DiGiCo Consoles Star in Brazilian Production

Originally performed on Broadway in 1983, “Baby – A Musical” recently opened for the first time in Brazil. Its run in Rio’s João Caetano Theatre also marks the first use of a DiGiCo console on a Brazilian musical, with an SD8 the choice of sound designer Fernando Fortes. The original production was nominated for seven Tony awards and has seen three subsequent productions, two in the U.S. and one in the Philippines. Produced by Tadeu Aguiar and Eduardo Bakr, the new Brazilian version is being staged in Rio’s oldest theatre.

“For some time I have been encouraged by friends like David Patridge in New York and Nick Lidster in England to try DiGiCo consoles,” says Fortes. “This show was the ideal production and so I looked at the different options, settling on the SD8 as the right choice for the job.”

Supplied by rental company Loudness Sonorização, the SD8 made an immediate impact on Fortes. “Besides all the console’s many wonderful features, I was astonished when I turned up the first gain encoder during the first orchestral sound check,” he says. “My reaction was ‘Wow, this is a really great console!’ The sound is amazing and mixing with it feels just like using an analog desk.”

Complementing the SD8 is a carefully selected range of equipment, including Meyer Sound loudspeakers, Sennheiser cast microphones and wireless systems, plus Sennheiser/Neumann orchestra mics.

“Reviews of the sound from both critics and audiences couldn’t be better,” says Fortes. “The comments are all about the clarity and natural sound of the actors’ voices, without losing any of the punch and energy of the 11-piece orchestra.

“I’m very happy with it, I can’t imagine using another console for my projects now.”