ProjectThe Royal Danish OperaLocationCopenhagen, DenmarkManufacturersRobeDistributorLight Partner, DenmarkInstallerRobeSubmitted byRobe
The Royal Danish Opera in Copenhagen has invested in 80 new Robe FORTE luminaires in a package featuring 32 x FORTE Profiles, 34 x FORTE Fresnels, 4 FORTE FollowSpots and 10 x iFORTE (IP rated) moving lights, as part of a technical upgrade to ensure that this high-profile venue can offer its productions and creative teams the most appropriate and sustainable technologies to create and craft their art.
Chief LX Sune Schou has worked at the striking and elegant Copenhagen Opera House for 5 years. The venue is one of the most modern such facilities in the world and is located on the island of Holmen in central Copenhagen. Sune is one of three Chief LXs based there and is involved with all aspects of lighting production across all the Opera House’s performance spaces.
Two years ago, Sune and his team – including the house’s two other Chief LXs and their four lighting operators – started looking and exhaustively testing all the options to find a good, bright, profile / spot fixture. They also consulted the opinions of some top-level lighting designers with whom they regularly work before making the final decision.
They rigorously examined all fixtures in that same size / class of luminaire which needed to match and exceed the capabilities – and the luminosity – of the previous lights and work well with the 28 metres trim height in the main 1700-seat auditorium.
Obviously, the new lights had to be an LED source, however the most important reason for selecting FORTE was the quality of the optics, and the resulting light coming out of the units.
Having the FORTES saves Sune and his team a lot of programming time as they all have the same light engines and physical attributes. It is also interesting to them that the FORTE is part of a whole family of fixtures. In addition to the FORTE Fresnel and PC wash versions, the TE family currently also includes ESPRITE and PAINTE, all using the same LED source technology.
Troels Oesterbye, one of the Opera House’s four lighting operators, is delighted to be working with the FORTES. He observed that it had become obvious that the old moving lights needed to be replaced during the last season.
Troels thinks the shutters are beautiful, which is a huge advantage for this type of performance.
Sune concludes that, naturally, great support and back up from the local distributor is essential. He thinks Light Partner’s service is exceptional, referring to Robe’s Danish distributor, adding that they look after him and his team and know the importance of finding solutions quickly and efficiently when needed.
