The Grand Theatre in Poland’s Theatre Square has undergone an audio upgrade with Renkus-Heinz Iconyx arrays providing steerable sound reinforcement as specified by Polish electroacoustics specialists, The M.Ostrowski Company.
Originally opened in 1833, but almost completely reconstructed after the Second World War, the expansive venue remains one of the largest theatres in Europe, and central to Poland’s performing arts community.
The project revolved around the theatre’s primary performance space – the 1,800-plus capacity Stanisław Moniuszko Auditorium, which is used for a blend of opera, ballet and theatre performances. The new system needed to be able to offer subtle, highly directive reinforcement for orchestral music and announcements. Following a competitive tender process, The M.Ostrowski Company turned to Renkus-Heinz and the Iconyx range of Digitally Steerable Column Arrays.
Iconyx combines Renkus-Heinz’s beam steering expertise with strong intelligibility and full-range musicality, all within discreet enclosures that blend in with the environment. The Grand Theatre – National Opera is now served by two IC32 speakers, with 32 x 4in coaxial transducers (each with three HF tweeters), 16 amplifier and DSP channels, and beam control effective down to 200Hz. The configuration also includes two IC16 speakers – with 16 x 4in coaxial transducers (each with three HF tweeters), eight amplifier and DSP channels, and beam control effective down to 200Hz, plus DR-18-2R subs to handle the low frequencies.
“What we have here with this Iconyx system is a highly effective PA that also blends unobtrusively into the venue’s historic and distinctive interiors,” commented M. Ostrowski technical director, Łukasz Toboła. “The project was completed to schedule and has met with a strongly positive reaction from both venue personnel and patrons.”
