Hearing is believing

Simone Lamsma / The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra
Dmitri Sjostakovich|Sofie Gubaidulina / Violin Concerto No. 1, Op. 77 / In tempus praesens

"Hearing is believing"

The very first review on this new release says:

"The star of Simone Lamsma has risen with such a remarkable speed that she, only 32 years young, now firmly ranks amongst the top echelon of violinists of our time. This recording proves it beyond any shade of doubt."

''This is a deeply moving account which has to be heard to be believed. And when I say 'heard', there are only two suitable ways: In the concert hall with the full dynamics, or else at home with the best possible sound reproduction in order to be completely engulfed and gripped by the cruel history it conveys. Bert van der Wolf of Northstar Recording Services has once again mastered an exemplary recording, made at the facilities of the Dutch Broadcasting Music Centre, Hilversum, The Netherlands.’'

Copyright © 2017 Adrian Quanjer and HRAudio.net

Check it out at www.spiritofturtle.com

Pasticciopreis

"From Heaven on Earth”/Hubert Hoffmann just won the prestigious Pasticciopreis+ des Österreichischen Rundfunks…The Spirit strikes again!
https://www.spiritofturtle.com/shop/heaven-earth-lute-music-kremsmunster-abbey-download/?v=a385d3f99f19

From Heaven on Earth - Lute Music from Kremsmunster Abbey

Buy here

About the Album
Hubert Hoffmann: When I visited the Benedictine Abbey of Kremsmünster in Upper Austria some years ago to look at the lutes stored in the abbey archives, I could not guess that this visit would radically change my life as a lutenist. I learnt that the writer of tablatures I discovered was a member of the abbey named Pater Ferdinando (Fischer). It soon turned out that much of the music set down by this scribe was not to be found in the numberless lute manuscripts from this period scattered around the world. These were unique manuscripts. Moreover they contained quite extraordinary works of striking compositional quality: new lute music in the form of cyclical poems of a lute enthusiast – a padre – at the turn of the 17th/18th centuries.
In one of the quietest recording studios in all of Europe – the Galaxy studios in Mol, Belgium – we finally brought the long since faded lute-poems of Pater Ferdinando back to life. Through the wonderfully delicate sound of my lute, Bert’s immeasurable sensitivity and the most advanced recording technology that I have ever had the privilege of using, the lutenist-pater began speaking to us once more.

Contextually Fischer’s putative original compositions are only distinguishable from the other anonymous works through their stylistic features. The first clue is to be found in the considerable proportion of previously completely unknown cycles, whose exquisite quality, high degree of originality and compositional autonomy, together with the considerable technical demands they make upon the player, lead us to assume a common authorship.

Castle in the Air

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We're honored to be able to release Buzz Bros Band - Castle In The Air as High-Resolution Download up to 192 kHz 24 bits and DSD64!
To celebrate it, we've made Castle In The Air "Album of the Month", and are giving you a 25% discount on both the High-Resolution Download as well as the SACD!

GRAN PARTITA

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Mozart's famous Gran Partita, well known from the pivotal scene in the film AMADEUS, in a wonderful arrangement by a contemporary fellow musician C.F.G. Schwenke.
A thrilling performance on period instruments by Quatuor Dialogues & Ewald Demeyere. NOW AVAILABLE!

http://www.spiritofturtle.com/shop/mozart-gran-partita/

With Vinciane Baudhuin, Ronan Kernoa, Ewald Demeyere, Annelies Decock, Mika Akiha

Prokofiev VOLUME 2

The first volume of this series symphonies has ended in the top 50 of best recordings of 2015!
Here is the next one. The astounding music of Sergei Prokofiev, a combination of absurdity and the Divine...(ref. Gaffigan). NOW AVAILABLE! http://www.spiritofturtle.com/shop/prokofiev-symphonies-nos-6-7/
With Radio Filharmonisch Orkest

From Heaven on Earth

FAURÉ by Minnaar

Last week we recorded fantastic, yet rather unknown piano works of Gabriel Fauré. Hannes MINNAAR choose these pieces as they have been dear to him for many years from the day he was playing some of them for his exams at the conservatory. The production will be released as Hybrid SACD by Challenge Records International later this year and available on The Spirit of Turtle. We also shot a High Resolution Video with 5.1 Surround Sound of the concert given right after the recording sessions at the Westvest Church in Schiedam/Holland.

