In 2020, the pandemic affected every part of public life, and the Puccini Festival was no exception. Traditionally performed without amplification, distancing requirements meant that the orchestra strength had to be reduced. This, in turn, meant that the remaining musicians were unable to sonically fill the auditorium, so, for the first time, sound reinforcement was contemplated. The Festival’s Artistic Director, Maestro Giorgio Battistelli, turned to BH audio, the renowned Italian audio company, which for decades has specialized in both indoor and outdoor classical music, jazz and world music festivals.

As it happens, Massimo Carli, Chief Sound Engineer of BH audio, had developed a concept that fits the Puccini Festival’s needs like a glove: a proven combination of a Lawo mc²36 console and d&b Soundscape technology. The result was a resounding success, and so the orchestra has performed to rave reviews ever since with BH audio as its audio service provider.

The open-air stage and auditorium in Torre del Lago do not accommodate suspended loudspeakers, so Carli used 98 speakers on 62 Soundscape outputs closely positioned behind the audience. “This loudspeaker arrangement, combined with our Lawo mc²36 console and the d&b DS100 processors, delivers a pleasing natural sound experience for the entire audience, no matter where they are seated,” says Carli.

“The mc²36 MKII console with its A__UHD Core technology gives me access to 256 processing channels, available at both 48 and 96 kHz, and can manage an I/O capacity of 864 channels,” Carli explains. “Thanks to its native IP technology, the Lawo console offers impressive capabilities and flexibility. We’re very pleased with the result – and most importantly, so are the Festival attendees!”

About BH audio

BH audio has been working in the field of live sound since 1979, initially in various types of music, then specializing in Classical, Operatic, Jazz and Contemporary music. BH seeks the highest quality in every aspect: amplification, sound diffusion, recording, streaming hence the desire for innovation and research into new techniques that has always been central to the company’s philosophy.

This has led to experiment with the use of immersive audio since 2013 and to be among the first to test Soundscape by d&b audiotechnik, with whom the continuous exchange of feedback has contributed to the active development of the platform that allows to reach a unique level of sound spatialization. Offering the whole audience the same listening experience was the most important goal and through years of experience with Soundscape they achieved what they had set out to do: a homogeneous sound that embraces and engages the audience naturally and harmoniously, as well as offering the sound designer or whoever is in charge of the sound direction a tool with great potential from a creative point of view. In the past year the research for an engaging and a natural sound even in the times of a pandemic, leading to an optimisation of our streaming techniques.