The Gran Teatre del Liceu is promoting the modernization and sustainability of its facilities thanks to the support of the Next Generation EU funds. During the 2024/2025 season, the funded projects have made it possible to renew the audiovisual systems of Liceu OPERA+, expand the provision of LED spotlights, and update the audio room as well as the lighting of the main hall and the Hall of Mirrors. These initiatives enhance the Theatre’s technical quality, reduce environmental impact, and strengthen the Liceu’s commitment to technological innovation and sustainability, in line with its strategic plans and the most demanding European standards.
The Gran Teatre del Liceu is modernizing its facilities thanks to the support of the Next Generation EU funds, grants aimed at the renovation and sustainable management of performing arts and music infrastructures. The 2024/2025 season has received funding from the program, within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, to promote several modernization and sustainability projects that have been carried out over the past season.
The initiatives have been undertaken both by the Gran Teatre del Liceu Foundation and the Gran Teatre del Liceu Consortium, with the aim of enhancing the theatre’s technical quality, reducing environmental impact, and adapting to the new digital and audiovisual standards.
Projects of the Gran Teatre del Liceu Foundation
The Foundation’s project has been structured into two main areas of action with the aim of modernizing and updating the systems and equipment of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, making them more efficient, sustainable, and aligned with current technological developments. Specifically, the initiatives have focused on improving the editing and storage systems for audiovisual content and on renewing and expanding the provision of LED technology spotlights.
Improvement of the video editing and storage systems for the Liceu OPERA+ platform
Liceu OPERA+ is the Gran Teatre del Liceu’s digital platform that allows opera to be enjoyed from anywhere and has established itself as a key tool for accessibility, innovation, and internationalization. It is part of the Theatre’s audiovisual strategy and is fully integrated into axis 4.4 of the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, which focuses on the “transformation of the organization in the field of customer engagement to improve acquisition and loyalty.”
With the support of European funding, the Foundation has been able to acquire a new disk cabinet and a high-capacity computer that modernize the audiovisual production and storage processes. This investment ensures greater autonomy and efficiency in the creation of digital content, while also reducing the need to rely on rented external equipment or outsourced services.
Renewal and expansion of the provision of LED technology spotlights
The replacement of traditional spotlights with LED technology equipment represents a step forward in sustainability and technical efficiency. The new equipment enables a significant reduction in energy consumption and waste, as well as a decrease in maintenance tasks, while providing greater versatility in stage lighting.
This initiative aligns with two axes of the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan: axis 4.1, which focuses on “maintaining the Theatre’s environmental and energy commitment,” as it will reduce energy consumption, material usage, and associated waste; and axis 4.3, which addresses the “transformation of the organization in the area of product or stage to impact and transform the audience,” as it will improve and increase the efficiency of lighting tasks for various productions.
The new LED spotlight provision, which is lighter, more compact, and in some cases robotic, allows technical work to be streamlined and creative options expanded. In addition, LED technology eliminates the need for lamps and color filters, simplifying maintenance, expanding lighting possibilities, and reducing associated waste.
Projects of the Gran Teatre del Liceu Consortium
The Gran Teatre del Liceu Consortium has undertaken two key initiatives aimed at modernizing the Theatre’s systems and equipment, with the goal of making them more efficient, sustainable, and aligned with current technologies. These improvements have a direct impact on the technical quality of productions and the audience experience, while consolidating the Liceu’s artistic and technical excellence.
Upgrade of the audio room equipment for signal distribution
The update of the sound consoles and processing systems allows the Liceu to align with new digital audio standards and professional IP protocols. This step ensures the continuity of high-quality audiovisual service and improves the reliability and sound quality of productions.
The current equipment, with over fifteen years of continuous operation during seasons that run from September to July, has experienced wear and tear. This intensive use leads to the aging of electronic components and the discontinuity of many devices, as manufacturers have stopped offering spare parts and updates compatible with current standards. With this renewal, the Theatre addresses the necessary digitalization of its systems and ensures their adaptation to the sector’s new professional technologies.
Implementation of LED technology in the main hall and the Hall of Mirrors
The traditional incandescent luminaires (“Águilas”) have been replaced with LED technology, maintaining the original aesthetic while providing greater energy efficiency, improved maintenance, and enhanced reliability. This initiative aligns with both the European regulatory framework and the Liceu’s environmental commitment.
Although it may seem that the house lights are merely a functional element related to audience entry and exit, they also play an important stage role: their intensity is adjusted and controlled during performances to complement the stage lighting effects. Therefore, they are an essential part of the Theatre’s technical equipment.
Although most of the transition to LED was completed between 2015 and 2016, the luminaires in the main hall and part of those in the Hall of Mirrors still used incandescent bulbs. The change posed a significant technical challenge: a solution was needed that preserved the characteristic aesthetic effect of low-intensity incandescent lighting while ensuring optimal control with the new technology.
This initiative was essential for three main reasons:
A. European regulatory framework: Directive 2009/125/EC and its derived regulations (such as 2019/2020) restrict the marketing of incandescent bulbs due to their low energy efficiency and promote the adoption of technologies such as LED or CFL.
B. Environmental commitment: the Liceu has incorporated sustainability as a strategic axis and considers the transition to LED an essential initiative.
C. Maintenance and reliability: the gradual disappearance of incandescent bulbs from the European market makes it increasingly difficult to find quality replacements. This resulted in high maintenance hours and reliability issues with the house lighting during performances.
The Liceu strengthens its commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency
With these initiatives, the Gran Teatre del Liceu reaffirms its commitment to being at the forefront of technological innovation and sustainability in the cultural sector, while also strengthening its mission to promote and disseminate opera and the performing arts. Aware of the climate emergency and the role that culture and art can play in sustainable transformation, the Liceu continuously works to be a benchmark in this field.
The Theatre has been a European pioneer in implementing environmental and energy management systems and has accumulated a track record of certifications and recognitions that attest to this: it was the first European theatre to obtain the ISO 14,001 certification (2004) and the European Union EMAS certification, the first opera theatre in Europe with the ISO 50,001 energy management certification (2011), and in 2016 it achieved the Environmental Quality Assurance Distinction. In 2019, it joined the Barcelona Biosphere Commitment for Sustainable Tourism, which recognizes responsible management that respects the environment, culture, equity, and social return.
Each season, the Liceu publishes its Environmental Statement, available on its institutional website, presenting environmental performance data, the achievement of objectives, and compliance with legal requirements. This environmental and energy management system functions as a tool for self-assessment and continuous improvement, establishing self-control mechanisms that ensure consistency between daily activities and its commitment to sustainability.
This commitment has been recognized with various awards, such as the EMAS Catalunya 2011 Award for Best Environmental Implementation, the Honorary Mention for Energy Savings and Efficiency at the EnerAgen 2012 Awards, and the Best Energy Service Project 2015, awarded by an international jury from the European Commission, the European Investment Bank, and other organizations, which recognized the Liceu for its Energy Savings and Efficiency Plan, technological innovation, and sustainable financing model.
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