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Figaro Technology Case Study:
Looking forward with nostalgia
 Gran Teatre del Liceu - Barcelona, Spain
The beautiful Gran Teatre del Liceu was built in 1830s and it burned to the ground in 1993. It was a tragic loss to Barcelona, but they decided to rebuild it, of course. Once the decision was made, the question arose of how it should be rebuilt. Modern or Classic? Looking backwards or forwards?
They made a clever choice - they decided to do both, to create a modern theater in the style of the original. The new theater captures the essence of the original, but instead of a historical house, it has a bit more freedom to do something more in touch with the future.
On the Plateau, for example, the seats were cast metal art deco reproductions of the original. They were fantastic, beautiful, from another era, but placing a Simultext® display on this seat seemed impossible.
Yet, by working with the famed Catalan industrial designer Estudio Blanc, we created a sculptural mount to attach the screen to the seat. This elegant design unified the displays with the seat while placing the screen in the most ergonomic position. This performing arts technology still delights audiences, a high tech amenity even used by those who speak the original tongue.
The Gran Teatre del Liceu was a brilliant opportunity with many design challenges – including the need for small personal displays to be set strategically, displaying the stage picture overlayed with the Catalan, Spanish and English text.
For more information, please visit Gran Teatre del Liceu
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“Figaro's titling system has elevated our new home, the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, to a state-of-the-art theatre. Our audiences are now wonderfully spoiled and their opera-going experience is world class thanks to this feature. It's hard to imagine any new or renovated theatre without Figaro.”
— James Robinson,
Artistic Director of
Opera Colorado Maestro Ricardo Muti, "They [Figaro's seatback displays] aren’t subtitles or surtitles. Instead, the display is a modern version of the libretto. Much in the way an opera afficionado follows the opera score with a small flashlight. In addition, they are a democratic means: you can decide to keep them on or turn them off.”
— Il Giornale 8 December 2002,
p23 Il maestro: “Prima della cultura ci sono I drammi della vita”
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