Alas, for the casual tourist, this architectural jewel is not open to the public. Built more than a half-century ago during the Soviet era, the deteriorating theatre was painstakingly refurbished before it was turned over to the MTN, Azerbaijan's national intelligence agency. (MTN's closest English alphabet transliteration is Milli Tehlukesizlik Nazirliyi.) MTN now uses the venue for hosting high-level government conferences and for entertaining foreign dignitaries on state visits.
"With such important audiences in mind, everything had to be of the highest quality," recounts Firat Akin of Telesine in Istanbul, Turkey, the supplier of audio, video, and stage lighting systems. "For that reason, we never considered anything other than a Meyer Sound solution."
The Meyer Sound system adapts to a variety of uses, including 5.1 cinema surround as well as conferences and concerts. In addition to two arrays of six M'elodie loudspeakers per side, the system comprises four 600-HP subwoofers, ten UPM-1P loudspeakers on the side walls for surround, plus two more UPM-1P loudspeakers for monitoring at FOH mix. For 5.1 cinema surround applications, two portable UPA-1P loudspeakers and two additional 600-HP subwoofers are placed behind the screen. Stage monitoring is courtesy of two UPA-1P loudspeakers, four UM-100P, and four USM-100P stage monitors.
Regarding the selection of the M'elodie, Akin says: "Concerts will be either classical or traditional Azerbaijani folk music, so the M'elodies will have ample power." It was also important that the arrays be as small as possible, and be custom painted to match the walls, as was done. The officials in charge are very happy with the appearance."
After commissioning the new system with a SIM 3 audio analyzer, Akin remained at the theatre during a personal examination of the facility by Azerbaijan's president, Ilham Aliyev. "I was asked to play a CD of Vivaldi's Four Seasons," recalls Akin. "The president appeared to be quite happy with everything. He told us that he found the system to be very impressive and the sound to be excellent."
The Meyer Sound systems were designed by Firat Akin, with assistance from Meyer Sound Design Services, using the MAPP Online Pro acoustical prediction program. Telesine also supplied the balance of the audio equipment, including Shure wireless microphones, a Digidesign Venue console, and Sennheiser infrared simultaneous translation system, as well as production lighting, HD video projection, and a three-way stage reconfiguration system.
(Jim Evans)
