Sydney’s City Recital Hall is a world-class performance venue with outstanding acoustics and esteemed presenting partners, among them the Australian Chamber Orchestra and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Now, with d&b Soundscape-enabled 360° sound – diffused to audience members in all three seating tiers – the venue is now able to extend its programming model, and in doing so, entered an era of transformation.
Having experienced Bjork’s d&b Soundscape powered performance in New York, Stuart Rogers, Director of Programming, together with Technical Manager, Richard Fenton engaged d&b partner NAS to design a system that can easily accommodate a full range of contemporary artists, expanding both the creative potential and business performance of the venue, elevating its position within the Australian music scene.
Challenges. Collaboration. Convenience.
As well as achieving the desired acoustic performance, the project team – including NAS, specialist rigging provider, HME, and City Recital Hall’s own technical staff – has successfully managed the venue’s architectural constraints, rigging limitations, and weight restrictions to deliver a custom coloured, discrete yet powerful system.
At an operational level the rejuvenated technology, which features the SL-Series’ XSL system – chosen for its directivity control and international rider acceptance – not only tames the venue’s long reverberation times (in the lower frequencies) but streamlines day-to-day functions. Integrated R1 software gives the venue’s technical team an intuitive control interface, allowing engineers to adapt swiftly between shows, even diverse performances. What once might have been a complex setup process is now smooth and efficient.
Uniting artistry and audience
As intended, the venue has realised more than an audio upgrade; the new system is drawing top artists and promoters, and it’s not just the professionals taking notice. Positive feedback from the general public testifies to the system’s success, with attendees, artists, music media and engineers expressing admiration for the new quality of sound.
“The Soundscape system is a game changer because it supports creative intelligence, enabling artists to ‘play the room,’ explains Rogers. “The venue becomes a musical instrument itself, with the audience being placed inside the artist’s musical vision. Soundscape enables us to present extremes of artistic breadth, from cutting-edge electronica to folk, rock, and outer-national music, while enabling cathedral-like ethereal immersion. I’m excited that musical experiences at City Recital Hall are being changed from a system to relay music to one where artists can create unique content in a communal integration of art form and audience.”
With Soundscape at its heart, the hall is now able to truly embody its campaign message: ‘Sounds Better’, as it ushers in a new era of auditory experience.
“Our vision is to make City Recital Hall Sydney’s home of live music,” concludes Rogers. “We have an amazing acoustic hall that is much admired in the classical world. We chose d&b Soundscape so that we are seen as the best in the field for contemporary artists and to ensure our amplified shows achieve as much acclaim as our acoustic shows. The reception from artists and audiences has been incredibly positive.”
