Press Releases

25Sep2025

Gemma Robinson

Queenie and Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava rocks Prague’s O₂ Arena with L-Acoustics L-ISA technology

Immersive audio technology enables uncompromised genre fusion across two sold-out performances for 30,000 fans

Prague, Czech Republic – September 2025 – When Prague's renowned Queen tribute band Queenie set out to collaborate with the Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava, they faced a familiar audio engineering challenge: how to preserve the visceral impact of stadium rock while allowing a full symphony orchestra to maintain its natural clarity and presence.

LA_Queenie_01©Ilona Gerasymova.jpg

L-Acoustics L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound technology, deployed by Czech Certified Partner Pro Music across two sold-out nights at Prague's O₂ Arena this May, provided the solution. The sound supplier was Pink Panther, a major Czech touring company and L-Acoustics K2 Partner. Queenie Relived: The Philharmonic delivered exceptional sonic integration to 30,000 fans, demonstrating L-ISA's proven capability to handle complex multi-genre productions at arena scale.

Rock Energy Meets Classical Precision Since 2006, Queenie have earned international recognition for their uncompromising authenticity, performing more than 1,400 concerts worldwide, including seven previous sold-out O₂ Arena shows, appearances at the Montreux Jazz Festival, and even Queen Elizabeth II’s official celebration. But collaborating with the Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava presented their biggest technical challenge yet.

"Traditional stereo reinforcement would have forced us to choose either the orchestra gets buried under the rock mix, or the rock loses its punch," explains Daniel Krčmář, CEO of Pro Music. "L-ISA gave us a third option - spatial separation that lets both elements exist at full intensity without compromise."

The breakthrough came through L-ISA's object-based approach. Rather than fighting for the same sonic space, each orchestral section was positioned and amplified to preserve its natural timbre, then distributed spatially across the system. Meanwhile, Queenie's rock elements maintained their characteristic power and punch through dedicated positioning.

Technical Innovation Drives Creative Success Using L-Acoustics Soundvision 3D simulation, the Pro Music team pre-modelled the O₂ Arena's acoustics to optimise coverage and predict the balance between orchestral clarity and rock power - critical for a venue where every seat needed identical immersive impact. Pro Music's deployment centred on five hangs of 18 K2 line array speakers across the stage, forming the main Scene system. To create width and depth, two extensions of 21 Kara II per side provided an exceptionally wide soundscape, while a further out-fill hang of 15 Kara II per side ensured complete coverage for the vast arena.

Low-end energy came from two centre-flown arrays of 10 KS28 each, reinforced by eight ground-stacks of KS28 pairs in cardioid, with 15 Kara II for spatial front-fill, delivered full-range sound with localisation. Processing was managed by the L-ISA Processor II running on a Milan- AVB network, with amplification via partially flown LA-RAK II units. The team also expressed their gratitude to L-Acoustics Application Engineers Thomas Mehlhorn and Christian Schmid, whose on-site expertise and guidance were invaluable in ensuring the system performed flawlessly. “They supported us all perfectly, and we owe them a big thank you,” added Krčmář.

Live sound reimagined The spatial design allowed audiences to distinctly localise every instrument - from screaming electric guitar solos to delicate woodwind phrases - while experiencing them as a single cohesive performance. Each orchestral section retained its classical character while supporting, rather than competing with, the band's rock energy. “L-ISA allowed us to build layers of sound with clarity and precision,” continues Krčmář. “The audience felt the rock energy at its full intensity, but heard the orchestra as an essential performance element, not just background music. That created true audio immersion – that would be impossible with a traditional stereo system.”

For the 15,000 fans each night, Queenie's faithful Queen renditions gained new emotional depth when interwoven with orchestral arrangements, all delivered through an envelope of sound that placed listeners inside the performance itself.

Setting New Standards for Genre-Crossing Productions This project exemplifies L-ISA’s capabilities for complex multi-genre live productions. The technology’s spatial processing enabled natural coexistence between rock and classical elements, creating a refined listening environment that captured both symphonic grandeur stadium rock electricity.

“Queenie are masters of their craft, and the Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava are among the finest orchestras in the Czech Republic,” concludes Krčmář. “Bringing them together required technology that could respect both musical worlds. With L-ISA, we didn’t just reinforce the show; we shaped it into something bigger than the sum of its parts. It was a once-in-a-lifetime performance.”

About L-Acoustics L-Acoustics has been shaping the future of sound since 1984 through trailblazing innovation. Our European-designed and manufactured solutions deliver premium sound experiences from the most intimate immersive spaces to the largest stages. L-Acoustics is the #1 brand chosen by the world’s largest music festivals and installed in over 13,000 premium venues from music halls, theatres, and sports entertainment to wellness, hospitality, homes and yachts.

Our team of 1,000 employees, including 20% in design, research, and development, conceives the industry’s most award-winning and transformative sound reinforcement technologies, including the modern line source array V-DOSC, L-ISA immersive hyperreal solutions, and the eco-conscious, performance-leading L-Series. These technologies have led to the company being honored with a Decibels d’Or and featured in Fast Company’s most innovative companies.

With major hubs in Paris, Los Angeles, London, and Singapore and a network of trained service providers present in 80 countries, our technologies power the most demanding live events and memorable sound experiences, from Adele’s Las Vegas residency to the world's largest sports events, from the Zaha Hadid-designed Guangzhou Opera House to the Philharmonie de Paris Concert Hall.

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Reader contact: Mary Beth Henson, Director of Media Relations, L-Acoustics 13, rue Levacher Cintrat 91460 Marcoussis, France Tel: +33 (0) 1 69 63 69 63 / Fax: +33 (0) 1 69 63 69 64 Email: press@l-acoustics.com / Web: www.l-acoustics.com

Editor contact: Gemma Robinson OLEX Communications gemma@olexcommunications.co.uk +44 7854 813 153

Media assets available here: https://medialibrary.l-acoustics.com/p?t=beh8lA2gk#/share

Related images:

1) LA_Queenie_01©Ilona Gerasymova.jpg - Queen tribute band, Queenie, and Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava play two shows Prague’s O₂ Arena with L-Acoustics L-ISA technology

2) LA_Queenie_02©Ilona Gerasymova.jpg - The L-Acoustics sound system centred on five hangs of 18 K2 line array speakers across the stage

3) LA_Queenie_03©Ilona Gerasymova.jpg - The Philharmonic delivered exceptional audio to 30,000 fans, demonstrating L-ISA's proven capability to handle complex multi-genre productions at arena scale

4) LA_Queenie_04©Ilona Gerasymova.jpg - Queenie have earned international recognition for their uncompromising authenticity, performing more than 1,400 concerts worldwide

5) LA_Queenie_05©Ilona Gerasymova.jpg - L-Acoustics L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound technology preserved the visceral impact of stadium rock while allowing a full symphony orchestra to maintain its natural clarity and presence

6) LA_Queenie_06©Ilona Gerasymova.jpg - The L-Acoustics spatial design allowed audiences to distinctly localise every instrument - from screaming electric guitar solos to delicate woodwind phrases

7) LA_Queenie_07©Michal Bernatek.jpg - For the 15,000 fans each night, Queenie's faithful Queen renditions gained new emotional depth when interwoven with orchestral arrangements with L-Acoustics L-ISA technology

8) LA_Queenie_08©Michal Bernatek.jpg - L-Acoustics L-ISA technology didn’t just reinforce the show, it shaped it into something bigger than the sum of its parts