was that it could. We’ve worked enough with
different art forms to know at a glance the
potential and our modeling confirmed it.”
Not like Western opera
Chinese opera differs in many respects from its
Western counterpart and Essert had to think
carefully about how to create the right sounds
in the main theater. Like Kokalov he wanted to
get a feel for Chinese opera so he attended
performances and spoke with artists.
He discovered that xiqu is a unique blend
of drama, acrobatics and vocal performance.
There is more focus on costumes than on the
staging and far more improvisation than in
Western opera. The music itself has evolved in
outdoor theaters to be loud and percussive, and
the drum beats are highly integrated with stage
movements, such as the flick of an actor’s fingers,
or the wielding of a sword.
“There’s enough spoken dialogue in Chinese
opera that it makes sense to have a drier acoustic
to emphasize the clarity of the voices,” says
Essert. “Also, the artistic use of percussion
punctuation means it sounds best when the
sound dies away quickly. You don’t want the loud
crashing drum sounds rattling around the room.
They need to be clear and precise.”
Textured surfaces
After trying out several solutions, Essert settled
on placing scalloped vertical edges all around the
walls. Chinese manufacturers used machines to
create the 3D boards that varied in width from
several millimeters to a few centimeters. These
textured surfaces scattered the sound from the
stage in multiple directions, whereas a smoother
surface would have bounced it straight back.
XIQU CENTRE
Above and inset right: The
main theater, which seats
1,073 people
Above inset: The audience
can enjoy dim sum and tea
during performances in the
Tea House theater
Far right: The Xiqu Centre
is part of the West Kowloon
Cultural District, sited on
reclaimed harbor-side land
ACOUSTIC FLEXIBILITY
The Xiqu Centre’s main opera theater had to be adaptable for
different productions, ranging from the louder ‘rock concerts’
of Chinese opera to works demanding more subtle and
naturalistic acoustics. To this end, Sound Space Vision provided
acoustic curtains that can be used to modify the sound. The
company also installed a super audio system that can provide
a clearer, less amplified sound if a visiting troupe demands it.
10 AUDITORIA 2019 VOLUME ONE
The
spoken
dialogue and
percussion of
Chinese opera
justified a drier
acoustic than in
Western opera
houses