Mexico. In the heart of the historic center of Morelia, capital of the Mexican state of Michoacán and a Cultural Heritage of Humanity city, the historic Mariano Matamoros Theater has just been inaugurated, which has been equipped with a pure RGB laser projector from Christie to illuminate its removable cinema screen of 18.30 meters long x 9.89 high, the largest of its kind in Latin America.
It is a multifunctional space of almost 5000 square meters that hosts staging, shows, concerts, film functions and international festivals, as well as a wide spectrum of other artistic-cultural activities, in order to offer a world-class artistic agenda.
This space is based on the restoration of an old cinema that worked in the 50s where the first film screenings were made, and a house dating from the thirteenth century, both framed by a portal, cataloged as a Historical Monument. In this place was shot in 1814 General Mariano Matamoros, a hero who offered his life in the struggle for freedom and independence of Mexico.
The main hall is designed to develop any type of performing art, such as opera, dance or theater, but also as a concert and cinema hall thanks to the Christie projector installed by the integrator Jds Home Entertainment. With CineLife+ electronics and Christie Real lighting system| Laser, it is an all-in-one projector, compact, with 28,000 lumens of power, 4K resolution (4096 x 2160) and compatible with DCI standards. In addition, it offers the benefit of more than 50,000 hours of almost maintenance-free and uncompromised operation.
"The truth is that it was the perfect equipment for the screen format," says Sonia Mejía, the architect of the Matamoros Theater adaptation project. "But what attracted us the most was its pure RGB laser lighting technology that brings excellent image quality, brightness, color and greater durability of the light source, without forgetting its 4K resolution," he explains. "In addition, Christie as a brand gives us great reliability, as well as the excellent service offered by its Mexico office."
The hall has a maximum capacity of 534 seats and has variable acoustic shell for concerts, staging and cinematographic functions, surround sound system and 43 speakers strategically located around the audience. "The truth is that we take advantage of the Christie projector for everything, both for concerts, theater and cinema," says Mejía.
The project was a major challenge for the work team because the adaptation of the theater coincided with the hardest moment of the health crisis. "But the building is already a reality for tourists and locals to have access to a world-class venue for design and top quality finishes that promises to become the heart of the cultural life of the state of Michoacán," concludes architect Sonia Mejía.
Ernesto Armus, director of Christie's Film division in Mexico, points out: "We could not be happier to see this project successfully concluded, leaving Michoacans a unique theater. And we are proud to have done our bit with one of our pure RGB laser projectors."
