“This weekend, patrons of the Oregon Symphony will likely be checking their ears when they experience the opening concert of the season,” writes James Bash in Monday’s (9/27) Oregonian. “That’s because the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, the symphony’s Portland home, has undergone a complete revamping of its acoustics with the installation of the Constellation Acoustic System, a technologically advanced sound system tailored for the historic building…. Developed by Meyer Sound … the Constellation Acoustic System uses microphones to pick up sound that is digitally processed and sent to loudspeakers throughout the hall. Meyer Sound has employed its Constellation system in 150 venues around the world, but the Schnitzer installation represents the first time a major orchestra has used it in its primary venue, according to Scott Showalter, Oregon Symphony president and CEO…. The building’s original design as a vaudeville hall and then movie theater did not meet modern requirements for quality acoustical support for unamplified, live instrumental music…. The musicians gave a glowing assessment of the new sound system…. The Constellation system should get a good workout during the symphony’s season premiere Saturday … after [the orchestra’s] 19-month hiatus because of the pandemic.”
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