The Spirit of Turtle

From now on all HQ|NORTHSTAR and Turtle Records® titles are available at www.spiritofturtle.com

HOHOHO....

This month, we’re in the winter season holiday Spirit!

What better than enjoying your favorite music, triggering dear memories from the past, and adding new music to your palette to create new memories for the future?

When it’s too dark and cold to be outdoors, snugging around the fire with a good glas of wine enjoying music recordings in the highest quality, by artists who have the ultimate gift to communicate their message through the timeless music of all the ages, past, present and future.

An abundance of titles with these qualities are available on our Spirit of Turtle platform which we would like you to discover, so during this holiday season, ending January 6th 2016, we are offering all our products with a 10% discount! Simply use the discount code “ hohoho ” at checkout and enjoy!

Click here to visit our Store!

May the Spirit be with you!
Bert and Brendon

Gran Partita, Mozart's Master Piece

Whoop whoop!!
Today the first edit/mix of Mozart's Grand Partita is finished!

A world premiére of this 18th century arrangement by C.F. Schwenke for Hobo, Violin, Viola, Cello and Fortepiano played by Quatuor Dialogues & Ewald Demeyere.

A new The Spirit of Turtle production to be released in the spring of '16 on Challenge Records International.
Stay tuned at www.spiritofturtle.com

Vol. 1 Prokofiev Integral

The first volume of the Prokofiev Integral Symphonies is about to be released.
Another HQ|NORTHSTAR production, many more to follow!

The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra with James Gaffigan.

Turtle Talk Newsletter June 2015

The new Turtle Talk is out with lots of news on DSD128 & DSD256 music downloads...

You can subscribe here http://eepurl.com/bhGqpz

Marc van Roon | Inventions & Variations

Working on the new improvisation project of Marc van Roon...
What a treat!

Huijnen & Grotenhuis

This week we started with an exciting new The Spirit of Turtle project with the duo Cecile Huijnen, concert master of the Het Gelders Orkest and the fantastic Marieke Grotenhuis (accordeon)...

A collection of passionate folk dances and melodies from the Balkan to South America. Great stuff!

Also our AURO 3D adventure in 9.1 continues. This time at the birth place of the format in the Galaxy Studios NV in Belgium...

CD release concert DRUMWISE May 10th

Zondag 10 mei,
Muziekcentrum van de Omroep,
Studio 8,
Heuvellaan 33, Hilversum.
Concert: 15:00 - 16:00 uur
Zaal open: 14:30 uur
Presentatie: Hans Mantel.
Entree gratis
Na afloop gelegenheid voor drankje en aanschaf van een CD die Wim en Marc graag zullen signeren.
Gratis parkeren op de laan en de parkeerplaats.

Our NEW High Resolution Download Platform

Our own production company Edison Production Company bv / The Spirit of Turtle has recently released a new High Resolution download platform for all HQ|NORTHSTAR and Turtle Records® productions...

Have a look at www.spiritofturtle.com

Beethoven Piano Concertos 1&2

HET Symfonieorkest & Jan Willem de vriend with Hannes MINNAAR.
Beethoven Piano Concertos 1&2

Very special in this project is that the piano is tuned in a period Kirnberger system which gives this music it's originally intended colors and sonority. Amazing stuff to apply this to a modern Steinway Grand!

Recording Location: Muziekcentrum Enschede
Recording dates: 2-4 February 2015
Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Recording Producer/Balance engineer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording assistant/Photography & Cinematography: Brendon Heinst

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas time without the Christmas Oratorio of J.S. Bach is unimaginable...

The Spirit of Turtle produced two versions over the years, the same music, both great performances by baroque specialists pur sang, but with rather different settings.

Combattimento Consort Amsterdam/Capella Amsterdam & Jan Willem de Vriend, our recording from 2007 with traditional choir setting, and the newly released version by La Petite Bande/Sigiswald Kuijken, a one-to-a-part version. The latter is referred to by Klassik Kompas as "The New Reference"...

