L'Auditori, Barcelona
L'Auditori Barcelona was designed by Pritzker Prize winning architect Rafael Moneo and was inaugurated in 1999. Since opening, the hall has been the home of the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra and the National Orchestra of Catalonia and became the home of the Barcelona Municipal Band in 2007. These two historic ensembles have played a fundamental role in Barcelona's musical life since the 19th century.
Along with the 2 199-seat concert hall, Sala 1 Pau Casals and several smaller chamber music halls, L'Auditori centre is also home to the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya (ESMUC) and the Museu de la Música.
The Sala 1 Pau Casals concert hall, while considered to have good acoustics for the audience, was reported to have challenging on-stage hearing conditions for musicians. In January 2022, Kahle Acoustics was therefore invited to conduct acoustic tests to investigate the on-stage hearing conditions and to determine how the stage acoustics in Sala 1 Pau Casals could be improved. Listening tests using temporary reflection and absorption surfaces were carried out, with feedback gathered from the musicians in real-time as alterations were made. These tests resulted in a suite of measures to improve on-stage hearing conditions, including suspended reflectors, acoustically optimised side balcony fronts for musical cross-communication and additional absorption areas to improve orchestral balance and reduce loudness. Based on Kahle Acoustics' proposals, an architectural tender has been launched, with the stage acoustics improvements due to be carried out in 2024.
Information Sheet
Tuning/Intervention L'Auditori https://www.auditori.cat/
Location Barcelona, Spain.
Time Frame January 2022-March 2024.
Client Auditori, Barcelona.
Architect(s) Original Design Architect (1987-1999): Rafael Moneo, Madrid, Spain rafaelmoneo.com • Stage Acoustics Improvements: AIA (Activitats Installacions Arquitectòniques), Barcelona www.aia.cat • Oriol Esteller, Construcció i Control, Barcelona construccioicontrol.com
Venues Sala 1 Pau Casals concert hall with 2 199 seats. (Halls 2-4, music conservatory and music museum not part of Kahle Acoustics' scope.)
Uses Symphonic music, chamber music, jazz, electronic music, Flamenco and contemporary music.
Services Room acoustics consultancy services for stage acoustics improvements, listening tests and mockups, measurements, acoustical feasibility study, input to architectural tender. Construction supervision and tuning/commissioning to be completed in 2024.
Consultants Eckhard Kahle, Thomas Wulfrank, Vincent Berrier, Evan Green, Cees Mulder, Kahle Acoustics.
Press
Rendering of Sala 1 Pau Casals from the top balcony: The suspended acoustic reflectors, acoustically optimized balcony fronts next the stage and additional absorption in the rear of the stage improve musical communication within the orchestra, reduce loudness on stage and enhance orchestral balance, while maintaining the excellent acoustics in the audience area. Photo © AIA
Rendering showing the stage acoustics improvements, including suspended wooden acoustic reflectors; acoustically optimized tilted and convex curved side balcony fronts for improved musical communication across the stage; acoustically optimized choir benches and micro-perforated wood panels in the rear niche to provide absorption behind the brass and percussion to improve orchestra balance and reduce loudness. Photo © AIA