More than six years after equipping La Gaîté Lyrique for its reopening, Amadeus has upgraded the venue's main sound system with its latest DIVA M² line array loudspeakers. Designed to support increasingly ambitious audiovisual productions, the new installation combines a more compact system with higher output, improved coverage and greater deployment flexibility.
Located in the heart of Paris, La Gaîté Lyrique occupies a unique place within the city's cultural landscape. Originally inaugurated in 1862 and reopened in 2011 following an extensive renovation, the venue has established itself as a leading centre for digital arts, contemporary music and immersive experiences. Its modular Grand Hall accommodates up to 750 standing spectators and combines a flexible stage with 46 projection screens distributed across all four walls, allowing productions to transform the space in multiple configurations.
A sound system designed for immersive productions
As the venue's artistic programme increasingly embraced immersive video installations, the technical team began looking for a sound system that would integrate more discreetly into the performance space while maintaining the power and clarity required for live concerts.
The growing demand from artists and producers for immersive video installations led us to look for a more discreet sound system,
explains Jean-Marc Harel, Sound Department Manager at La Gaîté Lyrique.
We wanted loudspeakers positioned to minimise shadows cast onto the projection screens without compromising sound pressure level, clarity or overall sound quality. The compact size and visual integration of the DIVA M² perfectly matched our requirements.
The upgrade replaces the original front-of-house system with fourteen DIVA M² line array loudspeakers and four DIVA M² SUB low-frequency extensions.
The power-to-size ratio of the new DIVA M² compared with the previous generation is remarkable," continues Harel. "Its new proprietary waveguide, coaxial transducers and linear-phase crossover filters deliver exceptional linearity throughout the theatre.
Greater flexibility for a multi-purpose venue
The Grand Hall regularly changes configuration depending on each production, accommodating standing audiences, seated performances or retractable bleacher seating. This versatility required a sound system that could be adapted quickly while maintaining consistent coverage across every configuration.
The DIVA M² introduced a new variable-curvature rigging system based on a logarithmic progression of inter-element angles, making it possible to reconfigure the arrays more efficiently while reducing overall weight.
The new variable-curvature rigging system, together with the reduced weight of the loudspeakers, brings real added value,
says Pierre Le Cardinal, Front-of-House Mixing Engineer at La Gaîté Lyrique.
Whether the audience is standing, seated or using the telescopic seating, we can quickly adapt the system while achieving higher sound pressure levels, a more dynamic response and better coverage throughout the venue.
The compact dimensions of the DIVA M² also enabled the technical team to rethink the front-of-house layout. Two DIVA M² SUB low-frequency extensions were integrated directly into each main array, suspended from the same bumper as the line array. Adjustable between 0° and 10°, the subwoofers provide more precise control of low-frequency directivity while reducing the visual footprint of the installation.
A system that evolves with the venue
More than a decade after Amadeus first equipped La Gaîté Lyrique, the DIVA M² upgrade reflects the venue's continued evolution towards productions where sound, video and stage design are increasingly interconnected.
By combining compact dimensions, higher output and greater deployment flexibility, the new system supports the diverse programme of concerts, digital art installations and immersive performances that define La Gaîté Lyrique today, while providing the technical performance required by international touring productions.
