, whether the flight of birds, stage "flying" or aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
. He expressed his passion by creating simple wings made of wood and textile. His parents booked a flight from Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
to Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, for the exclusive reason of allowing him to "experience flight".
He was also fascinated by magic. He soon became aware of his talent for this art and invested all his time and energy in it. He was caught doing finger practice under his desk at school. While still in high school, Marvey created his first illusion, a version of levitating girl. Later on he interrupted his studies to concentrate on creating illusions.
Magic career
Marvey studied, designed and practiced for seven years to create an illusion called "Dream Flying", which made his name in the magic business and became a signature piece. He first performed this illusion in Perpignan, France, in October 1999, for a magic convention. He later performed it live on TV in 2001.Marvey has created seven different flying systems so far. These and other achievements renewed the long history of the flying illusion and gave it new dimensions. Marvey invented a system to turn and move while flying in more directions than ever done before. He made it possible to fly in bright light, also for the first time in magic history. He was the first magician who changed his costume in mid air.
For an exihibition event in Bremen in 2002 Marvey developed an illusion which allowed him to fly over the audience, which some magicians had previously believed to be impossible. In 2005, he designed a flying illusion for the singing star Ayumi Hamasaki. In the Saitama arena in Tokyo and later on in other stadiums, the superstar flew 60 metres over the audience together with two dancers in a turning ball.
In 2006, Marvey presented a flying illusion for and with dolphins for the Japanese TV channel TBS
Tokyo Broadcasting System
, TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named ....
. In 2007, Marvey created the "Flying Coach" illusion for a leading indoor international horse show, the CSI Zurich. The floating coach was pulled by seven horses, and escorted by fairies with huge wings, all in white. About 40,000 spectators had the chance to see this illusion from all around the arena.
Aside from flying illusions, Marvey has created many levitation systems. These include the levitaion of spectators live on stage and floating objects which can be watched at close range.
Other grand illusions in his shows include being cut in half at the waist. The legs are on a unicycle which circles the stage, disconnected from the upper body. In another illusion, he dons a Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
-like costume and proceeds to shorthen his legs to less than half their normal length.
Marvey is also a champion prestidigitator, able to make cards appear out of thin air and disappear again.
Achievements and awards
Marvey has won awards in several international magical competitions, where performers are judged by magic experts and prominent people from show business. Prince Albert of Monaco presented him with the Golden Wand trophy in 1996. Marvey received the Merlin Award of the International Magicians SocietyInternational Magicians Society
The International Magicians Society is the world's largest magic society as recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. The IMS began in 1968 and now has over 37,000 members worldwide...
in 2002. He won third prize in the Grand Prix Manipulation category at the 19th world championship of the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques
Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques
The International Federation of Magic Societies was founded in 1948, and is one of the most respected organizations in the magician community. It is an international body coordinating dozens of national and international clubs and federations around the world, representing approximately 50,000...
(FISM) in 1994 in Yokohama, Japan. In 1993, he received an award from The Society of American Magicians
Society of American Magicians
The Society of American Magicians is the oldest fraternal magic organization in the world. Its purpose is "to advance, elevate, and preserve magic as a performing art, to promote harmonious fellowship throughout the world of magic, and to maintain and improve ethical standards in the field of...
. He was Swiss National Champion for 1993-1995.
Magic-House
In 2009, Marvey opened a 99-seat theater in Feusisberg (near Pfäffikon, SchwyzPfäffikon, Schwyz
Pfäffikon is the principal town of the Municipality of Freienbach in canton Schwyz in Switzerland. Together with Wollerau, Pfäffikon is considered the principal town of the borough Höfe and the center of the region of Ausserschwyz. The former farm town is known today as cultural, economic and...
), Switzerland. He regularly performs there and the theatre can be booked for private shows