Ergo, your double Album of the Week is one of these two versions from € 26,95 now for € 19,95!

http://www.spiritofturtle.com/christmas-oratorio

Wim Kegel & Marc van Roon

"Ex Tempore" improvisations from the duo sessions Wim Kegel & Marc van Roon...

What a great production this has become...Thank you Wim for sharing your art of making music by "hitting things" and a thousand thanks to Marc for supplying the harmonic and melodic colors with your expressive yet elegant key strokes.

WOW!!

EXTEMPORE Album release 7-11-2014

A dream come true for me!

Initiating this album is the most personal statement I have ever made in my recording & record producing career, and it fills me with great joy to announce the first concert on november 7th supporting the album of The Secret Key Masters!

Secret Key Masters - Extempore ALBUM RELEASE
Friday, November 7 at 8:00pm
Splendor in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Recording Biber's 'Sonatae Tam Aris Quam Aulis Servientes'

Mister Altomonte got company again in his wonderful "Altomontesaal" at the Stift St. Florian....This time by yours truly!

Always good to have some natural authority as recording producer, watching the session from a distance on the high balcony. Recording Biber's "Sonatae Tam Aris Quam Aulis Servientes" with Ars Antiqua Austria / Gunar Letzbor!

Thanks to Brendon Heinst and his digital painting skills...

Merry Christmas!!

Just finished the first edit & mix of the Christmas Oratorium by J.S. Bach with La Petite Bande /Sigiswald Kuijken.
A 1-to-a-part version with staggering transparancy and joyfull music making!

Like the Shepards in a freezing cold place...little light, but heart warming music!

Merry X-mas!!

Recording: Northstar Recording Services
Location: Predikheerenkerk, Leuven, Belgium
Dates: 11& 14-17/12/2013
Recording producer/balance engineer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording assistant, photography & cinematograpy: Brendon Heinst


Sigiswald Kuijken

Father and Son PrÉgardien

Soon this production will be finished and released on HQ|NORTHSTAR/Challenge Classics.
Father & Son Christoph and Julian Prégardien with Michael Gees on piano...

October 2014 in the shops!
www.spiritofturtle.com

Telemann, Bach Concentus

At the moment working on the edit/mix of Ouvertures and Oboe concerto's by G.P. Telemann /  Bach Concentus - Ewald Demeyere

A new production of Turtle Records® under the HQ|NORTHSTAR/Challenge label!

Expected november 2014 in the shops.

Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Producer, mix, editing & mastering: Bert van der Wolf
Recording assistant: Brendon Heinst
Location: De Singel, Antwerpen, Belgium
Recording dates: 29/11 - 01/10 2013

10 out of 10 in Luister Magazine!

J.S. BACH PARTITAS...on Saxophone!

Mastering the new Turtle Records album with Raaf Hekkema. Bach's violin partitas in an arrangement for saxophone by Raaf Hekkema. The authority of these pieces is coming across so clearly in this "modern" version. Raaf's fantastic ability to implement period playing practices on both the soprano- 7 alto saxophone is mesmerizing.

The release is accompanied by the publishing of Hekkema's arrangements by Schott...anybody dare to try playing this as well!?

October 2014 in the shops!

Recording dates: 19-22 May 2014
Recording location: Reformed Church Mijnsheerenland, Holland
Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Recording producer/balance engineer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording assistant: Brendon Heinst

Raaf Hekkema

Gustav Mahler Symphony Nr. 4

In the final stages of Mahler's 4th Symphony and some "Lieder".
The Gelders Orkest from Arnhem led by Antonello Manacorda and Lisa Larsson as soloist.
A rather moving performance that will prove to last!

In the shops this fall!


Recording: Northstar Recording Services
Producer/Engineer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording Assistant: Brendon Heinst
Location: Musis Sacrum Arnhem
Dates: 17-20 June 2014


Het Gelders Orkest

Almost finished....The Roaring 20's

THE ROARING TWENTIES...

A fantastic project with Cora Burggraaf & Calefax Reed Quintet.
We are in the last fase of this project...

The Roaring Twenties....!! Almost wanted to apply pre-world war II Microphone's. What a great Project and wonderful musicians...

Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Producer, mix, editing & mastering: Bert van der Wolf
Recording assistant: Brendon Heinst
Location: Evangelisch Lutherse kerk, Haarlem
Recording dates: 7-9/11/2013

A new mastering console for the studio...

After years of thinking about it, then drawing sketches and finally asking our house carpenter Jan dan der Meijden from ISB Haaften to actually build it, the new mastering console for the Northstar Studio is installed!

It completes the set-up of state of the art equipment and offers the flexibility we need for working on all the different delivery formats in audio. The working surface is adjustable to optimize for stereo and 5.1 auditioning, which is a delicate matter when making final decisions in a mix.

Picture by Brendon Heinst

Hannes Minnaar...Beethoven Concerto's No.4 & 5

The Netherlands Symphony Orchestra / Jan Willem de Vriend /Hannes Minnaar
Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Concerto's NO.4 & 5

Recording Location: Muziekcentrum Enschede
Recording dates: 26-28 May 2014
Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Recording Producer/Balance engineer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording assistant/Photography & Cinematography: Brendon Heinst


The Netherlands Symphony Orchestra with Jan Willem de Vriend

Raaf Hekkema....Partita's J.S. Bach

This week a new Turtle Records® recording. Raaf Hekkema playing the violin partita's by J.S. Bach; on saxophone!
His own arrangements of these stunning pieces...

Recording dates: 19-22 May 2014
Recording location: Reformed Church Mijnsheerenland, Holland
Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Recording producer/balance engineer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording assistant: Brendon Heinst

The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra & James Gaffigan

This week the continuation of our recording of the Prokofiev integral Symphonies with The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by James Gaffigan.

I constantly wonder, where would James Bond movies be without Sergei Prokofiev;-)

Recording: Northstar recording Services BV
Recording Producer & Balance engineer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording dates: 6-8/05/2014
Recording Location: MCO-5 Hilversum, Holland.
Recording Assistant: Brendon Heinst


Sergei Prokofiev

Two HQ|NORTHSTAR productions rated 10!

For both the Hartmann Box by Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra & Netherlands Radio Chamber Philharmonic and for On the Spot by @Calefax and Eric Vloeimans!

Bach's Mattheus Passion....Mendelssohn's take on it

This week mixing and editing our recording for the TV broadcasting (BRAVA) of Felix Mendelssohn's take on Johann Sebastian Bach's St. Matthew Passion, performed by The Netherlands Symphony Orchestra (Nederlands Symfonieorkest) and Consensus Vocalis.

So much the same music, but still very different....clarinets replacing Oboe d'amores for instance and alto aria's rewritten for soprano. The main organ accompanying the choir. Interesting stuff!

Recording location: Muziekcentrum Enschede, Holland
Recording dates: 01-04 April 2014
Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Recording Producer/Balance engineer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording assitant, Photography & Cinematography: Brendon Heinst

What a sound here in the studio in 5.1! Almost beats real life...

'Secret Key Masters...' A dream come true!!

This week a dream comes true for me...!!

A few years back I got inspired by 3 individual pianist/composers during different recording sessions whereby they had the role of piano accompaniment for a singer or an ensemble. I was so struck by their musical idea’s that I invited them to come together and make recordings of their personal music from behind the piano, playing for each other and for me…Their music cannot be placed into standard categories, but is without exception so strong that I felt it needs to be shared through a recording whereby they play, improvise and interact with each other. Their musical idiom different, but for me personally very similar in commuication and personal expression. I my mind they are on the same wavelenght and I am exited to make a complete record with their music.

Marion von Tilzer, Michael Gees and Frans Ehlhart are these “Secret Keymasters”, who are brilliant composers in their natural habitat: Behind the keyboard, on their own!

After years of trying to find a date, this week it will happen!!
I am so incredibly exited about this and cannot wait to experience what will happen.

Recording location: Galaxy Studio's, Mol, Belgium
Recording dates: 26/27-03-2014
Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Recording Producer/Balance engineer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording assitant, Photography & Cinematography: Brendon Heinst

Vater & Sohn...

Recording Christoph & Julian Prégardien with Michael Gees

So great, father and son singing shoulder to shoulder...
The natural blend of their rich voices, due to shared genes, is just incredible. This will turn out to be a thoroughly enjoyable weekend not the least because my good friend Michael Gees is again amongst us as well!

