Akustikon - Consulting company specialising in acoustics, vibration and AV engineering

Opera houses Concert halls Theatres Culture houses Educational facilities Industrial plants, vibration and structure-borne sound

			Opera houses
			The Gothenburg Opera (GöteborgsOperan) Akustikon was in charge of all acoustical planning for the Gothenburg Opera. The house contains a main auditorium with approximately 1,350 seats, a second auditorium with approximately 250 seats, rehearsal rooms of various sizes, a recording studio, etc. There were many acoustical issues to consider, and high requirements to be met. The aspects we dealt with included room acoustics, sound insulation, electroacoustics, and noise from installations and stage machinery. For a VR tour of the opera house, see the website of the Gothenburg Opera.	"The acoustics will be truly magnificent! ... The Gothenburg Opera will be a stage with world-class acoustics." Göteborgsposten newspaper, 10 Aug. 1994
		Computer model of the auditorium for acoustic calculation	Het Muziektheater Amsterdam Extensive evaluations were conducted (in three phases) to improve the theatre's acoustics. The main acoustic problem was the sound of the orchestra, which lacked brilliance and intensity. The fan-shaped auditorium, with its wide proscenium arch, had inadequate lateral reflections. In addition, the ceiling area was completely broken up into facets. We performed extensive ray calculations, and, on the basis of these, suggested that reflectors be installed in the ceiling and along the side walls, and changes made to the orchestra pit. However, these proposals could not be fully implemented due to conflicting lighting requirements. A new chorus room was also planned in connection with these evaluations. Read more about the opera house at the website of Het Muziektheater.
			Teatro Garcia Lorca, National Opera House, Havana, Cuba Teatro Garcia Lorca is a large, classic opera house. Akustikon was hired for consultation on improving the room acoustics of the auditorium. We performed ray calculations using our own programme, RAYCALC. We studied ways of improving the stage boxes, the balcony parapets, the balcony openings, the brackets under the balconies, and the orchestra pit.
			Niedersächsische Staatstheater, opera house in Hannover, Germany Dimensioning of air- and structure-borne sound insulation in connection with rebuilding of stage machinery (upper and lower machinery). Consulting on choice and design of motors, gears, winches and fly facilities. Follow-up through sound and vibration measurement. (For Novoscen AB).Read more at the website of NSH.
			The Royal Swedish Opera, Stockholm (Kungliga Operan), Sweden Study of orchestra pit - auditorium acoustics, in collaboration with Danish acoustics expert Anders Christian Gade and conductors Siegfrid Köhler and B. Tommy Andersson. Besides the acoustics, we also studied issues such as orchestra positioning, playing style, etc. Extensive background material from some 50 opera houses worldwide. Conversion of the Rotunda Hall (Rotundan) into an orchestra rehearsal hall. Acoustical testing of four different damping levels, with the orchestra. Planning of a new, large rehearsal hall. Read more at the website of the Royal Swedish Opera.
			Dalhalla Theatre, Rättvik, Sweden An open-air arena in a disused lime quarry, with approximately 4,500 fixed seats. Although the theatre is renowned for its attractive acoustics, electroacoustical amplification of both the singers and the orchestra were previously required for opera performances. Akustikon planned the new stage with a new ceiling and orchestra pit. As a result, no amplification whatsoever is now required for opera performances. Read more at the website of Dalhalla Theatre.

	Akustikon, a team at Norconsult AB Theres Svenssons gata 11, Box 8774,402 76 Gothenburg, Sweden Tel +46 (0)31-700 10 90, Fax +46 (0)31-50 70 15 info@akustikon.se ©2009 Akustikon/Norconsult AB