Brucknerhaus Linz switches to LED lighting with ETC

The Brucknerhaus Linz, one of Austria’s most prestigious cultural venues, recently completed a significant transition from halogen to LED lighting. First opened in 1974 with a concert by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra under Herbert von Karajan, the venue remains a key player in the European cultural scene. After extensive planning and testing, the concert hall has now installed LED technology from ETC’s Irideon and ArcSystem series, revolutionizing the hall, work, and orchestra lighting systems.

The energy-saving potential of LED technology had long attracted the interest of the Brucknerhaus team. "We conducted a lot of tests," says Wolfgang Friedinger, Head of Lighting at Brucknerhaus Linz, "but nothing really satisfied us until we discovered ETC’s ArcSystem." After successful trials, the decision to move forward was swift. ETC’s ArcSystem met one of the most crucial requirements for theatre operations: impeccable dimming performance with Red Shift effect. "You’d honestly believe you were looking at halogen fixtures," Friedinger remarked. This was no surprise, as ArcSystem fixtures excel even in the critical low range of 0 to 10 percent, delivering smooth, consistent dimming without any flickering.

The redesign of the orchestra lighting also involved close consultation with the musicians. The orchestra members specified how much light they needed on their music stands, and the LED upgrade met their exact needs. “The musicians didn’t even notice the switch to LED technology,” Friedinger noted, “which is the highest compliment we could receive.”

The Grand and Medium Halls (including work and orchestra lighting) are now illuminated by various models from ETC’s ArcSystem Pro range, ensuring both high quality and cost-efficiency. Additionally, Brucknerhaus Linz relies on ETC’s advanced lighting control systems, including Mosaic architectural controls and Eos family consoles such as Gio and Gio @5.

Installed Systems at Brucknerhaus Linz:

• 30x Irideon WLZ 3000K (accent lighting under the balcony)
• 99x ArcSystem Pro Eight-Cell, Fade-to-Warm, 3000K (hall lighting)
• 75x ArcSystem Pro Four-Cell Linear, Fade-to-Warm, 3000K (orchestra lighting over the stage)
• 48x ArcSystem Pro Two-Cell, Fade-to-Warm, 3000K
• 140x ArcSystem Pro One-Cell Small, Fade-to-Warm, 3000K, 60° (under-balcony hall lighting)
• 140x ArcSystem D1 drivers