The Ukrainian National Opera controls its lighting with Avolites

La Antigua Diamond 4 It has been replaced by a D9 model. In addition, Its infrastructure also has a Q3 video server, and all video and lighting are integrated using Synergy software from Avolites. The old ShowSafe backup system will also be replaced with a Quartz console.

The Ukrainian National Opera, known as the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater of Ukraine, in honor of Taras Shevchenko, in the capital kyiv, has invested in a new lighting console Avolites D9 that replaces the old one Diamond 4, that was inside it since 2002.

Renowned for its elaborate architecture, his rich artistic career and his important role in Ukrainian culture and arts, The current National Opera was designed by the architect Victor Schröter in a neo-Renaissance style and inaugurated in 1901. The new D9 console was delivered by the Ukrainian distributor of Avolites, MegaShow, who also supplied the D4 ago 23 years.

The Opera maintains a complete repertoire despite the fact that Ukraine has been mired in a brutal war since 2022, and the lighting department is delighted to welcome the new console.

They were created approximately 500 shows files using the old D4 during its useful life, many of whom have transferred to D9 over the summer, explica Oleksandr Sasha Mayakushko de MegaShow, who was in charge of coordinating the delivery together with his brother, Sergius.

The Opera's internal lighting equipment consists of 16 Robe Tarantulas moving lights and around 400 conventional, and will be rented in special packages for some productions as needed. Eight have also been acquired Robe T1 Profiles.

In addition to the excellent service that D4 has received over the years and that all of its designers and lighting operators are familiar with the Avolites architecture, the Opera was also looking for a powerful console, flexible and capable of reproducing video and lighting perfectly, so the D9 met all the requirements.

There are five large format projectors in the room and the shows often include a video element using a rear projection screen and two or more screens on stage.

The new season will also incorporate a Avolites Q3 video server to the control system with artificial intelligence software, and all video and lighting will be integrated using the software Synergy from the same manufacturer. The old ShowSafe backup system will also be replaced with a consola Avolites Quartz.

The acquisition of the D4 was a great advance, since the Tungsgram was also analog, and back then all entry was manual and programming was done using a laptop.

“Once we switch to the Avolites console, computerization completely changed our workflow and everything became much faster and more efficient”, declare to Ihor Samarets, Opera lighting designer. It also meant that they could start using moving lights, which was another great advance.

All shows are produced in-house by the Opera and, in general, are represented 30 works throughout a season. Besides, tours are made, both national and international.

The first show that was performed with the D9 was the premiere of the ballet The Badly Kept Girl (The rebellious daughter), directed by Sasha, an experienced lighting designer and a strong advocate of Avolite control.

The opera employs about 800 people covering production and administration, and the lighting department currently has 25 full time employees.