Amphitheaters: The noise within

The continuing success of outdoor performance facilities demonstrates that music and theatre can be enjoyed within environments which are much nosier than the silent indoor concert halls and theaters we know and love. However, there are limits to how much noise is acceptable. Design methods can be implemented to control the noise and significantly improve the listening experience. This presentation offers insight into the design of outdoor music venues and the management of noise as heard by the patron and performers. Numerous amphitheaters will be discussed, including the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, American Players Theatre, and Aurora’s River’s Edge, thereby offering examples of facilities designed for symphonic music, theatre, and popular music. The importance of acoustic considerations such as signal-to-noise, frequency response, and direction of arrival of sound will be discussed.