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Il Divo anniversary tour powered by L-Acoustics

Multinational classical crossover quartet Il Divo recently embarked on their 20th-anniversary tour, bringing powerful vocal performances of their expansive catalogue of classical and pop music to fans across the UK and Europe. The tour saw the foursome delighting audiences across a diverse range of venues, from intimate theatres to concert halls and major arenas. As Headliner learns, the tour team’s challenge was to ensure precision and power, and to maintain impeccable sound, no matter the stage…

Event technology specialist, Adlib, provided full-service audio, lighting, and video solutions for the Il Divo Tour. Central to its approach was an innovative L-Acoustics L Series system, which proved to be the backbone of the tour's sound design.

The team selected the L Series for its superior sound quality and capabilities in handling Il Divo's diverse musical repertoire, but it also offered a practical solution for navigating the complexities of the tour.

"The reduced weight and size compared to traditional arrays meant more efficient truck packing," explains Richy Nicholson, senior account manager at Adlib. "While maintaining our truck count, the space efficiency gave us greater flexibility in load-in and load-out procedures. The system's quick deployment capabilities also meant reduced setup times and lower energy consumption during preparation phases."

Adlib selected the L Series for its superior sound quality and capabilities in handling Il Divo's diverse musical repertoire.

With an adaptable design, the L Series core configuration featured main hangs of up to three L2 and one L2D enclosures per side, supported by 12 KS28 subwoofers, eight X8, and four X12 fill speakers. For larger venues such as major arenas, the system was expanded to include Kara II side hangs with up to 12 enclosures per side and additional KS28 subwoofers.

For optimal sound coverage, the team relied on L-Acoustics Soundvision software which allowed for precise placement and configuration, tailoring the system to suit each venue’s unique architectural demands. In large spaces such as Amsterdam's Ziggo Dome, the system scaled up further to include K1 arrays for main hangs, while repurposing the L2 for side hangs.

"We ultimately selected L2 for its superior adaptability across varying venue sizes and types. The decision proved transformative for the tour's audio quality. The L Series adapted really well," Nicholson explains, highlighting how this approach leveraged L2's coverage capabilities to ensure consistent, high-quality sound throughout the tour.

Adlib system engineer, Billy Bryson, echoed Nicholson’s sentiments on how adaptable the system was. “L2 provided the best possible consistency when scaling between venues of varying sizes,” he shares. “Many venues which would have previously required a ‘split system’ approach, could be covered by a single hang of L2 per side, improving low-frequency control in these rooms. The cardioid dispersion pattern was key to keeping the stage sounding clean, and not interfering with the flown Kara II side-fill, which L Series manages to do without compromising transient response.”

L2 provided the best possible consistency when scaling between venues of varying sizes.

As the tour moved its way across Europe, the L2 continued to deliver. “The tour was quite varied in venue sizes and the L2 was able to fit the bill for the FOH engineer across the smaller-sized shows, all the way up to the Cardiff and Birmingham locations that Il Divo played,” Bryson adds.

Even for those unfamiliar with the L2’s capabilities, the system left a lasting impression. “I hadn't heard L2 before this tour, but it provided great coverage and the smooth high-end detail you expect from L-Acoustics. Scaling up to K1 was like meeting an old friend," shares Chris Beddall, Il Divo’s FOH engineer.

“Thanks to our involvement in a wide variety of projects, we are constantly seeking to provide our clients with the latest audio, lighting, and video technology,” says Tom Edwards, director of Adlib. “This commitment is evident in our continuous investment in sustainable products and solutions added to our rental stock, with the L Series being one of our newest additions.”

For Beddall, it was the collaboration between Adlib's team and the cutting-edge technology that made the difference on the Il Divo tour. "It was a pleasure working with Adlib,” he enthuses. “Their friendly, experienced team ensured even the most challenging days ran smoothly. This was especially true in the hands of Billy Bryson, who consistently delivered a fantastic-sounding system. Combining Adlib's expertise with an L-Acoustics PA made this tour seamless and enjoyable."

Scaling up to K1 was like meeting an old friend.

Image credit: Steve Sroka – Adlib