HK Audio COSMO for Stichijos 2: Pasadoblis

HK Audio systems were deployed at Žalgirio Arena in Lithuania for Stichijos 2: Pasadoblis - a large-scale ice production combining figure skating, dance and striking visual design - marking the largest COSMO deployment to date. Delivered by Lithuanian rental and production specialist Garsas LT, with support from HK Audio, official distributor Tamsta Profesionalas (UAB) and regional partners including Rock Distribution, the project brought large-scale sound reinforcement to one of the Baltic region’s most ambitious live productions.

Staged inside the Baltic region’s largest multi-functional arena, the production transformed the 39,000 m² venue, located on Nemunas Island in the heart of Kaunas, into a full-scale ice performance environment. Known for its sophisticated technical infrastructure, strong acoustic design and status as the first sports venue in the world to receive a BREEAM In-Use certification, Žalgirio Arena provided a world-class setting for a show of this scale.

Bringing together a large ensemble of performers alongside international figure skating talent, a cinematic soundtrack and complex staging elements, Stichijos 2: Pasadoblis placed significant demands on every aspect of the production - particularly audio. With a 360° audience configuration and capacity exceeding 20,000, the system needed to deliver powerful, consistent coverage across the entire arena, from the ice surface to the highest tiers.

“This was no small project,” says Vicente Rios Silvestre, Application Support Engineer at HK Audio. “We were working with a wide, fully immersive space, with audiences both close to the stage and high up in the arena - achieving consistent coverage across all of those areas was the key challenge.” At the heart of the deployment was an extensive COSMO line array system, comprising 110 mid/high units and approximately 149 loudspeakers in total. The system combined COSMO C 10, C 8 and C 6 modules across ten hangs to achieve consistent coverage throughout the arena, from the ice surface to the highest seating tiers.

One of Lithuania’s largest rental and production companies and the biggest HK Audio rental partner in Eastern Europe, Garsas LT handled the on-site deployment under intense time pressure. “We worked for two days without sleep to get everything ready,” says Elanas Gascevicius, Manager of Garsas LT. “Once the ice is in place, there’s no going back - everything must be right the first time. With COSMO, it just works. You don’t need to bring it back down or make constant adjustments. In a project like this, that reliability is critical.”

From a front-of-house perspective, the demands of a 360° ice show extend far beyond audience coverage - the system also plays a critical role in the performance itself. “For the dancers, timing is everything,” says Robertas Boimas, System Technician at Garsas LT. “If they hear multiple sources out of sync, it becomes impossible. They need to hear the rhythm clearly and consistently wherever they are on the ice.”

Delivering that level of precision across a constantly moving performance space required careful system design. Low-end support came from a combination of flown and ground-stacked subwoofers, with additional subs tucked beneath the bleachers to add extra weight and punch across the audience. CONTOUR CX 210 LT systems were also deployed to cover the arena floor and front seating areas, ensuring a cohesive listening experience. “The flexibility of the system is a huge advantage,” continues Boimas. “Being able to combine different elements within a single array helps solve a lot of challenges, particularly in terms of coverage and directivity - it was straightforward to make it work.”

The production design introduced further acoustic challenges, including large suspended scenic elements. “The large silver baubles didn’t help us acoustically at first, but we found the right positions and managed to make it work,” explains Aurimas Mitkus, FOH Engineer for Stichijos 2: Pasadoblis. “In the end, we achieved stable coverage so that everyone in the arena could enjoy the sound.”

Beyond the technical delivery, the project also reflected strong regional collaboration, bringing together distributor Tamsta Profesionalas (UAB) Lithuania, rental specialist Garsas LT and partners across neighbouring markets, including Rock Distribution. “We’re very happy to be part of the project at Žalgirio Arena alongside Garsas LT and HK Audio,” says Jonas Skernevicius, Managing Director at Tamsta Profesionalas (UAB). “As the distributor, we worked closely with the integrator to deliver a reliable, high-quality sound solution - projects like this just show how strong partnerships help achieve great results.”

“COSMO can absolutely deliver on a large arena scale,” adds Alvis Ivanovs, Project Sales Manager at Rock Distribution. “The power, the coverage and the sound quality are all at a very high level – but ultimately, it’s the collaboration between partners that brings the whole project to life.” For HK Audio, the production marked an important moment for regional connectivity. “Working on something at this scale naturally brings partners together,” concludes Vicente Rios Silvestre. “It’s where you really see how everything can align - both technically and operationally.”

By the end of the show, the reaction from the audience said it all, with a full standing ovation across the arena. Dramatic lighting, suspended performance elements and flame effects tracing the edges of the ice brought everything to life - creating a striking and seamless visual experience. Throughout it all, the HK Audio system remained precise and consistent, supporting both the performance and the atmosphere from the first moment to the last. “In a venue of this size, consistency is everything - we made sure the entire arena experienced the show as one,” concludes Mitkus.

www.hkaudio.com
www.garsas-lt
www.tamstapro.lt
www.rock-distribution.com