Klaipėda State Music Theatre

Overview

The Klaipėda State Music Theatre (KSMT), established in 1987, is the largest professional performing arts institution in Klaipėda and the western region of Lithuania. Over the years, the theater has built a reputation for high-quality musical theater performances, including operas, operettas, ballets, musicals and contemporary dance performances. The theater’s expansive repertoire and dedication to nurturing fresh talent has earned it acclaim both locally and internationally.

In 2018, the theater began a major modernization and expansion project, demolishing the former main hall and stage house (located to the right of the remaining tower building) to make way for a newly designed facility. This modern structure now incorporates the new main hall called Sea Hall, with a seating capacity of 732, and the Lagoon Hall, with 164 seats. Additionally, there is a stage, foyer, new rehearsal spaces, dressing rooms, and additional facilities, significantly enhancing the theater’s capabilities. ADA-AMC, a WSDG company, played a key role in the acoustic evaluation and commissioning measurements for the newly designed spaces.

Program

The primary goal of the KSMT’s project was to modernize its new facilities while respecting the historical significance of the original tower building, used mainly for theatre administration. The newly constructed Sea Hall and the Lagoon Hall are designed to accommodate a wide variety of performances, including operas, symphonic concerts, and ballet.

ADA-AMC was initially involved in 2016, conducting a room acoustic investigation of the audience hall, orchestra pit, and stage house. After a long pause in the project, the team was re-engaged in 2023 at the request of Viktoras Mekas from Akustika Plius, who was overseeing the acoustic and stage machinery aspects. Commissioning measurements were performed in the main hall, small hall and orchestra rehearsal room, ensuring the spaces met the necessary acoustic criteria.

Design

The design of the new spaces at KSMT required a careful balance of acoustics, aesthetics and functionality. The Sea Hall features a unique clay ornamental pattern across its walls and ceiling, crafted by local artisans. This not only enhances the hall’s visual appeal but also contributes to its acoustic performance by offering surface variability that optimizes sound reflections.

ADA-AMC, in collaboration with Mekas and Gintarė Privedienė, also from Akustika Plius, worked on refining the acoustic conditions within the hall. The team focused on optimizing forestage geometry and ceiling integration to enhance sound reflection patterns and coverage. A key feature of the design is the openable triangular hatches, which allow for adjustable acoustics – creating an ideal setting for both orchestral performances (requiring longer reverberation times) and electro-acoustically reinforced events (which benefit from a drier acoustic environment).

During commissioning, challenges arose due to the reverberant stage house volume, which initially caused unwanted reflections back into the audience hall. Additional simulations were conducted to assess and refine the hall’s final acoustic balance. As a result, the hall and stage now offer well-balanced acoustics suited for a diverse range of performances.

With the KSMT now transformed into a premier venue with exceptional acoustic adaptability, capable of hosting world-class musical and theatrical events, the project culminated in the official pre-opening of the new Sea Hall and Lagoon Hall in April 2024, with some final work still underway on the stage machinery.