San Francisco Opera (SF Opera) is the first opera company to rely upon Constellation. Located in the newly renovated Diane B. Wilsey Center for Opera, the 299-seat Atrium Theatre is designed for multiple configurations, providing both performer and audience members with a very personal approach to opera. Constellation's ability to shape acoustics on demand allows SF Opera to expand from traditional theatre-style seating to cabaret settings with café tables and in-the-round performances, or even edgier configurations.
"If we really want this to be a gateway for new audiences and an exciting place for new ideas, the Wilsey Center must be state-of-the-art," says David Gockley, general director of SF Opera. "Top on my list was a Meyer Sound Constellation system to anchor our acoustic foundation. Not only could we guarantee terrific acoustics for now, but we would also leave a legacy for future generations to dream in ways we cannot presently imagine."
Elkhanah Pulitzer takes on programming responsibilities for the new Atrium Theatre under SF Opera's new production division, SF Opera Lab. She approaches the Atrium Theatre as an incubator and testing ground for new ideas - a litmus test for what opera can be in the future. "With Constellation, I can literally think outside of the box," she says. "I'm no longer limited by the shape of the room, or whether the acoustics will support a new performance idea. Now the theatre is a real partner to the company as we push the boundaries of performance and create new experiences for new audiences."
"Constellation is seamlessly and invisibly integrated into the physical architecture of the Atrium Theatre," says Steve Ellison, Meyer Sound's applications director for digital products. "The room's adjustable active acoustics give the theatre a chameleon-like quality, able to ideally support ensembles both large and small. New productions can take advantage of all of the system's immersive audio capabilities, including multi-channel playback and SpaceMap surround panning that can bring the walls and ceiling to life."
(Jim Evans)
