The oldest active theatre company in the world, the Comédie-Française in Paris has adopted Riedel Communications’ Bolero wireless intercom system in a stand-alone configuration at its primary venue, the Salle Richelieu. The Bolero system replacing an existing wireless UHF intercom system used by production technicians.
Managing up to three set changes during rehearsals and the evening show each day at the 860-seat Salle Richelieu, the Comédie-Française requires eight-to-ten hours’ use its intercom system, making robustness and reliability crucial. In addition, with a rotation of 160 technicians, the company requires smooth beltpack setting changes for differenct users. Additionally, as the Salle Richelieu is more than 230 years old, new technology has to be installed without altering or damaging the building’s architectural heritage.
To meet all of these criteria, the Comédie-Française chose Riedel’s Bolero system, which provides fast and flexible configuration with reliable operation and high audio quality. The Bolero Standalone Application – a licence-enabled upgrade for the system — delivers plug-and-play simplicity, allowing up to 100 antennae and beltpacks to be easily set up and configured via a web browser without the need for an intercom matrix. Currently, the Comédie-Française is using 30 Bolero wireless beltpacks, while five antennae are deployed throughout the Salle Richelieu for complete coverage.
‘Riedel’s Bolero was the perfect choice for our operations,’ says Technical Director Deputy, Patrick Moch. ‘Not only has the system proven to be extremely reliable, but as a decentralised solution, installing it in our historic building was a breeze – all we had to do was place antennas where we needed them. And with the ability to connect up to ten beltpacks to each one, we were able to cut the number of antennas needed by more than half compared to other solutions. Furthermore, our technicians love the customisable configuration profiles, which make it simple to switch settings between different users.’
‘The Comédie-Française is a French cultural institution, and it is an honour to have our Bolero system playing a crucial role behind the scenes to deliver amazing experiences for audiences every day,’ says Riedel Sales Manager for France and Africa, Sébastien Gryspeert. ‘In addition, the modularity of the system will allow the theater company to add more beltpacks, an Artist matrix or SmartPanels over time, providing a future-proof solution as needs evolve.’
More: www.riedel.net
