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Press Release26 June 2025Siemens AGMunich
Siemens and Bavarian State Opera develop digital twin for Bavaria’s National Theater
From the real to the digital world: Thanks to the digital twin, users can change the hall configuration to select the best possible acoustic scenario.
Siemens
launched the Sound of Science at the Salzburg Festival in 2024. In developing the
application for Bavaria’s National Theater, the company is now using it to
enhance the performance of yet another internationally renowned cultural
institution. Released just in time for the Munich Opera Festival, the current
version includes additional concert hall configurations and new acoustic
scenarios. For example, a stage set can now be incorporated and the orchestra’s
position varied. To achieve a realistic sound assessment, a vocal part – sung
by soprano Emilie Sierra, a member of the Bavarian State Opera, and
accompanied by the Bavarian State Orchestra – has been integrated into the application
for the first time.
"Siemens
and the Bavarian State Opera share a long-standing, trust-based partnership marked
by a common pursuit of excellence and innovation," said Serge Dorny,
General Director of the Bavarian State Opera. “We’re looking forward to the new
perspectives that our digital strategy will create and are excited by the variety
of possible applications that will emerge from the joint Sound of Science
project."
"The
idea for the Sound of Science application was spawned by the trend toward increasingly
shorter rehearsal times and rising concert logistics costs. Our simulation of
realistic stage productions enables theater professionals to plan much more
precisely in advance, while giving audiences a preliminary impression of the acoustic
conditions," added Stephan Frucht, Artistic Director of the Siemens Arts
Program.
The "Sound of Science" simulation can measure the echo and reverberation of a sound within the 3D model and simulate how sound waves propagate through a space.
Very good match of sound decays in the 1 kHz octave band between the measured (red) and simulated impulse response (black).
The technology
underlying the Sound of Science is provided by Siemens Simcenter, a portfolio
of simulation and testing solutions that has been part of the company's core
business for more than 15 years. Simcenter processes impulse response
measurements and uses ray tracing to calculate how sound waves propagate in
space. Different materials influence reflection – thus creating a venue’s specific
acoustics.”
“The benefits
of digital twin technology extend well beyond the concert hall, offering
transformative advantages across various industry sectors,” said Jean-Claude
Ercolanelli, Senior Vice President for Simulation and Test Solutions at Siemens.
“The Siemens’ comprehensive Digital Twin facilitates cost reduction, resource
optimization, time savings, risk mitigation, enhanced decision-making, and
improved collaboration. By visualizing potential challenges in advance, our
comprehensive digital twin empowers us to make more informed decisions in the
physical world.”
Siemens
provides a Sound of Science demonstration application free of charge to
selected partners in the international cultural scene. There are currently no
plans to commercialize the application. However, the simulation solutions used
in the application are available for purchase. Information regarding the
possibilities that the Sound of Science can offer other opera houses and
concert halls is available on request from the Siemens Arts Program.
For the first time, the application makes it possible to set up a stage design, reposition the orchestra in various ways, or add a solo voice.
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Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a leading technology company focused on industry, infrastructure, mobility, and healthcare. The company’s purpose is to create technology to transform the everyday, for everyone. By combining the real and the digital worlds, Siemens empowers customers to accelerate their digital and sustainability transformations, making factories more efficient, cities more livable, and transportation more sustainable. A leader in industrial AI, Siemens leverages its deep domain know-how to apply AI – including generative AI – to real-world applications, making AI accessible and impactful for customers across diverse industries. Siemens also owns a majority stake in the publicly listed company Siemens Healthineers, a leading global medical technology provider pioneering breakthroughs in healthcare. For everyone. Everywhere. Sustainably.
In fiscal 2024, which ended on September 30, 2024, the Siemens Group generated revenue of €75.9 billion and net income of €9.0 billion. As of September 30, 2024, the company employed around 312,000 people worldwide on the basis of continuing operations. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.