journal article·2025-07-29Open access

Simplified Fly Tower Modeling for Preliminary Acoustic Predictions in Opera Houses

Fabrizio Cumo, Umberto Derme, Sofia Agostinelli

Applied Sciences· Volume 15· Issue 15

Abstract

The acoustic field of an opera house is much more difficult to predict than those of concert halls because, in the fly tower, the absorption characteristics vary from time to time, according to the opera piece layout. For this reason, the paper aims to find a simplified fly tower model to be used as a fixed reference in a preliminary acoustic prediction for opera houses. Firstly, referring to a case study, the effects of the fly tower Depth and absorptive characteristics are investigated to identify the simplified model. As a traditional opera is set on an empty stage, and modern pieces are supported by a virtual projected environment, the influence of the variable stage elements on Reverberation Time RT, Clarity C80, and Strength G is considered, comparing the traditional Semiramide opera to a modern digital one, according to the Just Noticeable Difference JND. Results confirm the utility of the suggested fly tower model, which does not require any set definition.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Music Technology and Sound Studies · Hearing Loss and Rehabilitation · Acoustic Wave Phenomena Research

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

DIAEE Department, Sapienza Università di Roma, 00185 Rome, Italy

Department of Energy, Politecnico di Milano, 20100 Milan, Italy

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