Location: Evangelisch Lutherse kerk Haarlem
Recording dates: 21-24 March 2014
Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Producer/Balance Engineer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording Assistant: Brendon Heinst

Evangelisch Lutherse Kerk Haarlem

Biber, Bartok, Berio, Bach...

Looking forward working with Liza Ferschtman this week again.
THE 4 B's....
BIBER, BARTOK, BERIO en BACH.

This week we will finish it! Release soon...

Recording Location: Galaxy Studios, Mol, Belgium
Recording Dates: 16/17-07-2013
Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Producer/Balance engineer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording Assistant, photography & cinematography: Brendon Heinst


http://www.uitzendinggemist.nl/afleveringen/1380815

Simplicius Simplicissimus...

This week editing/mixing "Simplicius Simplicissimus" by Karl Amadeus Hartmann.
From the live recordings in The Concergebouw Amsterdam in November 2012.

A facinating piece consisting of "Drei Szenen aus seiner Jugend nach Johann Jakob Christoffel van Grimmelhausen von Hermann Scherchen, Wolfgang Petzet und Karl Amadeus Hartmann. 1934/35.

Markuz Stenz & The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra.


Markuz Stenz

Hector Berlioz, Scène lyrique....

This week final editing and mastering of the project with The gelders Orchestra/ Antonello Manacorda & Lisa Larsson. Berlioz' 'Cleopatra', 'Herminie' & 'La Captive'...

Recording Location: Musis Sacrum/Arnhem/Holland
Recording Dates: 18-20/06/2013
Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Producer/Balance engineer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording Assistant: Brendon Heinst


Lisa Larsson

On the Spot with Eric Vloeimans...NOW AVAILABLE!

On the Spot with Eric Vloeimans...NOW AVAILABLE!

What a great production!

Combination Calefax & Eric Vloeimans...
Great Spirit and sound fitting like comfortable shoe's.

Wonderful The Spirit of Turtle production!
We are extremely proud to have been part of this one.

Presentation concert the 18th of February in Concertgebouw Haarlem.

Stabat Mater, Stabat Pater

This week Editing & Mixing Stabat Mater, Stabat Pater by Egon Kracht...

A musically hybrid production for Turtle Records. A combination of Hammond Organ, Flügelhorn, Double Bass, Cello, Violin and Soprano, Alto & Tenor.

A hypnotizing piece of music covering centuries of music history!

Angelo Verploegen

Dvorak 9th 'The New World' in Dallas Texas...

This week recording Dvorak's 9th Symphony with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra / Jaap van Zweden in the M.H. Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas Texas USA.

Recording dates: 13-18/01/2014
Recording location: H.F. Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas Texas USA.
Recording producer/Balance engineer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording assistant: Brendon Heinst


M.H. Meyerson Symphony Center

SA-CD.net: 'Northstar team present a superb recording...'

"Demeyere's musicianship is marvellous."[…]
"Complementing such musicianship and capturing the characters of the virginal and harpsichord with remarkable fidelity, the Northstar team present a superb recording which has the virtue of unobtrusiveness."

see review at: http://ww.sa-cd.net/showreviews/9033

CD Presentation planned March 9th:

Highest rating for 2 HQ|NORTHSTAR recordings...

Klassik.com gave Winterreise & Fidicinium Sacro-Profanum Nr.1-12 the highest rating!

See for yourself:

http://magazin.klassik.com/reviews/reviews.cfm?TASK=REVIEW&RECID=24486&REID=14805

http://magazin.klassik.com/reviews/reviews.cfm?task=record&RECID=25651&REID=14846

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

Veronique, Brendon & Bert

Christmas Oratorium '1-to-a-part'...

J.S. BACH, Weihnachts Oratorium
La Petite Bande / Sigiswald Kuijken

Recording: Northstar Recording Services
Location: Predikheerenkerk, Leuven, Belgium
Dates: 11& 14-17/12/2013
Recording producer/balance engineer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording assistant, photography & cinematograpy: Brendon Heinst


Predikheeren Church Leuven/Belgium

GRAMMY AWARD NOMINATION for Winterreise

Our recording of Schubert's Winterreise with Christoph Prégardien and Michael Gees is nominated for a GRAMMY AWARD in the category 78. Best Classical Vocal Solo

Great news!

