The large outdoor opening concert for the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence showcased the London Symphony Orchestra, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and various soloists, performing Verdi’s La Traviata – and DPA Microphones’ new Reference Standard series of microphones.

Supplied by French rental company Texen, a selection of DPA’s new Reference Standard microphones, including the 2011A and 2011C twin-diaphragm directional mics, was called on to cover the various requirements of the performers.

A total of 18 2011As and 2011Cs were used across orchestral instruments including violas, cellos, flutes, trombones, bassoons and marimbas. Four 4011As and 4011Cs were used for percussion and timpani, with 4011-TLs for 22 violins and a harp.

For the choir, six 4098H hanging supercardioids were mounted directly on XLR adaptors on tall stands, angled downwards, while five soloists were fitted with 4088-F directional headset mics. Additionally, 4015C compact wide directional mics were used in a DPA D3 Decca Tree mount suspended over the stage, with another three used for horns.

‘We’ve been working for a long time with Didier Rupin from DPA’s French distributor Audio², to introduce DPA mics to our customers in the South of France,’ says François Mondié from Texen. ‘From the 4060 miniatures, through the 4088 headbands and through to the new 4099 clip mics, we offer them to our clients to raise the profile of the DPA range.

‘During one of the first production meetings for this event in March, I immediately realised that Texen would need some help, so I called to Didier from Audio². He understood our needs, and drew up a partnership agreement to work together on the concert. We faced the enormous task of updating the mic list given to us by the engineer Bernard De Almeida, as well as staff from the LSO staff, exchanging their entire mic list with the new DPA range.’

‘The Reference Standard series is for me unbeatable, with its elegant design, and an improved result over the DPA microphones I already knew,’ says Thomas Goeuriot, who was babysitting Bernard De Almeida at the concert. ‘My preference is towards the 4011s, with their very precise and neutral vocal tones. The 4015 capsules give a wide cardioid directivity, which was very interesting with the horns and gave us an overall sense of unity from the suspended Decca tree as well.

‘I don’t normally work with just one brand of microphone. Nevertheless, thanks to the diversity and quality of the DPA mics, the results were extremely satisfying. My thanks to Didier Rupin from Audio² and Michael Trolle from DPA for their work on this concert.’

More: www.dpamicrophones.com
More: www.audio2.fr