Germany - Perched dramatically 454m high in Germany's Harz Mountains, the historic Harzer Bergtheater is an open-air cultural landmark facing extraordinary operational challenges due to its exposed mountain environment. Following a comprehensive five-year renovation, the venue's new management aimed to attract high-calibre performers and expand their summer programming, requiring a professional sound solution to replace previous rental systems.
The venue presented two formidable obstacles: extraordinarily steep audience seating demanding precise coverage, and strict safety regulations requiring complete removal of the main sound system nightly due to unpredictable mountain weather conditions.
"The venue presents a truly unique situation," explains Alexander Schad, CEO of session-pro, an L-Acoustics certified partner who collaborated with consultant Matthias Kreiner and Bodo Bergmann on the project. Planning commenced some three years ago, with the team initially evaluating various professional sound system options. The launch of L-Acoustics L Series provided the breakthrough solution they needed. “The L Series provides superior vertical coverage control for the distinctive topography while allowing for rapid deployment and derigging - essential capabilities for this unique venue,” notes Schad.
Soundvision played a crucial role in overcoming the venue's challenges. "We couldn't rely on standard deployment approaches," explains Schad. "The extreme slope creates sound propagation scenarios you rarely encounter in conventional venues. Soundvision allowed us to model precisely how sound would travel through the space and determine optimal placement for each component, particularly the X12 delay and surround speakers needed to ensure even coverage from front row to the uppermost seats."
The result is a versatile configuration featuring L/R hangs of one L2 over one L2D. The L2D, with its 60° of vertical control and progressive horizontal coverage from 110° to 140°, proved ideal for the steep audience areas. This main system is complemented by six ground-stacked KS28 subwoofers, three per side. 14 X12 speakers are strategically positioned - four each side and six at the back of the tiered seating area to provide comprehensive coverage throughout the entire seating area.
The most distinctive aspect of this installation is the custom-engineered steel arm construction designed specifically for this challenging venue. Session Pro Sales manager Holger Kügelgen explains: "We designed a specialised rigging solution allowing the technical team to safely install and remove the main L2 arrays daily within a tight operational window. The L Series waterproof covering provides protection during performances, while its efficient rigging design facilitates quick turnaround - critical during the busy summer season."
The new system has immediately enhanced the historic theatre's capacity to attract high-calibre artists - a key motivation for the investment. "We chose L-Acoustics because it delivers even, reliable sound coverage throughout the entire Harzer Bergtheater while remaining versatile enough for concerts, musicals, and theatre performances for years to come," explains Jerome Querfurth, event technical at Harzer Bergtheater.
The L-Acoustics solution transforms a natural scenic venue into a professional performance space that maintains its historic character while meeting international touring technical standards.