Comments on: Lighting An Orchestra

By: Bernie Davis

Bernie Davis — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:11:38 +0000

This is a very good and comprehensive summary of the problems that come with orchestra lighting in my experience.
Two points I would add – first soloists. They really need light from the audience perspective, and classical soloists are usually placed so they can see the conductor. That means they are so close to the orchestra there is little chance of the spill missing the orchestra players, and often the leader of the orchestra. It is a good approach to go to the players and explain that if you move the light you just move the problem to another musician. They need to put up with it or move back. Usually they put up with it when they realise why the light is there.
Second – period instruments. Older instruments such as Harpsichoprds are not so good at stability with changing temperatures. Get the lights on early and leave the levels alone. And speak to the players about it – they will appreciate your concern.
Finally, keep all your creative ambitions for everything off the stage. Classical concerts benefit from colour and design as much as any other – just not on the musicians!

By: Terry Hynes

Terry Hynes — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:35:11 +0000

I’ve been lighting orchestras for many years. This is the best article I’ve seen on this subject. I look forward to sharing this with my colleagues here at Centre In The Square and the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony. Thanks.

By: James Loudon

James Loudon — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:30:11 +0000

Now look here Rob – lighting orchestras is supposed to be one of my specialities and now you have gone and made it look all easy!

By: Rob Sayer

Rob Sayer — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 19:59:20 +0000

Hi J B, thanks for your kind words. If you’re still using P123s or P743s you will appreciate what good lanterns they were/are. “You can do plenty with twenty”.

By: J B Easson

J B Easson — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:51:09 +0000

Thank you for an excellent informative piece, and for other equally good down to earth bits on your site. I’ve been lighting youth group performances as an amateur for 30 years, and still use a kit of about 20 Rank Strand lights (including a couple of pattern 60s) and a 12-way Mini-2+ control and packs, and have managed to do umpteen different shows with that: last year it was ‘Sound of Music’! I’m tempted to add a few more lamps, but I’m not sure I really need them…
Keep up the good work.

By: HeavyLight

HeavyLight — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:17:39 +0000

An excellent primer, Rob.

The only thing I can add is that, where you can’t avoid the face-light annoying the cellos and second violins, it’s worth slipping half a cut of 156 to ‘soften’ the glare.

And to put the subject in direct context, for a recent chamber orchestra concert, I used three times the number of fixtures to provide down- and side-light for the musicians (plus a little from US onto the conductor) than face-light for the audience to see the turns.

Next up: how to light a piano recital with just two fresnels…