Allen & Heath GLD handles audio for ‘Elvis – The Ultimate Performance’

An Allen & Heath GLD system was selected to manage FOH and monitors for Elvis – The Ultimate Performance, which was staged recently at the London Palladium.

The show ran off AR2412 and AR84 input expander units, with 28 inputs on stage and three inputs into the GLD-80 mixer for playback and talkback.

Elvis – The Ultimate Performance stars ‘the world’s leading Elvis performer’, Chris Connor, accompanied by a band made up of drums; bass; rhythm and lead guitar; keys and synth; a dedicated wind band; brass section with saxophone, flute, trumpet and trombone; plus four backing vocalists.

The GLD-80 was fitted with a Dante card, enabling a previous multi-track recording of the show to be played back for a virtual sound check.

“It’s a great advantage when going to a new venue to be able to hear the PA as if the band were playing on stage. GLD also makes it easy to switch between Dante and the Stagebox inputs,” explained the show’s sound designer, Tom Cox.

Cox also made use of the new GLD iPad app – GLD Remote.

“The Palladium’s FOH mix position mainly receives sound from the delay speakers, so the iPad allowed me to move around the auditorium during set up and hear what the show would sound like in different seats. It also improved monitor set up, as I could EQ monitors on stage and set mixes with the musicians as they heard it too,” he revealed.

The show recreated two landmark performances in Elvis’ career – the ’68 Comeback Special and the Aloha from Hawaii – and featured some of his greatest hits, including Suspicious Minds, Heartbreak Hotel, Blues Suede Shoes, Jailhouse Rock and Love Me Tender.

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