Spent a lovely three days recording works by NZ composer Leonnie Holmes with the NZSO at the Michael Fowler Centre. Producer Wayne Laird of Atoll .
Dalewool CD Sunday Bandstand released
Post-production of Dalewool’s new CD completed
Completed post-production of Dalewool’s new CD “Sunday Bandstand”.
New CD Release from Atoll – Lilburn
New CD release from Atoll – Alice
Post production of Diocesan School recordings
Audition session with Shelagh reviewing edits of Diocesan recordings for CD release.
Recording Dalewool Brass Band for CD release
A lovely weekend recording and producing a bunch of light numbers with the Dalewool Brass Band at the St Kentigern College School Hall. Musical Director Nigel Weeks.
Sequoia 12.4 Update
Updated Sequoia audio workstation software from 12.3 to 12.4. A bundle of useful fixes.
Flying Dutchman Performance
Tonight we went to see NZ Opera’s production of the Flying Dutchman at the Aotea Centre. I must say the acoustics have improved greatly since the acoustics upgrade (spec’d by Marshall Day Acoustics). The circle has now been completed with the new flooring, seats and wall treatments. Overall I enjoyed the show but thought the first Act was a little dull due to the static nature of the cast, a minimalist set and lack of power in the Flying Dutchman’s delivery. I felt the main characters needed to be “larger” than they were to compensate – both vocally and visually. Act 3 was certainly a blast. Not even bare buttocks were enough to get a rise out of the Flying Dutchman’s ghostly crew.
As for the use of my recording for the ghostly chorus I felt it wasn’t sufficiently present in the overall live mix – I didn’t get the contrapuntal interplay between the orchestra and the chorus.
Recording violin and cello overdub for Diocesan Trio
Had Rachel Twyman (violin) and Rachael Monkhouse (cello) in the studio recording overdubs to Karin Ho’s piano track for the Saint Saen’s trio. Took a couple of hours to get it down but I think it will be good enough. It was the first time the girls had done any overdub recording so it took them a while to get aclimatised to playing with headphones.
Completed post on NZSO Pictures at an Exhibition
Completed fixing some issues with the stereo master version of the NZSO Pictures at an Exhibition we recorded for Naxos back in 2012.
Auditioning Alice
A relaxing hour spent auditioning a work-in-progress CD master of Atoll’s pending release of Gillian Whitehead’s Alice.
Diocesan School Recordings
A day recording at Diocesan School in the music pavilion with Music Director Shelagh Thompson and a bunch of very talented girls from classes Year 7 to 13). Groups recorded were:
- Quintet – playing Mozart variations
- Trio – playing Saint-Saens’ Trio Op 92
- Symphony Orchestra – playing Rachmaninov’s Butterflies and Hurricanes; Lord of the Dance by Hardiman/Copeland
- Quartet – playing Dvorak’s String Quartet Op 96 No 12
- Chamber Orchestra – playing Piazzolla’s Libertango; Hamilton’s Whisper to me; Hamilton’s Danielle’s Bassoon; Storm – Vanessa’s Mae’s arrangement of Vivaldi’s Summer
- Concert Band – playing What a Wonderful World
The music pavilion is really too small for orchestral recording – no space for the sound to bloom – so we’ll have to work some magic in post. In the small space temperatures soared, instruments went sharp and girls got tired. Since most of them had been out late the night before performing for their end-of-year music showcase at Holy Trinity it was amazing they were able to last the distance. All credit to Shelagh for encouraging them. Pizza for all the players at lunchtime was a definite winner.
Recording Viva Voce’s “Love, Love, Love” concert
Recorded Viva Voce’s 1st subscription concert at the Auckland Town Hall Concert Chamber. Always a bit of a challenge recording a performance that you’re also singing in – but once I press the record button I can actually forget about the recording and just focus on the singing. It helps to have been able to monitor levels during rehearsal – so I am always able to leave enough headroom.
Mastering of Flying Dutchman Chorus
Completed mastering of the off-stage chorus for Opera NZ’s production of the Flying Dutchman. The chorus now sound suitably ghostly after the application of some subtle effects. Looking forward to going to the Auckland performance on Saturday 12th October.
Trio Pohadka Listener Review
Trio Pohadka CD holding its own at number 2 on the classical chart
Estrella Quartet and Pohadka Trio Reviews
Recording Accompaniment for NZ Opera Flying Dutchman
Session with Wyn Davies (conductor) and Peter Watts (piano) recording chorus accompaniment for the NZ Opera’s production of Flying Dutchman at the Opera Technical Centre (OTC) in Onehunga. This recording will be used to accompany the Auckland and Wellington men’s chorus in upcoming recording sessions in Auckland and Wellington.