Delivering such a high volume of performances requires a great deal of effort from everyone involved, especially the sound department.
"To cope with such an intense workload, our sound equipment has to be flexible, durable and very hard working," says Martin Lukesch, head of sound and multimedia at Volksoper Vienna. "This is why we use DPA microphones. For many years they have played an important part in providing the amplification for the orchestra, for actors in musicals and for actors and singers in every kind of show. Opera and operettas, of course, require no amplification - that's all down to the power of the human voice."
Lukesch adds that DPA microphones were initially chosen because they are extremely high quality, reliable microphones that are capable of delivering excellent sound.
"They also work beautifully with our Sennheiser D9000 multichannel digital wireless systems," he says. "In total, we have more than 200 DPA microphones, including d:screet 4061 Omnidirectional Miniature Microphones and d:fine 4066 Headset Microphones, d:facto Vocal Microphones and d:vote 4099 Instrument Microphones, which we particularly like because they clip easily onto any instrument and make no compromises when it comes to sound quality."
Volkoper's DPA microphones are currently being used for a production of Man of La Mancha, which opened on 17 October 2015. This famous musical is based on a book by Dale Wasserman, with lyrics by Joe Darion and music by Mitch Leigh.
Other recent performances by Volksoper have included My Fair Lady, Fiddler on the Roof, The Sound of Music and The Wizard of Oz. And in every case DPA microphones played a key role in the audiences' enjoyment.
(Jim Evans)
