The annual La Festa di San Giovanni (Feast of St John) celebration draws thousands of people  – some in traditional costumes – to Turin each June to participate in shows, games, concerts, sport events and exhibitions. The day ends in a spectacular firework display over the River Po.

This year, the event attracted 200,000 to the city’s largest square, Vittorio Veneto, where Martin Audio technology partner, Corsinotti Sas, had fielded its MLA Compact system the first time.

The company has handled this event since 1986, using a Martin Audio W8LC Martin Audio compact line array since 2004. However, Rinaldo Corsinotti, the eponymous rental company owner, said that this year they had made a breakthrough with MLA’s ‘extraordinary and surprisingly powerful sound’.

‘After undergoing intensive Martin Audio training with the MLA Compact system, I was very curious to hear it performing at one of the most important events of the year for us,’ says Stefano Rocchi, owner of Italian distributor, Audiosales, Corsinotti. ‘And it was a real pleasure to do so.’

As a 30-year-old rental company with a roster of top quality acts (Pavarotti, Sting) and events (Pellerossa Festival, JVC Newport Jazz) under its belt, Rinaldo Corsinotti is well qualified to make a judgement.

As in previous years, the Turin sound rig was set up to provide coverage not only for Vittorio Veneto Square, but also Lungo Po Diaz, Lungo Po Cadorna and Murazzi. To achieve this, Corsinotti deployed 16 MLA Compact (in two hangs of eight) and eight of Martin Audio’s complementary DSX subs, which were ground-stacked in two rows, four stacks per row. There were also further delays and LR side fills to throw the sound to Lungo Po Diaz.

‘The set-up of the venue was quite specific because the two control positions were connected – with the main one placed at Vittorio Veneto Square Gran Madre bridge and the second one installed on the opposite side of the river, about 1.5km away. These two points were networked by specific radio connections and are used for the famous regatta challenge on the Po.

‘Thanks to products as reliable, powerful and controllable as these, we were able to manage this important event to perfection – and to the great satisfaction of the entire production team,’ says Rinaldo, who was supported by a crew comprising Claudio Boggio, Andrea Nicola, Stefano Chiariello, Roberto Ferrari and Mirco Dal Ponte.

Many visitors them arrived at the square early in order to get the best seats and help build a ‘movie style’ atmosphere. And while a number of local tribute bands and cover bands performed on a side stage, connected to the main stage’s MLA system, popular songs such as ‘Yesterday’ and ‘Let It Be’ by the Beatles, ‘Another Brick In The Wall’ by Pink Floyd and ‘New York, New York’ by Liza Minnelli rang clearly into the night air.

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