The Banqueting House

Read about how SFL used d&b E3's to solve a stunning but challenging venue

SFL are proud to be a recommended audio system provider for The Banqueting House in Whitehall Palace. Banqueting House Palace Manager Lin Kennedy again used our services for the critical 2005 Gala dinner.

History

The Banqueting House is the last surviving part of Whitehall Palace, the sovereign's principal residence from 1530 until 1698 when it was destroyed by fire. Designed by Inigo Jones for James I and completed in 1622, the Banqueting House was originally built for occasions of state, plays and masques.

link text. http://www.hrp.org.uk/webcode/banquet_home.asp

Challenging Audio

The height and sheer scale of the beautiful main hall present long reverb times that demand a well designed audio solution.

Our goal is to provide even sound level distribution and intelligibility to ensure that guest speakers and artists can be heard clearly throughout the hall.

Superb Solution

Our approach on the Gala Dinner event was to use multiple high quality (and elegant) d&b audiotechnik E3 loudspeakers around the room perimeter. Care is taken to keep acoustic energy away from the walls and ceiling space, delivering clear, direct sound to the listening audience.

Speech and Opera

After the dinner speeches it was our pleasure to listen to a solo performance from Jose Carreras accompanied by grand piano.

Lin Kennedy, palace manager and our client commented:

"I was surprised at how good the opera singer sounded with a microphone as they don't usually like to use one. But I think it was necessary with that number of people in the room"

Our subtle and sensitive reinforcement of the piano and voice did in fact help greatly. It is unlikely that any acoustic instrument or voice alone could command the space of the main hall with the ambient "guest noise" of the gala dinner taken into account.