TALLINN, Estonia – The Solaris Cultural and Leisure Centre, a new arts, retail, and cinema complex, features glass walls and roof that lets in sunlight for natural illumination and heating. The center's primary venue, the 1,829-seat Nokia Concert Hall, has been equipped with Meyer Sound's Constellation acoustic system and loudspeakers.
The Nokia Concert Hall is a multi-use venue, hosting a broad range of events from plays, corporate presentations and rock concerts to opera, chamber music and symphony orchestras. The Constellation system's flexibility makes it well-suited to the varying acoustic needs, according to the hall's general manager, Aivar Sirelpuu.
"I think it is fair to say that Constellation is so flexible that it benefits almost every event we've had here since we opened," Sirelpuu said.
Linda Madalik, the acoustical consultant for the concert hall, agreed. "The sound in the Nokia Concert Hall is very natural. There are no zones of poor acoustic quality anywhere in the audience seating area. The acoustical conditions on stage are also perfect."
The installed system includes Constellation and VRAS processors, 72 precision-calibrated omnidirectional and cardioid microphones and 274 discreet loudspeakers, with Meyer Sound models that include Stella-4C, Stella-8C, UP-4XP, UPM-1P, and UPJunior VariO loudspeakers and UMS-1P subwoofers. A Lemur touch-screen controller serves as the control interface for selecting the appropriate setting from the presets.
For amplified events, the hall can offer a Meyer Sound reinforcement system tailored to the hall's acoustics. Anchored by a total of 30 MICA and M'elodie line array loudspeakers in a LCR configuration, the system also includes M1D line array and UPA-1P loudspeakers, 700-HP subwoofers and a Galileo loudspeaker management system.
"During our first two months of operation, we have hosted plays and ballet, conferences, jazz, musical theatre, as well as choral, symphony, pop, and rock concerts," said Priit Rebane of the Baltic Development Group (BDG), the managing partner of the Solaris Centre. "The Meyer Sound systems have worked well on all of them. We have found Constellation to be a great tool not only for acoustic performances, but it also works in combination with the main reinforcement system to enhance jazz and musical shows."
Although Constellation is normally turned off for high-volume rock music, an intermediate Constellation setting is often applied at minimally amplified concerts to add a "live" feel to the hall. This was the case for a concert by noted jazz singer Nino Katamadze.
"Nokia Concert Hall has been one of the best venues we have ever had the pleasure to perform at," Katamadze said. "We were amazed by the quality of the light and sound systems. The acoustics were sensational. We can't wait to perform there again."
In addition to Constellation, the Solaris Centre also features Meyer Sound's Cinema Experience in nine of its movie theatres. The principal designer of all audio systems at Solaris Centre was San Francisco-based Dave Dennison, with installation by Tallinn-based Eventech under the direction of managing director Tonu Susi. The center's principal architect was Raivo Puusepp Architects of Estonia.
For more information, please visit www.meyersound.com .
