DiGiCo Powers Saudi National Orchestra's Marvels of Saudi Tour in Versailles

Saudi National Orchestra And Choir's September 2025 concert at the Palace of Versailles blended Arabic and French musical traditions and a live broadcast workflow, with more than 250 inputs handled across dedicated front-of-house, monitor and broadcast DiGiCo Quantum 852 consoles.

Staged as part of the Marvels of Saudi Tour, the Versailles date featured a 64-strong choir and was transmitted live, with three Quantum 852 desks deployed at key mix positions. Engineers leaned on onboard tools such as the Mustard Source Expander (MSE) and the highly customisable surface to maintain rapid, precise control of every channel.

Formed in 2021 to strengthen cultural ties internationally, the Saudi National Orchestra and Choir has appeared at standout venues including London with the Royal Philharmonic in 2024, New York's Metropolitan Opera House and Tokyo's Opera City. Each programme is tailored to the host nation; in Versailles, two conductors led a line-up that paired traditional Arabic instruments like the oud with French mainstays such as the accordion, while the 64-person choir comprised 16 French and 48 Saudi singers.

French rental house MPM supplied the audio package, while sound engineers from audio solutions firm Loud N Clear managed the mixes. Brought in by Benchmark, the tour's event managers and producers, Loud N Clear has worked with the project from the outset. Founded in 1985 by Roger Bou Farhat, the company is known for exacting audio delivery and hands-on engineer development, and owns multiple DiGiCo systems, including SD8, SD10, Quantum 338, Quantum 7 and two Quantum 852 consoles.

"No matter the style of music, DiGiCo consoles just adapt; it's what we love most about them," Farhat explains. "One night we might be mixing a rock band, the next an electronic festival or a classical performance. DiGiCo consoles give us the tools to handle it all without compromise. They are flexible, reliable, and always deliver the sound quality our clients expect, which is why DiGiCo fits so well with the diversity of shows we do."

Broadcast engineer Ellie Itief, who has collaborated with Farhat for 24 years across a variety of projects, mixed the live transmission from Versailles, while Erick Deeb took charge at front of house. Although the repertoire shifts from show to show, the pair say their approach remains consistent thanks to the flexibility of the DiGiCo ecosystem. Deeb describes the Versailles date as a personal and professional milestone.

"I've used many DiGiCo consoles, and they are definitely my favourite. When we're touring, we can easily load our show onto any of them and the sound quality is always the same," he recalls. "I want the audience to feel the acoustic of room and the orchestra, so the PA has to feel invisible. Using DiGiCo consoles, I can go deep into details, so the sound is as natural as it can be. I can prepare with the offline software because it's similar to working with the console's surface. As I'm travelling a lot, I can easily build my sessions between shows, which is a real benefit."

For the broadcast, Itief focused on recreating the in‑room atmosphere for viewers. With 16 cameras covering the auditorium, she welcomed the chance to refine the mix for a remote audience while keeping the experience immersive and authentic.

"The acoustics of this venue is incredible, we both feel so honoured to work here," she expands. "We have huge amounts of inputs, so being able to configure the Quantum 852 exactly how we need it is a massive bonus. We don't need any external gear, we can rely on the on-board processing, EQ reverbs and delays. This tour has visited some incredible venues, many engineers would dream of being part of it!"

Those involved say the tour has been both technically demanding and deeply rewarding. Farhat adds that the consistency and resilience of the DiGiCo platform has allowed the team to concentrate on performance, even in an iconic and acoustically revealing setting like Versailles.

"The DiGiCo consoles have really proven their worth on this tour, and for a company like ours, they just make sense. They're reliable, flexible, and something engineers really trust. Whether it's a small show or a massive international production, we know the sound will always be top-notch," he finishes. "The flexibility makes managing an orchestra setup much smoother, and the reliability gives everyone peace of mind on the road. For a tour of this scale, that kind of consistency is exactly what we need. The tour has been amazing, the strong relationship and trust that we share with Benchmark is a real privilege and seeing the orchestra connect with the crowd for the first time makes all the prep and tech work done behind the scenes come alive. It's honestly unforgettable and reminds us why we love doing what we do."

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