Dvorak 9th with The Dallas Symphony Orchestra

We proudly announce that Northstar Recording Services has been assigned to perform the recording of Antonin Dvorak's 9th Symphony with The Dallas Symphony Orchestra lead by Jaap van Zweden! Taking place in the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, Texas USA.

What a fantastic honor and exciting adventure!

TV documentary Sei Solo with Liza Ferschtman

Still available to watch at http://www.uitzendinggemist.nl/afleveringen/1380815

LIZA FERSCHTMAN: SEI SOLO deel 1
Documentaire van 25 minuten over het emotionele wordingsproces
van de nieuwe cd van de topvioliste Liza Ferschtman.

NTR Podium, Nederland 2, zondag 24 november om 13.00 uur

Synopsis
Het programma wat Liza zichzelf heeft opgelegd bestaat uit solowerken voor de viool van Bach, Biber, Berio en Bartok waarbij de Chaconne van Bach het ijkpunt vormt. Ze zet met dit programma haar ‘muzikale handtekening’, maar de weg erheen is niet makkelijk. Een blik achter de schermen.

Crew
Regie: Hester Overmars
Met dank aan Liza Ferschtman en Bert van der Wolf.
camera: Adri Schrover, geluid: Menno Euwe, montage: Rémi van der Heiden , kleurcorrectie: Laurent Fluttert, geluidsnabewerking: Bart Jilesen, productie: Corine Haitjema voor 24classics. Fotocredit: Brendon Heinst

Historical release of all Hartmann Symphonies

I had the privilege to mix, edit, master and partly record and produce the new release of all Karl Amadeus Hartmann Symphonies played by The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra / Gaffigan / Stenz / Poppen / Schønwandt / Vänskä / Metzmacher.

A rare opportunity, because this music is almost never played, allthough of it's significant importance in 20th century music history.


3 SACD box.

Official launch of 'dCS presents The Spirit of Turtle...'

The start of the world tour with dCS "Only the Music" presenting The Spirit of Turtle. With Bert van der Wolf of Northstar Recording and David Steven of dCS(UK).
The first event at Rhapsody, home of Harry van Dalen, co-founder of Turtle Records® and highly involved with "The Spirit"....

First Pure Audio BLU-RAY produced in The Netherlands

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE BY WISSELOORD STUDIO's & NORTHSTAR RECORDING SERVICES. "The Spirit of Turtle" is the first Pure Audio BLU-RAY production produced in The Netherlands...

From left to right: Ronald Prent (Wisseloord Studios), Bert van der Wolf (Northstar Recording), Wouter Strobbe (Wisseloord Studios).

PRESS RELEASE
dCS presents The Spirit of Turtle, featuring the
ground-breaking recordings of Northstar Recording –
the first Pure Audio Blu-ray release in The
Netherlands.

