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The Maillard Reaction
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2013/06/06 08:33:26 (permalink)

Opera

 
Here's a project I just delivered yesterday. All the post production work was done in SONAR. It's an excerpt from an American Opera that debuted in Houston in 1981. The story line parallels the novel "All the Kings Men", which is a fictionalized parody of the life of Governor Huey Long. The novel has also been used as inspiration for a movie a couple of times.
 
This recording from last month was made for the purpose of making it easier for people who are curious about the material to have a listen. A lot of stuff only exists as sheet music.
 
This excerpt is just under 12 minutes and it runs through a gamut of emotions and dynamics... I think they picked a great passage to share.
 
I hope someone enjoys it. 
 
http://harmoniccycle.com/hc/sounds/mp3/Carlisle_Floyd/Willie-Stark.mp3
 
 
 
 
post edited by mike_mccue - 2013/06/06 20:00:01


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    The Maillard Reaction
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    Re: Opera 2013/06/07 07:32:35 (permalink)
     
    Heck, I know it's *Opera*... but did anyone have a listen?
     
    The singer spent 30 years working in the Metropolitan Opera in N.Y.C... it's not every day that you get to hear a voice that was realized by devoting 30+ years to intense study, rehearsal, and auditions.
     
    :-) 
     
     
     
    bump.
    post edited by mike_mccue - 2013/06/07 07:33:41


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    tbosco
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    Re: Opera 2013/06/07 09:03:59 (permalink)
    Hey Mike... share some details about the recording.... What "space" were you trying to convey?  Would this take place in a Hall?
    I think the voice was captured very nicely.  Mic used?
    I know nothing about opera....

    Cheers!

    Tony

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    #3
    The Maillard Reaction
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    Re: Opera 2013/06/07 09:34:17 (permalink)
     
    Yes, Opera singers seem to enjoy the sound of a Hall.
     
    We worked in a living room in a suburban neighborhood here in town. It's the composers house. It is 1 block from a busy grade school and 3 blocks from a busy interstate. It was 10a.m. so the town was up and running.
     
    The vocal mic was about 4 ft back. It was a Wunder CM7 Fet. I need to keep it back that far for the loud parts and it needs to be able to be turned up quite a bit in the quiet parts.
     
    The piano was half open and close miced with a pair of ribbon mics down near the strings. I stick my head in there and listen for some nice spots.
     
    I added a bit of reverb in post to make the sound seem familiar to the performers and it also helped mask some of the world outside noise when I had to boost the levels in the quiet passages.
     
    It's the kind of thing that seems so simple and when you do it ok it sort of sounds like you just used a tape recorder in a hall some where, but if that's all you did you would end up with a mess of noise in the quiet parts and a pegged out over driven sound in the loud parts. You spend a lot of time hoping you are in a good middle ground. :-)
     
    My main interest is listening to the basic tonality of the vocals and the way that particular piano sings on the high notes, then I just try to stay out of the way.
     
    best regards,
    mike 


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    The Band19
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    Re: Opera 2013/06/07 21:31:00 (permalink)
    This was interesting, but it's so much like everything else on here on the forum?
     
    I didn't even know Ms Winfrey could sing? But I can definitely here her voice in this piece.
     
    The only thing that could make this better is a NEW BANDCAMP LINK!!!!!!!!!
    post edited by The Band19 - 2013/06/08 00:09:40

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    foxwolfen
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    Re: Opera 2013/06/08 00:15:31 (permalink)
    Moments of Gershwin. I have a gay buddy. I mentioned to him once that I really like this kind of music. Opera, show tunes. He cocked an eyebrow in surprise and said "are you sure you are not one of us". Enjoyed that. Enjoyed the simple and direct sound. Kudos.

    A scientist knows more & more about less & less till he knows everything about nothing, while a philosopher knows less & less about more & more till he knows nothing about everything.

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    The Maillard Reaction
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    Re: Opera 2013/06/08 08:37:36 (permalink)
     
    Thanks for listening. :-)
     
    Here's some background info:
     
    opera: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Stark
     
    composer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlisle_Floyd
     
    singer: http://encompassarts.com/artist/christopher-trakas/
     
    all the best,
    mike


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    mgh
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    Re: Opera 2013/06/09 04:08:29 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby mike_mccue 2013/06/09 12:18:09
    i'm not a massive opera fan, i have Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk and Bluebeard's Castle - big fan of choral music though.
    the recording is nicely balanced and very clear, you have done a good job of keeping body in the piano whilst leaving space for the vocals. If anything i would say it could stand a little more verb.

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    drumstixkev
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    Re: Opera 2013/06/09 11:28:05 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby mike_mccue 2013/06/09 12:18:08
    Not my norm listen but I really enjoyed this piece.  I love the space you put the vocalist. . . out of the box thinking for a Opera piece.   The mix sounds great on my end. If I had to nit I would like to hear a smidge more of the room/space on the piano that you hear on the vocalist. BRAVO!
     
     
    Kev
    post edited by drumstixkev - 2013/06/09 11:29:34

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    The Maillard Reaction
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    Re: Opera 2013/06/09 12:18:02 (permalink)
     
    Thanks to both for listening and a special thanks for sharing your impressions of, and your opinions about, the reverb.
     
    It's very helpful.
     
    best regards,
    mike
     


    #10
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