CONTENTS
foreword
When I was an undergraduate
student in London, many a moon
ago, I must have dallied in Covent
Garden two or three times a
week between lectures. Yet it never occurred
to me to while away a spare hour with a coffee
in the nearby Royal Opera House – it didn’t
feel open for such a casual visit. Fast forward
roughly 15 years and it’s quite a different story.
The illustrious institution’s Open Up project
has delivered a more inviting foyer, a bar and
restaurant that are open during the day, and
an advantageously located terrace, overlooking
the market. I could definitely envisage using
the space to meet friends for a drink, as I have
similarly utilized the British Film Institute on
London's Southbank, for example. Both these
organizations are making the most of their spaces
throughout the day, and hopefully boosting their
profits at the same time as fostering a stronger
connection with a wider variety of people –
which is surely a win for any cultural business.
I was also lucky enough, in visiting the Royal
Opera House as part of my research for the
article on page 18, to catch a rehearsal in the
newly renovated Linbury Theatre. The singers
were having fun putting the new variable
acoustics system through its paces for perhaps
the first time. It seemed a special moment for
Sarah Younger, project director for Open Up.
A lot of hard, complex work went into creating
the space, and now it was being claimed by
its end users. For me it was a great example
of sophisticated technology put to the service
of talented performers. In this issue you can
enjoy many other glorious examples of how
technological wizardry can help create magical
live experiences. For instance, on page 26
we examine three of the newest technologies
making an impact – massive LED screen walls,
immersive audio systems and augmented reality.
Truly, the ingenuity of the live entertainment
industry never ceases to amaze me.
Elsewhere in this issue you can learn all about
many fantastic projects, including the cover
story, Hong Kong’s Xiqu Centre (see page 6).
This striking building was designed to celebrate
and nurture Chinese opera, or xiqu. Bringing
a traditionally open air art form into a modern
indoor space is not without its challenges –
particularly for the acoustics – so it is fascinating
to learn how these have been addressed.
I’m also delighted to announce – hot off the
press – that following a change of publisher,
Auditoria is doubling in frequency to two issues
a year. I’m thrilled that we will be able to bring
you a double dose of the best case studies,
technological innovations and expert insight.
Be sure to look out for the next issue in
December 2019!
Izzy Kington, Editor
84 Change your tune
The human experience is changing –
and savvy entertainment businesses
are adapting accordingly
d&b audiotechnik
88 Creative arts
Imaginative staging possibilities were
required for recent clients including
Cirque du Soleil and Royal Caribbean
Waagner-Biro Stage Systems
92 Shared experience
Demand for standout live experiences
necessitates complex staging,
controlled by a centralized system
Tait
96 Cover all
Congress Theatre’s renovation
delivers a flexible solution to delight
audiences and sound crews alike
HARMAN Professional
100 The stage is set
Established as an LED display
supplier for tours, ROE Visual is
expanding into fixed installations
ROE Visual
104 Modern classic
Traditional ceramics inspired the
acoustic design at China’s Fuzhou
Strait Culture and Art Centre
Kahle Acoustics
108 Brake dance
Dependable brakes were required to
ensure the safety of a kinetic sculpture
at Changi Airport in Singapore
mayr power transmission
110 Move heaven and earth
An exhibition at the Sistine Chapel
required sensitivity to tradition, clever
stage technology and swift installation
Movecat
112 Beating heart
The Buddy Holly Hall of Performing
Arts & Sciences will be open to a wide
range of arts in Lubbock, Texas
Diamond Schmitt Architects
114 New voices
Sound Space Vision recently applied
its design and acoustics expertise to
two new opera house projects
Sound Space Vision
116 Poetry in motion
The need for innovative engineered
motion solutions has spread across
the entertainment industry
Alfa System
118 Form and function
A durable and easy-to-use acoustic
shell system was required for a busy
theater at a Wisconsin school
Staging Concepts
120 Quiet revolution
Sound-damping curtains teamed with
advanced automated track systems
can enable highly flexible auditoria
Gerriets
122 Magic touch
A Syracuse Stage production of The
Wizard of Oz benefits from the latest
multipurpose LED luminaires
Elation Professional
124 Warm reception
For the acoustic design at the Ian
Potter Southbank Centre in Australia,
the brief was to allow some sound
permeation without clashes
Marshall Day Acoustics
128 Curtain up
A look at Andermatt Concert Hall,
set to open in June 2019
Izzy Kington
92
contents
2 AUDITORIA 2019 VOLUME ONE