The Stage and Below
The space below stage where the technical staff works is almost 13 metres (43 ft) deep; mobile stage decks lower sets and characters into this space out of the audience's sight. The central stage is made up of six decks, weighing 17 tonnes (17 long tons; 19 short tons) each, supported and powered by twelve hydraulic hoists, which can raise the decks, sets and performers above or below stage level and lower them to 8.67 metres (28.4 ft) below stage level.
The stage also features a self-supporting hydraulically powered back stage, which slides forward on two tracks, covering the space left in the central stage when the decks are lowered. On both sides of the stage, covering a wider area than the central stage, two floors are equipped with lightweight mobile wagons to carry sets onto centre stage.
The proscenium arch can be adjusted to different measurements. The orchestra pit can seat up to 100 musicians. The pit operates mechanically, with three movable decks allowing the orchestra to be seated on different levels and creating a proscenium apron when raised to stage level. Nowadays, the machinery below the stage still operates on a low-pressure hydraulic system, which has been regularly updated since it was installed in 1962.
The latest phase of alterations and modernisation of the machinery below the stage took place in 2006. Manoeuvring the gigantic mechanical elements with an unautomated electro-hydraulic system required important staff resources in order to guarantee minimum security. Automation of these components was thus a priority, as well as installing a new computer-operated hydroelectric system, which is synchronised with the fly loft machinery.
The Grand Théâtre technical staff took an active part in these refurbishments, along with external technical contractors called in on the project. House mechanics took apart and reassembled most of the essential works in the system, with their electrician colleagues refitting all the lighting equipment and rewiring it. The lighting control panel has now been replaced with computerised control desks that operate 500 electric circuits, twice as many as before the renovation work. The Grand Théâtre audio and video services completely renewed its equipment below the stage.
The cost of this project, altogether CHF 20 million, was financed by the City of Geneva and the Union of municipalities of the canton of Geneva. These renovations provide the Grand Théâtre with a state-of-the-art tool for the highest quality in contemporary scenography and performance. Stage directors working at the Grand Théâtre can thus achieve exceptionally high quality set changes and special effects on one of Europe's most efficient opera stages, which should remain operational until 2050!
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