In a bold fusion of cultural heritage and technology, an L-Acoustics L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound system has transformed the 600-seat concert hall of the renowned Mazowsze National Folk Song and Dance Ensemble, in Poland, into a fully immersive 360-degree performance space.
The transformation, themed “New Sound of Tradition,” provides a solution that surrounds audiences with sound from every direction, including overhead, creating a three-dimensional acoustic experience that brings Poland’s rich musical traditions to life.
Founded in 1949 and celebrated as an ambassador for Polish culture, Mazowsze’s intricate costumes, traditional choreography, and authentic musical arrangements honour centuries of cultural legacy. The 2024 sound system upgrade introduces the L Series speaker system in combination with L-ISA immersive technology.
The extensive audio upgrade encompasses both the main concert hall and the venue’s lobby spaces, ensuring high-quality sound throughout the entire facility. This configuration creates an enveloping sound environment that brings new dimension to traditional folk performance.
The project emerged from a comprehensive technology audit led by sound director & engineer Krzysztof Polesinski in collaboration with Mazowsze’s creative sound director, Piotr Przedbora.
After research into L-Acoustics newly launched L2 progressive ultra-dense line source array, including detailed auditions in Italy, and a tender process, Poland’s L-Acoustics distributor Audio Plus was selected to bring the project to life.
The installation presented formidable technical challenges, including the modification of a 4-ton ceiling sound barrier to accommodate the speaker array. Using L-Acoustics Soundvision software, Krzysztof Polesinski designed an intricate audio architecture that precisely maps sound throughout the three-dimensional space. The venue’s folding seat system, which compacts into two towers, provided crucial flexibility during the complex three-month installation process.
The main concert hall sound design creates a 360-degree soundscape through an orchestrated network of L-Acoustics technology. Seven individual L2D line source arrays provide detailed scene system coverage, while fifteen 5XT coaxial speakers spread across the stage lip provide spatial front-fill. Six KS21 subwoofers in a cardioid configuration ensure controlled, low frequency coverage throughout.
Twenty-one X8 and seven X15 coaxial speakers are placed around the audience, one X15 and four X8 on each of the sides, five X15 in the back and a further thirteen X8 overhead to complete the three-dimensional sound field, allowing sound designers to place individual instruments and voices anywhere within the sonic canvas.
Onstage, A10, X12 and X8 speakers provide monitoring [PK1] for the performers. The system is powered by an L-ISA Processor II and P1 processor, ten LS10 switches, and eleven LA7.16 amplified controllers.
The venue’s lobby spaces are also fitted with an L-Acoustics system designed for optimal coverage and aesthetic integration. The upper lobby features six 5XT, two X8, and an SB6i subwoofer, while the lower lobby is equipped with eight X6i and an SB10i subwoofer. All components were chosen in white to blend with the architecture, with the X6i speakers are near invisible thanks to L-Acoustics mounting solutions.
The lobby system is powered by LA4X amplified controllers and managed through a comprehensive DiGiCo control system.
Pawel Kuhn, marketing director at Audio Plus, said: “L-ISA technology doesn’t just break traditional audio boundaries – it eliminates them entirely, offering an acoustic experience that wraps around the audience in a complete sphere of sound, bringing them closer to the heart of Polish folk tradition than ever before. And of course, this is Poland’s first installation using the newest L-Acoustics product – the innovative progressive line source L2D. This, in conjunction with L-ISA immersive technology, brings Mazowsze’s sound to a new level.”
Jacek Boniecki, conductor and general manager, added: “This immersive sound environment represents a transformative moment in how traditional folk music can be experienced. While technology can never replace the soul of artistry, it can dramatically amplify its emotional impact. With L-ISA technology, every nuance of each musician’s performance is perfectly clear within the soundscape. The ability to place sounds precisely in three-dimensional space creates an unprecedented intimacy between performers and audience, allowing us to touch hearts and minds in ways we never could before.”
Przedbora concluded: “By surrounding our audience in a complete sphere of sound, we’re not just moving beyond stereo – we’re creating a three-dimensional sonic environment where every voice, every instrument, and every musical gesture can be precisely placed and moved throughout the space. With Mazowsze, we’ve created a venue where Poland’s rich musical heritage can be experienced with unprecedented immediacy and emotional impact. The only limit now is our imagination.”
