Quinette Gallay equips Shangyin Opera House
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The Opera House is part of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music – an institution which has been at the forefront of musical education in China since 1927. It has strong links to musicians and musical institutions worldwide.
In 2019, the Conservatory began work fitting out the new opera house, intended as an unmatched resource for both students and teachers. The venue would provide a place to practise and perform opera which would match the quality of a world-class opera house, with the very best interior, equipment and acoustics.
Embracing the concept of an opera house as a musical instrument, architect Christian de Portzamparc worked together with acoustician Albert Xu on this stunning space. The design was based on a classic U-shaped model, but was enhanced to improve visibility and acoustics for all audience members.
With its reputation for providing seats to the cream of international venues, Quinette Gallay was chosen as the seating supplier. Quinette Gallay worked with the architect, acoustician and client to produce 1230 very special versions of their Dune BI seat. The wave-form design of the chairs visually evokes the ethos of “the space as an instrument”. The acoustic perforations on the wooden seat shell, meanwhile, help to bring that instrument to life. In addition, translation screens on the back of each seat are key to the Conservatory’s spirit of international co-operation.
“We work with a huge range of venues in France and beyond, from cinemas and town halls to conference centres,” said sales director Chris Raaijmakers. “However, projects like this are the absolute icing on the cake, and this one is something we are particularly proud of. The conservatory’s investment in future artists is quite exceptional, and we were delighted to work with the client to provide seats that truly belonged in this stunning space.”
