Tony David Cray and Norwest Productions make success of open-air La Traviata opera

Various technical and logistical challenges had to be overcome to make Opera Australia's artistic director Lyndon Terracini’s vision a success, in particular with regards to the sound quality. Opera fanatics openly criticised the idea of an operatic performance that utilised radio microphones and amplification. However, judging by the positive reviews the show has received so far, it seems that the team has succeeded in overcoming these challenges.

The main PA comprises an Adamson main line array consisting of six Y18s and four Y10 boxes flown either side of the stage with directional cardioid subwoofers positioned on a deck to deliver the low-end. As the PA towers are 60m apart, a stack of three Y18 boxes reside at each side of the stage for additional fill.

In-fill for the middle front is delivered by two Y10 boxes in a left right arrangement in front of the stage supported by two time-delayed subwoofers positioned in front of the sea wall.

Mr Cray utilises is a 96-channel Avid D-Show console using a variety of inbuilt plugins, whilst additional reverbs and effects are completed with a MacPro and a TC System6000 reverb unit. To assist with the limited rehearsal period, a 96ch Pyramix multitrack recording system was used so that virtual sound checks could take place without the performers being present, which subsequently helped when perfecting any of the 165 scene changes.

Norwest Productions spent three days testing, commissioning, equalising and time aligning the system with a combination of Smaart 7 software, recorded music and the opinions of industry professionals.

Monitor engineer John Watterson mixes on a DiGiCo D5T audio console utilising 16 individual in-ear monitor mixes, six monitor loudspeaker mixes and 16 sub group mixes for the orchestra. Several weeks of rehearsals allowed the performers to become familiar with the in-ear monitors. The 12 principals are currently utilising custom moulds by Ear Monitors Australia whilst the 40 chorus-members use Shure SE115 earphones.

DPA 4060 omni-directional head worn microphones are also utilised by the cast due to their strong performance capabilities in windy conditions. The two microphones on each principal performer are split into a Rational Acoustics Smaart 7 sound system measurement system, so that Norwest Productions can check that each mic is performing to specification prior to each performance.

Norwest Production’s Steve Caldwell monitored and measured the frequency spectrum, for which there are over 60 RF channels in use. A total of 45 channels of Shure UR series radio mics are spread across two adjoining bands, and 16 transmit channels of Sennheiser IEM furnishing 52 receiver packs are also in use for the production.

All radio microphone receivers are fed from a single pair of tapered helical antennas from RFVenue, and IEM transmitters are fed through two custom weatherproof stainless log-periodic antennas. Both antenna systems have been designed to withstand the salt water and outdoor weather conditions, and due to the area’s hostile RF environment, the system is monitored closely during all performances.

‘Working with Norwest has been an absolute treat, they have been awesome,’ commented Mr Cray. ‘They were chosen for this project because of their event experience and we knew that the project would present challenges that are quite different to normal theatre work. We were correct in making that choice as everything has been fantastic.’

Critics have been equally pleased with the results: ‘The vocal lines rang forth with clarity and definition,’ came a review from the publication The Australian.

‘The balance between orchestra and voices was superb and the singers sounded natural and marvellous,’ said Stage Noise. ‘Sound designer and audio engineer Tony David Cray should have been on stage for the curtain calls, he did a brilliant job. Many were in tears and the audience was intimately bound up with every emotion. In the overall scheme of things, it was possibly the most significant technical achievement, and brilliantly served both music and performers.’

www.norwestproductions.com