Britannia Row Productions has achieved faster load-in than traditional stereo systems with L-Acoustics L-ISA technology
Andrea Bocelli’s recent UK tour featured a 7.1 spatial audio setup that loaded in faster than a standard stereo system. Provided by Britannia Row Productions, the system used L-Acoustics L-ISA Hyperreal Sound to deliver an intimate concert experience – even in arenas as large as London’s O2.
The tour featured Bocelli himself, accompanied by a 60-piece orchestra and 60-voice choir, plus special guests who varied each night. The presence of over 120 performers with approximately 100 open microphones onstage created a complex sonic landscape.
The decision to use L-ISA followed successful trials in Poland with sound engineer Jerzy Kubiak and system engineer Alessandro Cestaro. Their work demonstrated the platform’s suitability for classical music in acoustically challenging environments.
The system maintained the delicate balance between Bocelli's voice and the full orchestral arrangement even in a 20,000-seat arena such as London’s O2. In this venue, Britannia Row Productions deployed a comprehensive L-ISA configuration featuring nearly 100 speakers and 40 amplified controllers in a 7.1 spatial configuration. Central to the setup were L-Acoustics’ L2 loudspeakers.
The L2 system's cardioid design proved crucial. "L2 provides extremely precise high-frequency control, allowing us to direct sound exactly where needed," explained Davide Lombardi, Bocelli's front-of-house engineer. "The inherent cardioid pattern minimises stage bleed, giving performers better monitoring while maintaining pristine front-of-house sound.”
L-Acoustics technology bring artist and audience together
The L-ISA configuration's success lies in its sophisticated object-based mixing capabilities, controlled through the L-ISA Processor and Controller software. This allowed Lombardi to maintain precise dynamic control across the entire 100-speaker system while preserving the natural acoustic relationships between performers.
The success of Bocelli's UK tour represents a significant advancement for classical performances in large venues. "When an artist of his calibre turns to you after experiencing L-ISA and says, 'This is what music should sound like,' you know you've created something special – something that serves both the art and the audience in equal measure."
L-Acoustics technology is also changing the way outdoor events are heard. Learn more about how L-Acoustics is accompanying projection mapping projects in LIVE's Autumn 2024 issue.
Find out more about L-Acoustics L-ISA technology at l-acoustics.com/products/l-isa and Britannia Row Productions at britanniarow.com
Maranatha Community Church has opened its new 5,500-seat campus in Kempton Park, featuring Africa’s first permanent L-Acoustics L-ISA system for immersive, precise sound across the auditorium.
Room-acoustic strategy integrates the protected dome, Endure Screens Micro Pro projection surface and concealed HOLOPLOT immersive audio into one cohesive environment.
The humble media server has evolved into one of the most powerful tools in live production. We look back at where that shift began – and where it now leaves the industry
History has never been more alive – as demonstrated by the National WWI Museum and Memorial’s latest exhibition
Gareth Owen is the sound designer behind some of the biggest Broadway and West End tickets. He reflects on his expansive career, including Tony-award-winning work on MJ The Musical