Riedel Communications has announced that its Bolero wireless intercom has been implemented for crew communications at the Opéra de Lille, a neoclassical opera house in Lille, France that was built between 1907 and 1913 and inaugurated in 1923.
“Outstanding wireless communications are vital for the day-to-day operation of our theatre,” says Anthony Toulotte, Audio and Video Stage Manager, Opera de Lille. “When it came time to upgrade from legacy UHF technology to the state of the art, we searched for an intercom that could provide optimal functionality and minimal latency in the license-free 1.9 GHz frequency range. That led us to DECT solutions. Bolero was the clear winner in our deep technical analysis of DECT-based wireless solutions, which included comprehensive coverage and audio quality testing.”
The stand-alone Bolero system at the Opéra de Lille consists of 20 wireless beltpacks and seven antennas connected in a ring topology to enable full coverage of the opera house. Like many historic structures, the Opéra de Lille lacks a modern Cat-7/Cat-8 infrastructure; therefore, the facility utlizes Riedel’s NSA-002A Network Stream Adapter interface to facilitate bidirectional audio signal transport over RJ45 wiring. While the previous system only allowed for two conferences, Bolero enables up to six channels to be designated to different user groups, such as stage, lighting, and sound.
“The Opéra de Lille project is a great example of how wireless communications play an essential role in live performance, but beyond that it’s a real showcase of the power of our Bolero system,” concludes Franck Berger, General Manager, Riedel France & Africa. “In addition to its extreme user friendliness and high density, with a single antenna capable of supporting 10 beltpacks, Bolero offers the industry’s most comprehensive coverage through its patented Advanced DECT Receiver technology. By reducing sensitivity to multipath RF reflections, this technology makes Bolero perfect for installations with challenging RF environments — like historic theatres.”
