GIBRALTAR — The Rock of Gibraltar stands as a symbol of solidity and permanence, but it is actually hollowed out by more than 150 caves. The conditions inside the rock’s St. Michael’s Cave, recently outfitted with Community WET and R-Series loudspeakers, can also easily challenge the longevity of gear not up to the task.
Located in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve of Gibraltar within the overseas British territory at the southern tip of Spain, St. Michael’s is the most-visited cave in the Rock, receiving over a million visitors a year.
The largest chamber, called Cathedral Cave, has been used to create a unique auditorium and houses a permanent stage and seating for about 450 people. It has been a regular venue for events such as dramas, ballets and son et lumière shows, as well as the annual Miss Gibraltar beauty pageant. The cave is also used to hold concerts of all music genres, from operas and philharmonic orchestras to pop and rock.
Like the rest of the caverns, Cathedral Cave was created over thousands of years by rainwater that had turned into a weak carbonic acid by slowly seeping through limestone, gradually dissolving the rock itself. A lighting installation highlights the beauty of the cave, but conditions underground can be very hostile to technology.
The Community loudspeakers were chosen for long-term reliability and audio quality in the highly reverberant space. Along with the Community WET and R-Series all-weather loudspeakers, R2s are provided at FOH for the main stage in the Cathedral Cave.
For more information, please visit www.loudspeakers.net.
