Ana Aroso (Harp); awarded in several national and international competitions. She has collaborated with several national and international orchestras and conductors, including the Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música, Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa, Banda Sinfónica Portuguesa, Orquestra Sinfónica de Hulencourt, among others.
Of note is the European tour in 2018-19, with the Maria Biesu National Opera of Moldova and the Russian National Opera of Rostov.
Isabel Anjo (Sax); Shee has participated in the international saxophone festivals of Palmela (FISP), Porto (SaxoPorto) and Amsterdam.
She won the first prize in category C in the II Competition of the Oporto Music Conservatory and the second prize in the Superior Level of Chamber Music (the only prize awarded) in the 1998 Young Musicians Competition. She developed her artistic activity in Orquestra de Saxofone ESMAE, Orquestra de Jazz ESMAE, Orquestra de Sopros dos Templários and Orquestra do Norte. Currently, he has an intense concert programme with the Unisax Quartet, GayaQuintet, Hearbrearkers, Portuguese Symphonic Band, Harp and Saxophone Duo, being a founding member of all these groups.
The challenge was to capture the essence of their instruments and the balance between the two players.
To begin with, Isabel's sound is so rounded! Every attack and decay is carefully thought out and studied.
How to capture that?
Then the Harp... the range of this instrument is enormous! Ana is very precise in the execution and intentions of each note.
How to translate that?
To make it more challenging. Now, both in the same acoustic environment.
Working with the acoustic and not against it.
We started looking for the right place for the stereo microphones image and added the "solos" ones.
Then we took some time to work out with the musician the acoustic balance for each piece.
Each extra mic was there to serve a purpose, based on what the stereo image wasn't giving.
For mixing and mastering, we used 90% stereo mics, 10% magic :)....
Recording, mixing and mastering greeting!
MasterTape Studio.