Perched 454 metres high in the dramatic Harz Mountains of Germany, the historic Harzer Bergtheater is no ordinary venue. As one of Europe’s oldest open-air theatres still in operation, it offers breathtaking views—and equally breathtaking technical challenges.

Following a major five-year renovation, the theatre’s new management aimed to elevate its summer programming with world-class artists. To meet the demands of modern touring productions, they needed to replace a patchwork of rental systems with a reliable, professional-grade audio solution that could handle both the venue’s extreme terrain and unpredictable mountain weather.

Overcoming Acoustic and Environmental Extremes

Two major challenges stood in the way:

1. The venue’s extraordinarily steep, amphitheatre-style seating required extremely precise sound coverage.
2. Strict safety regulations meant the entire PA system had to be removed every single night to protect it from rapidly changing mountain conditions.

Enter session-pro GmbH, an L-Acoustics Certified Partner, working in close collaboration with consultant Matthias Kreiner and engineer Bodo Bergmann. After three years of meticulous planning and exploring various sound system options, it was the launch of the L-Acoustics L Series that finally offered the breakthrough they needed.

“The L2 system delivers exceptional vertical coverage, making it ideal for the theatre’s steeply raked seating,” says Alexander Schad, CEO of session-pro GmbH. “Equally important, it’s quick to rig and derig each day—an absolute requirement given the environmental conditions we’re working with.”

Designing with Soundvision: Every Angle Considered

To achieve consistent coverage across the steep audience tiers, the team turned to ISCVE Premium Supporting Member L-Acoustics and their Soundvision design software. It allowed them to model the venue’s complex topography and plan speaker placement down to the last detail.

The final solution includes:

• L/R hangs of one L2 over one L2D, with the L2D offering 60° vertical control and progressive horizontal dispersion (110°–140°).
• Six ground-stacked KS28 subwoofers (three per side).
• 14 X12 loudspeakers deployed as fills and delays across the seating tiers for full, even coverage from front to back.

Custom Rigging Meets Mountain-Top Efficiency

A standout feature of the installation is a custom-engineered steel arm rigging system, developed specifically for the theatre. It allows the technical team to quickly and safely remove the main L2 arrays each night. The L Series’ waterproof housing and quick-release rigging mechanisms are perfectly suited for this kind of rugged, high-frequency operation.

“We needed a safe, repeatable solution for daily setup and teardown,” explains Holger Kügelgen, Sales Manager at session-pro. “This bespoke rigging arm, combined with the efficient L Series design, lets us meet tight turnaround windows while maintaining professional standards.”

Raising the Bar for Cultural Events

The new system has already had a major impact. With professional-grade sound and reliability, Harzer Bergtheater is now attracting higher-profile concerts, musicals, and theatrical performances.

“L-Acoustics has completely transformed what we’re able to offer, it delivers rich, even sound across the whole venue and meets the expectations of international touring artists, all while respecting the unique character of our historic site.” Jerome Querfurth, Event Technician, Harzer Bergtheater

Find out more here:

l-acoustics.com