Saint François d'Assise, Madrid Arena, Spain

Object Type
Theatres

Organizer
Teatro Real, Madrid

Veranstaltungstechnik
Neumann & Müller GmbH, München

Seats
4300

Completion
2011

Expertises
Room Acoustics
Building Acoustics
Electronic Room Acoustics
Audiovisual System Design

Under the guidance of their artistic director Gerard Mortier, the Teatro Real presented the Messiaen opera St. Francois d'Assise in July 2011. The production from the Ruhrtriennale, specifically from the Jahrhunderthalle in Bochum, was restaged featuring a 16-meter high cone as the central stage set element. Since the standard opera stage proved to be too small for assembling the cone as well as for the general ambience, the Madrid Arena was temporarily converted into an event venue for five performances with an audience of approximately 4,300 each.
The large orchestra and the choir with 150 singers were positioned be-low and around the cone. The opera singers walked on metallic foot-bridges framing the cone that was installed in the center of the arena.

For the purpose of turning the existing, strongly attenuated acoustics into ideal acoustics for a large, contemporary opera performance, both traditional acoustical measures and a room enhancement system were planned and implemented. By means of suspended reflector panels above the audience area, advantageous sound-reflecting surfaces were added. Any disturbing focusing of sound was eliminated by the large curtains installed. In addition, the electro-acoustic room enhancement system Vivace created a good sound impression and an impressive ambience.

Image Copyright
1 Michael Ebert
2 Michael Ebert
3 Michael Ebert
4 Michael Ebert