The Guangzhou Opera House was designed by London-based architect Zaha Hadid to represent two boulder-like structures of different sizes, with a theatre located in each. The Grand Theatre in the main structure has been installed with eight Kudo line source cabinets and two SB28 high-powered subwoofers per side, with a central channel of 10 flown dV-Dosc line source cabinets. A dV-SUB subwoofer is installed on each side of the dV-Dosc array. Both the Kudo and dV-Dosc array are concealed in the ceiling, in keeping with Chinese visual aesthetics.
On each side of the stage apron is a concealed installation of 10 ARCS medium format line source cabinets and two SB28 subs. A total of 28 8XT compact coaxial enclosures are used as fill-speakers; eight for the stage apron, six for second floor down-fill, nine for third floor down-fill and five for third floor up-fill. Additionally, there is a sound effects system of 33 12XTs and two SB28 subs, with 12 12XTs wall mounted on the first floor, nine on the second floor, six on the third floor and six installed into the ceiling, along with the two SB28s. Stage monitoring is provided by 12XT high performance coaxial enclosures, four 115XT HiQ active stage monitors and an SB28 subwoofer.
"The opera house's sound reinforcement system is incredible," says Mr Zhou, chief sound engineer of Guangzhou Opera House. "Not too dry and not too bright, it meets the needs of a wide range of performances, including large-scale operas, enabling residents of the city to enjoy the performing arts."
The smaller, multi-function theatre has a mobile system of eight 115XT HiQs and four SB118 compact subwoofers, which can be configured according to the performance There is also a stage monitor system of four 12XTs, and a sound effects system of twelve 12XTs and eight 8XTs. Additionally, a rehearsal space and a news room have been installed with 112P self-powered coaxials.
All systems throughout the Opera House are driven by L-Acoustics LA4 and LA8 amplified controllers.
"Having supplied equipment to such prestigious projects as the Beijing National Grand Theatre and Shanghai Oriental Art Centre, we are proud to have worked on such an amazing installation in our home town of Guangzhou," says Rightway Audio Consultants director Danny Lau. "The Guangzhou Opera House will be central to this newly-built district of the city, and the L-coustics systems will ensure that visitors will benefit from hearing the very best sound from all performances."
(Jim Evans)
