The 2,000-seat Orchestra Hall, opened in 1974, is home to the Grammy Award-winning Minnesota Orchestra, which celebrated the 112th anniversary of its inaugural performance at the beginning of November 2015. The hall, which completed a $52m renovation in early 2014, has long been renowned for its acoustics, which were originally designed by Cyril M. Harris.
According to Joel Mooney, technical director, Minnesota Orchestra, "The acoustics are fantastic for the orchestra, which is the primary focus. But you also have to meet all the needs of modern music and productions. Technology has changed since the last time we remodelled the hall, so we took this opportunity to upgrade the sound system."
The new L-Acoustics system comprises a left-centre-right configuration of Kiva line array speakers together with SB15m and SB18 subwoofers, all of which are powered by LA4X amplified controllers. "We have 14 Kivas in the centre hang, which is primarily for speech and general classical reinforcement, and then we have 13 Kivas on the left and 13 on the right," says Mooney.
The left and right hangs are both topped by a pair of SB15m subwoofers to provide flown low frequency extension. Furthermore, a pair of SB18 single 18-inch subs are positioned behind a fascia created during the remodel below the stage lip.
Allied Audio Services of Grove Heights, Minnesota supplied and installed the L-Acoustics system after Mooney and the staff did their due diligence. "We tried all the big names; the reason we chose L-Acoustics was because we felt it matched everybody's desires, both the people in the audience and the technicians who come through our hall. The brand meets all riders," he says.
The Minnesota Orchestra presents nearly 175 programs in a typical year, including screenings of classic movies accompanied by a live performance of the score.
(Jim Evans)
