Designed, supplied and installed by Russian pro audio and lighting specialists, Doka Center, who also supplied the fully motorised lighting and staging systems, the main audio system is based around APG's versatile DS Series loudspeakers. Phase two of the renovation project, which is scheduled for early in 2012 and will include more APG equipment, will concentrate on the renovation of the theatre's smaller hall.
The Theatre of Nations is housed in the former Korsh theatre that was built in 1885 on land belonging to the millionaire Bakhrushin merchant family. The building was renamed after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The reopening of the historic venue was marked by a visit from Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin. In accordance with an old theatre tradition, Putin was asked to hammer into the stage a silver ruble minted in the year the theatre was founded. Putin duly obliged, and rounded off the visit with an impromptu turn at the piano.
The renovation has been hailed as a success by all concerned, actors and suppliers alike. Doka Centre's head of sound, Sergei Yurchenko, is also pleased with the results. "We specified an APG system because we have we have complete confidence in both the products and the company. We have a vast experience of the brand and we know that we can always deliver a top quality solution using their products, especially as we can accurately predict the results using EASE software.
"For the Theatre of Nations we decided on a main system based around DS15s around the proscenium arch because it's an extremely versatile cabinet with a lot of flying/hanging options, and it offers superb sound reproduction. We opted for the compact MX1 for delays and fills."
The complete system comprises six DS15 for the main system (a central cluster of 2 x DS15 with two single DS15s per side) with two more hidden on a balcony dedicated to acoustic effects. Each of the 12 private boxes is equipped with an MX1 in white, and a further eightr MX1 act as front-fills.
The stage monitoring system comprises a further two DS15s supplemented by four MX4, and a powerful BM3000C cabinet per side handles stage effects. Finally, Yurchenko specified two TB218S subs for low frequency reinforcement. The entire system is driven by Lab.gruppen dedicated installation C Series amplifiers with APG processing throughout.
(Jim Evans)
