Riedel Communications Expands Role In Bregenz Festival

Riedel Communications has announced that the Bregenz Festival has significantly broadened its deployment of the company's communications and media distribution technologies, further embedding them into the festival's acclaimed lake stage productions.

The expansion centres on Riedel's Bolero wireless intercoms, Artist digital matrix intercom system, and MediorNet real-time media network — tools now central to coordinating the festival's increasingly complex technical demands.

"Riedel's technology has become absolutely essential to our operations," said Clemens Wannemacher, Head of Sound for the Bregenz Festival. "Every department, from lighting and stage management to props, relies on Bolero for clear, reliable communication. The Artist system gives us the flexibility we need to manage complex routing across multiple teams, and MediorNet has transformed how we handle video distribution. It’s not just about transmitting signals — it’s about creating a seamless connection between the conductor and performers, managing simultaneous rehearsals, and adapting to the dynamic nature of live production. These tools have allowed us to push the boundaries of what’s possible on the lake stage."

Known for its dramatic open-air opera productions staged on a floating platform with seating for 6,700 attendees, the Bregenz Festival aims to recreate the acoustic precision of an opera house in an outdoor setting. For this year’s production of Freischütz by Carl Maria von Weber, the sound team deployed 400 loudspeakers and 24 subwoofers, supported by advanced mixing consoles and directional audio systems to craft an immersive, highly localized sound experience.

The festival's in-house sound department manages an extensive technical deployment that includes more than 60 Bolero beltpacks, over 20 antennas, five Artist frames of varying capacities, and a full MediorNet distribution network. With the Artist system delivering flexible IP-based communication and MediorNet supporting real-time video links — including conductor-to-singer feeds and dynamic multiview layouts — the festival maintains synchronized communication and audiovisual coordination across its teams. Plans are already underway to scale these systems further as productions grow in complexity.

Systems integrator PKE oversaw the integration of Riedel’s solutions into the festival’s stage management infrastructure. The company’s expertise ensured seamless interoperability across departments and fulfilled the exacting technical and artistic requirements of the large-scale outdoor venue.

"Bregenz Festival represents the pinnacle of technical artistry in live performance," said Christoph Thalinger, Sales Manager Austria, Riedel Communications. "We're proud to see our technologies play such a central role in enabling the festival’s creative vision. The integration of Bolero, Artist, and MediorNet not only enhances operational efficiency but also empowers the team to deliver breathtaking experiences to audiences. It’s a testament to how scalable, interoperable systems can support even the most demanding production environments."

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