The Philharmonie – home to the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra – is located on
the Kirchberg plateau in the City of Luxembourg and is one of the highest profile
cultural venues in Europe as well as a masterpiece of modern design by architect
Christian de Portzamparc, its 823 white steel column façade creating a natural filter
for those entering a world of music.
The Grand Auditorium can accommodate between 1250 and 1500 people; a
Chamber Music Hall (Salle de Musique de Chambre) has a 313 capacity and a
smaller Espace Decouverte (Discovery Space) theatre seats 180. All things technical
throughout the Philharmonie – including stage lighting, audio, video, staging and
rigging and all productions – are co-ordinated by Stage Manager Frank Reinard, who
is a very busy man!
The Philharmonie purchased 16 x Robe LEDWash 300s in 2014 with which they are
delighted.
Staging around 430 shows and events across the three performances spaces and
other areas over 10 months of the year, the equipment is in constant use, and
adaptability and reliability were key considerations, together with technical support
when it came to purchasing the latest moving lights.
Frank joined the Philharmonie technical team five years ago, and has been using
Robe products in his work since 2005, which was also the year of his first Robe
purchase for the rental company he was running at the time – the fixtures were
ColorWash and ColorSpot 250E ATs.
“I knew back in 2005 that Robe would be a “fixture of the future’,” states Frank.
“Now you hear so much about Robe! The product range is excellent and it’s really
great to see a properly innovative brand become so successful”.
At the Philharmonie, they specifically needed a fixture that was small, light and
quick and easy to set up, particularly in the foyer where a plethora of events take
advantage of the stunning architectural environment. In addition to the properties of
the light output itself, they considered things like the clear and easy-to-navigate
menu system.
The LEDWashes are used absolutely everywhere in the venue – for concerts, gala
dinners, environmental lighting, etc. They are used every day, and all the technical
team love them.
In the Grand Auditorium, the LEDWashes are frequently used to illuminate the organ
above the back of the stage, which reflects the architectural concept of having
towers of boxes with its 6,768 organ pipes grouped into “houses’. Created by Berlin
organ builder Karl Schuke the instrument can perform both classic and symphonic
organ repertoires.
Various other Robe moving lights are hired in as and when needed for specific
shows. Recently LEDWash 600s and DLSs were added to the house lighting rig for a
performance of the Tchaikovsky opera “La Dame de pique” which Frank lit. He was
under extreme time pressure and had to create around 150 complex cues in half a
day of programming, including the set up! With Robes in the rig he was able to
work very fast … and even conductor Mariss Janson was impressed with the silent
running of the fixtures!
The Robe fixtures purchased by the Philharmonie were delivered by Benelux
distributor Controllux in conjunction with their Luxembourg sales partner,
Showtrade.
