The renowned Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia recently implemented a new communications infrastructure utilizing a Clear-Com FreeSpeak II digital wireless system and the Agent-IC mobile app, supplied and installed by Clear-Com regional partner Oltbert Business Development.
The Mariinsky Theatre, noted for hosting opera and ballet performances, has a rich history intertwined with Russia’s political and cultural shifts over the last 150 years. It has seen the premieres of stage works from Russian composers such Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov, while many legends of the ballet such as Anna Pavlova, Rudolf Nureyev and Mikhail Barishnikov began their careers at the theatre’s ballet school.
The main building has undergone several reconstructions over the years and now seats more than 1,600 guests. A second theater building, the Mariinsky II, was built behind the original in 2013, with seven stories above ground and three below and an auditorium that can seat up to 2,000 people. Each building has a separate communication setup; when it was built, the Mariinsky II installed a Clear-Com Eclipse HX digital matrix system, but production teams in the older building were relying on outdated and unreliable walkie-talkies. Recently the theatre’s technical department began looking for a solution to update both buildings, harnessing the latest wireless technologies to improve communications.
“We were very happy with our Eclipse System in the Mariinsky II, so we were delighted to be able to integrate a FreeSpeak II Wireless System into it, giving us the same reliable intercom but with additional flexibility that allows staff to move freely around this large building,” says Alexander Logvinov, leader of the Sound and Video Department, Mariinsky II. “For the original theater we installed a new standalone FreeSpeak II system which has transformed the way our production staff communicates.”
The original theater’s new FreeSpeak II system has two E1 transceivers with eight belt packs, and its existing Eclipse Matrix was upgraded to an Eclipse HX digital matrix system with the latest software that enables it to seamlessly integrate with IP communications, digital wireless solutions and other devices. The FreeSpeak II system in the Mariinsky II utilizes six FreeSpeak II IP-T transceivers over AES67 PoE connection, with 16 belt packs. The Clear-Com Agent-IC mobile app on iOS or Android devices is also available to extend the system if visiting productions require additional clients. The systems enable virtually everyone in each theater to communicate, including FOH, stage managers, lighting teams and production managers.
“Clear-Com offers us superior audio quality and incredible flexibility, with robust hardware that can withstand the rigors of busy theater life,” Logvinov notes. “We also appreciate the local support we get from Clear-Com’s partner Oltbert, who are on hand in case we need assistance.”
Nicki Fisher, sales director, Europe, Clear-Com, adds, “Theater systems are in Clear-Com’s blood, but installations like this at such a historic venue are very special indeed. We are honored that Clear-Com systems are helping to bring the next generation of legendary performances to life at the Mariinsky Theatre.”
