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New Matsumoto City Hall - Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre
"Acoustically it's perfect," said Ralf Zuleeg an Applications Support specialist from d&b audiotechnik, "a typical modern, horseshoe shaped concert hall; slightly dry
for a small ensemble, but ideal for a full orchestra." Matsumoto City Hall (Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan) was originally opened forty years ago, the current
refurbishment project began in 1999, completing in the spring of 2004. Its grand opening will comprise multiple events covering the full gamut of musical performance, with the debut concert having been staged on 29th August 2004.
With Matsumoto being one of Japan's most historically significant cities, the intention had always been to provide a truly multicultural venue. Consequently while the
major objectives of refurbishing the City Hall were to have a true world-class operatic theatre and classical concert hall, they also chose to embrace the modern ethos of
multipurpose usage. This included the commissioning of a modern PA system to accommodate pop concerts, musicals and similar amplified events.
Yamaha Sound Technologies Inc. was selected to be responsible for the sound installation, with Nagata Acoustics Inc. providing the acoustic sound design, Mr
Makoto Ino their senior consultant elected to specify d&b systems. "We have experience of this company's equipment through our partnership with the Otaritec Corporation, who made the installation here. For us d&b audiotechnik was naturally selected as a primary acoustic product and system because of their established reputation; d&b systems with their good acoustic sound are used at major opera houses, theatres and classical halls in Germany and throughout the rest of Europe."
The refurbishment plan included a big concert hall with 1,800 seats; a middle configuration half that size, adjusted from the big hall; and a small salon recital room
with about 200 seats. Mr Fukatsu of the Otaritec Corporation brought over Ralf Zuleeg, from d&b in Germany. "The slight lack of natural reverb in the hall makes it
ideal for sound reinforcement,_ said Zuleeg. "We have been able to define a system based almost entirely on our flagship product, the F1222."
The system comprises a classic left, centre, right configuration on the proscenium bridge, with further F1222s and B1-SUBs mounted to the proscenium sides. "Some E3s are used for front fill, otherwise the shape of the room is so perfect there are no fill speakers out in the house. The result up to now is the best sounding concert hall system that I have experienced, and when some final adjustments to improve the HF coverage for the upper balcony area are completed, it will be perfect.
"This is a fantastic modern concert hall with great facilities,_ concluded Zuleeg. _Yamaha has provided the excellent PM1D console, the stage area has plenty of rigging points; any production would be happy to play here. It has been a particular pleasure working with Mr Makoto Ino of Nagata; his acoustical knowledge and advice on matching the needs of traditional Japanese opera and music to modern performance expectations has been invaluable."
17th September 2004
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