Mazowsze National Ensemble unveils 360° L-ISA immersive sound experience

Mazowsze National Folk Song and Dance Ensemble has transformed its 600-seat concert hall into a fully immersive, 360-degree performance space, Poland’s first to combine L-ISA technology with L-Acoustics’ newest L Series progressive ultra-dense line array loudspeakers.

The transformation, themed New Sound of Tradition, centres on the installation of an L-Acoustics L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound system - a sophisticated solution that surrounds audiences with sound from every direction, including overhead, creating an unprecedented three-dimensional acoustic experience that brings Poland's rich musical traditions to life.

Founded in 1949 and celebrated globally as an ambassador for Polish culture, Mazowsze has consistently balanced preservation with innovation in its mission to share Poland's folk heritage.

While the ensemble's intricate costumes, traditional choreography, and authentic musical arrangements honour centuries of cultural legacy, Mazowsze has embraced technological advancement to amplify the impact of its artistry. The 2024 sound system upgrade marks another significant milestone, introducing the innovative L Series speaker system in combination with L-ISA immersive technology.

The extensive audio upgrade encompasses both the main concert hall and the venue’s lobby spaces, ensuring a seamless, high-quality sound experience throughout the entire facility. This state-of-the-art configuration creates an enveloping sound environment that reportedly brings a new dimension to traditional folk performance, while maintaining the authenticity that is central to Mazowsze's mission.

The visionary project emerged from a comprehensive technology audit led by sound director and engineer Krzysztof Polesinski, in collaboration with Mazowsze's creative sound director, Piotr Przedbora. After extensive research into L-Acoustics' newly launched L2 progressive ultra-dense line source array, including detailed auditions in Italy and a rigorous tender process, Poland's L-Acoustics distributor Audio Plus was selected to bring this project to life.

"Our mission was to create a sound system worthy of Mazowsze's extraordinary artistic legacy, while honoring the sound design principles established by the late Ewa Więckowska-Kosmala, who we had the honour to work with many times," said Pawel Kuhn, marketing director at Audio Plus.

"L-ISA technology doesn't just break traditional audio boundaries - it eliminates them entirely, offering an acoustic experience that wraps around the audience in a complete sphere of sound, bringing them closer to the heart of Polish folk tradition than ever before. And, of course, this is Poland’s first installation using the newest L-Acoustics product – the innovative progressive line source L2D. This, in conjunction with L-ISA immersive technology, brings Mazowsze’s sound to a new level."

The installation presented formidable technical challenges, including the modification of a 4-ton ceiling sound barrier to accommodate the speaker array. Using L-Acoustics Soundvision software, Krzysztof Polesinski designed an intricate audio architecture that precisely maps sound throughout the three-dimensional space. The venue's folding seat system, which compacts into two towers, provided crucial flexibility during the complex three-month installation process.

The main concert hall's sound design creates a true 360-degree soundscape through a precisely orchestrated network of L-Acoustics technology. Seven individual L2D line source arrays provide detailed Scene System coverage, while 15 x 5XT coaxial speakers spread across the stage lip provide spatial front-fill. Six KS21 subwoofers in a cardioid configuration ensure controlled, low-frequency coverage throughout. 21 x X8 and seven X15 coaxial speakers are placed around the audience, one X15 and four X8 on each of the sides, five X15 in the back and a further 13 X8 overhead to complete the three-dimensional sound field, allowing sound designers to place individual instruments and voices anywhere within the sonic canvas.

Onstage, A10, X12 and X8 speakers provide monitoring [PK1] for the performers. The system is powered by an L-ISA Processor II and P1 processor, 10 x LS10 switches, and 11 x LA7.16 amplified controllers.

The venue's lobby spaces are also fitted with an L-Acoustics system designed for optimal coverage and aesthetic integration. The upper lobby features six 5XT, two X8, and an SB6i subwoofer, while the lower lobby is equipped with eight X6i and an SB10i subwoofer. All components were chosen in white to blend seamlessly with the architecture, with the X6i speakers near invisible thanks to L-Acoustics mounting solutions. The lobby system is powered by LA4X amplified controllers and managed through a comprehensive DiGiCo control system, ensuring precise sound management throughout these hospitality spaces.

"This immersive sound environment represents a transformative moment in how traditional folk music can be experienced," said conductor and general manager Jacek Boniecki. "While technology can never replace the soul of artistry, it can dramatically amplify its emotional impact. With L-ISA technology, every nuance of each musician's performance is perfectly clear within the soundscape. The ability to place sounds precisely in three-dimensional space creates an unprecedented intimacy between performers and audience, allowing us to touch hearts and minds in ways we never could before."

“With this technology, the listener can be a part of the event, while for production it opens up completely new possibilities. We can be more creative. We can work even better on each instrument because suddenly we can hear more details,” said Polesinski.

"We've moved beyond a simple technological upgrade into a new realm of artistic possibility," added Przedbora. "By surrounding our audience in a complete sphere of sound, we're not just moving beyond stereo - we're creating a three-dimensional sonic environment where every voice, every instrument, and every musical gesture can be precisely placed and moved throughout the space. With Mazowsze, we've created a venue where Poland's rich musical heritage can be experienced with unprecedented immediacy and emotional impact. The only limit now is our imagination."