‘Performance’ Upgrade for Hanover Opera House

Though constructed back in 1689, Germany’s Hanover Opera House has recently earned additional attention from the world’s opera connoisseurs.

In 1998, Werning Theatre Technology supplied the opera with a set of Martin PAL 1200s. Now, due to their satisfaction with the PALs, as well as a desire to upgrade the opera’s framing spot luminaires, lighting possibilities have been expanded with the addition of six Martin MAC 2000 Performance framing and animation spots.

According to lighting engineer Thomas Smith, intelligent lighting systems are becoming increasingly important to the opera experience.  Directors are increasingly opening up to the possibilities offered by such advanced intelligent lighting systems, such as the possibility of changing colors with an open shutter. In fact, a majority of German repertory theaters rely on Martin equipment.

Specially engineered for theaters
As a fully automatic profile unit featuring a mechanized framing system, the MAC 2000 Performance was specially engineered for use in theater. It opens up a host of production possibilities by offering a fully automated, micro-adjusting shutter blade system that enables the Performance to project angled shapes with hard and sharp edges.

Central to the MAC 2000 Performance is a unique gobo animation system, especially engineered to create animated effects such as rising flames, windswept clouds, driving rain and much more. A large variety of animation wheels are available giving lighting designers a wide range of artistic effects with which to enhance their shows. Furthermore, the entire animation wheel pivots, which frees designers to create complex animations that move in any direction.

Opera classics such as Rake’s Progress, La Bohème, Orpheus in the Underworld, Giulio, Mathew the Painter and many more are being enhanced at the Hanover Opera House by Martin’s industry-leading illumination.