Director Franco Dragone’s new show Paris Merveilles (English: Paris Wonders) has
recently debuted at the Lido de Paris cabaret in France with a Meyer Sound system.
A lavish re-imagining of the legendary Bluebell Girls, the exotic production relies on
UPQ-1P loudspeakers and 1100-LFC low-frequency control elements to diffuse
balanced and robust audio throughout the chandelier-laden, 1,100-seat venue.
“With the Meyer Sound system, I can get even more SPL out of boxes that are
smaller than the ones they replaced, which expands the sight lines at many seats,’
says Steve Dubuc, primary system designer for Paris Merveilles. “The system was
chosen due to the number of constraints presented by the Lido design, including a
very low trim height. With Meyer Sound, I could be sure the sonic signature would
remain uniform throughout the space.’
A veteran theatrical sound designer who now runs his own consulting and design
firm, Dubuc’s past experience with Meyer Sound played a large role in his
loudspeaker choice for the Lido. “As always, I look for systems that have the best
sound and are the easiest to implement, and in those respects, Meyer Sound
products are the best I have ever used,’ he says. “The work John Meyer has done
over the last 30 years is simply second to none.’
The new Lido system deploys side clusters of three-each and a center cluster of
four UPQ-1P loudspeakers, in addition to two ceiling-mounted 1100-LFC elements.
Three clusters of three UPJ-1XP VariO™ loudspeakers cover rear
seating, and six UPJuniorTM VariO loudspeakers complete the main room coverage.
On-stage foldback and behind-stage cueing are supplied by two ceiling-mounted
MJF-212A stage monitors and four UP-4XP loudspeakers, respectively. A Galileo®
loudspeaker management system with three Galileo 616 processors handles
optimization and signal distribution.
The system was supplied by Paris-based Best Audio, Meyer Sound’s France
distributor. Marc De Fouquieres adapted Dubuc’s design to on-site requirements and
tuned the system with assistance from Cyril Ubersfeld.
“The management is thrilled with the results,’ reports Corrado Campanelli,
production sound designer for the show. “It’s great to hear people who have worked
here for many years saying, “The Lido has never sounded like this before.’’
After directing many prestigious Cirque du Soleil shows, Franco Dragone launched
his own production company in 2000 and has since earned accolades for Le Reve
and Celine Dion’s A New Day… in Las Vegas, House of Dancing Water in Macau, and
most recently the The Han Show in Wuhan, China.
Located on the Avenue des Champs-Élysees, the Lido de Paris cabaret has
presented spectacular revues with pre-show dining since 1946.
