Posted to News on 15th Dec 2011, 13:19
Rexroth stage technology utilised in renovated Bolschoi Theatre
Rexroth stage technologies have been used extensively in Moscow's Bolschoi Theatre, which has been the subject of a six-year renovation.
After six years of complex renovation work, Moscow's Bolschoi Theatre will reopen in Autumn 2011. As general contractor for the powerful and versatile stage technology, Bosch Rexroth AG has planned, installed and put into operation more than 600 electrical and hydraulic drives, as well as stage control equipment for the over- and understage machinery.
It will be show business as usual once the Bolschoi Theatre, which has been declared a World Heritage Site, reopens. Sophisticated, state-of-the-art stage technology lies behind the fully retained historical facade, which dates from 1825. The external dimensions of the building had to remain unchanged during the renovation, so the stage area was completely gutted and a new room was built for the stage technology. The stage pit, for example, which holds the stage platforms, is now more than 20m deep.
The seven large stage platforms are impressive, even before the curtain has risen for the first performance: each platform has two levels and is 22m long, 3m wide and 10m high, weighing approximately 80tons. The hydraulic drives move smoothly up and down over a distance of 16m at a speed of up to 0.7m/s. And none of this can be heard in the auditorium; not only is the hydraulic unit extremely quiet, but Rexroth has also placed it as far from the audience as possible, in the lowest part of the basement.
Overstage machinery
The overstage machinery has a variety of functions. For example, a winch can raise up to one ton at a comparatively high speed of up to 1.8m/s. The audience, meanwhile, must not be able to hear anything at all from the drives during the movement. For this reason, very quiet machine technology is used here too, in combination with effective sound insulation. An additional challenge is to ensure safety: artists and stage personnel may be on stage while heavy loads are being moved above them. Sophisticated sensors and numerous software functions in the Rexroth stage control system ensure that dangerous situations do not arise.
Rexroth has already modernised the stage technology in a number of historical opera houses and has also equipped new buildings such as the China National Grand Theatre in Beijing and the Oslo Opera House. Follow the link for more information about Rexroth stage technology.
