A Dazzling Aida High-power lighting and digital content reinvigorate classic opera.
First performed in 1871, the story of Aida is considered by many to be timeless, but even classics can benefit from a reimagined mode of storytelling. This point is perfectly illustrated by Opera Australia’s critically acclaimed digital production of none other than Aida, which incorporates integrated digital technologies to transport the audience in a whole new way. Opera Australia describes the digital set as, “Ten towering digital screens that create everchanging floor-to-ceiling set pieces. Immersive digital video design ranges from rich symbolism to vivid landscapes.” The five pairs of programmable UniView Tekken LED screens featured in the performance are 30-ft. high and 6.5-ft. wide. They glide around the stage on tracks and can rotate 540 degrees. Video images are delivered by 4K Tessera SX40 LED processors from Brompton. The use of digital screens as a significant production element presented some unique challenges to lighting designer John Rayment. “Screens are light emitting. Therefore, I am constantly adjusting the lighting to balance, as content changes,” he explains. In the core rig, Rayment installed a combination of Martin Encore CLD Performance (× 67) and Martin Encore CLD Wash (× 24), equipped with a 460W LED light engine, generating a luminous output of 39,400 lm. The Ayrton Wildsun S25 (× 9) is a major single source wash instrument, which can output up to 60,000 lm, via 217 × 600 lm RGBW sources per lantern, with a zoom range of 10 degrees to 60 degrees. All lanterns have a range of color temperature capacity up to 6000K.•
Aida, which takes place in fictionalized ancient Egypt, has a cast perform in front of 10 movable 30-ft.-high programmable LED screens on stage. © Prudence Upton for Opera Australia
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