Pure Audio is an innovative high-end delivery format based on standard Blu-ray technology;
developed by MSM-Studios in Munich in collaboration with Lindberg Lyd of Norway. The disks
carry high-resolution music in stereo and multi-channel surround sound with up to 24-bit
resolution at sampling frequencies of up to 192KHz. These audio-oriented disks can be played
on any commercially available Blu-ray player. The format allows artists to enhance their music
releases with visual content and bonus features, but the focus remains on the music itself.
With 33% of the population already having Blu-ray players at home, Bert van der Wolf of
Northstar Recording Services wanted to make “The Spirit of Turtle” collection available to this
expanding audience, particularly those dedicated to listening to high fidelity sound. Pure Audio
Blu-ray offers the consumer the high quality musical listening experience intended by the artist
and production team, on par with the actual studio master. “The Spirit of Turtle” is the first Dutch
production to be released on this exciting new format.
Wisseloord Studios, in the Netherlands, is one of the few facilities in Europe offering creative
authoring services for Pure Audio Blu-ray releases. Wisseloord is a high end audio facility,
established in the 1970’s and rebuilt in 2010 to meet the highest technical standards of today
and the foreseeable future. They offer recording, mixing, and mastering in-house, with a focus
on high resolution audio. With the addition of their media department, including authoring and
creative services, the team at Wisseloord is capable of taking on projects for nearly any release
platform, Pure Audio BluRay being an exciting new option for music content producers.
Wisseloord is also a member of the Pure Audio Group which is made up of a group of
international music professionals who share their expertise and enthusiasm in support of
bringing high resolution audio into the living room through the Pure Audio BluRay format.
“The Spirit of Turtle” is an ultimate show case initiated by HQ|NORTHSTAR, a brand directly
evolved from the audiophile Turtle Records® label, in collaboration with UK based Data
Conversion Systems. When Bert van der Wolf presented Wisseloord with the challenge of
doing his first Pure Audio Blu-ray authoring for this ambitious project, the Wisseloord team
worked in conjunction with MSM-Studios, who have founded and developed the Java scripting
for the advanced functionality of the new format. Screenless navigation, for example, was not
foreseen in the original Blu-ray specification and is an important feature in Pure Audio Blu-ray.
Pure Audio disks are driven by music rather than video content and screenless navigation
allows the user to operate the disk without video menus just like a CD – an important feature for
ease of use and potential future implementation in the automobile industry.
Of course, for users preferring navigation on a screen, the Pure Audio Blu-ray provides menus
just as on a video Blu-ray. These pop-up screens give information about the tracks, track
lengths, audio streams or additional information, such as production credits. Bonus features
such as video content, photo albums, biographical information, etc., can also be included. In the
case of the “Spirit of Turtle” release, the unparalleled audio quality and ease of use on the disk
itself is supplemented with “mShuttle” technology: if your Blu-ray player is connected to your
home network, you can use the browser application on your computer to access digital master
files in FLAC Format 24 bits/192kHz.
HQ|NORTHSTAR’s stunning retrospective “The Spirit of Turtle” on Pure Audio Blu-ray, made in
conjunction with Wisseloord Studios and the Pure Audio Group, is a prime example of how this
exciting new format can bring the home listening experience to a whole new level.

For more information:
Pure Audio Blu-ray: http://www.pureaudio-bluray.com
Pure Audio Group: http://www.pureaudiogroup.com
Wisseloord Studios: http://www.wisseloord.nl
Northstar Recording: http://www.northstarconsult.nl

KROSS OVER in 'Kunststof TV'....

Last night the production KROSS OVER with Tania Kross, The Netherlands Symphony Orchestra/Jurjen Hempel, was presented in Dutch TV show 'Kunststof TV'.

Another production produced by HQ|Northstar in the open, 'in the picture' on a great Television platform!

Recording dates: 16-20/09/2013
Recording Location: Muziekcentrum Enschede
Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Recording producer/editing/mastering: Bert van der Wolf
Recording assistant: Brendon Heinst

The roaring Twenties...

A fantastic project with Cora Burggraaf & Calefax Reed Quintet.

The Roaring Twenties....!! Almost wanted to apply pre-world war II Microphone's. What a great Project and wonderful musicians...

Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Producer, mix, editing & mastering: Bert van der Wolf
Recording assistant: Brendon Heinst
Location: Evangelisch Lutherse kerk, Haarlem
Recording dates: 7-9/11/2013


Cora Burggraaf

'Magnificent performance and superbly recorded'

International Record Review magazine has rated Northstar's recording of Bruckner's 6th Symphony with The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra/Jaap van Zweden OUTSTANDING!!

...'This is the greatest performance of the first movement I ever heard, live or on disc...'

...'Without succumbing to the temptation of hyperbolic enthusiasm, I cannot recall ever having heard a finer performance of the work overall than this...'
Robert Matthew-Walker

KROSS OVER in 'De Wereld Draait Door'....

Last night the production KROSS OVER with Tania Kross, The Netherlands Symphony Orchestra/Jurjen Hempel, was presented in Dutch TV show 'De Wereld Draait Door'.

Another production produced by HQ|Northstar in the open, 'in the picture' on a great Television platform!

Recording dates: 16-20/09/2013
Recording Location: Muziekcentrum Enschede
Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Recording producer/editing/mastering: Bert van der Wolf
Recording assistant: Brendon Heinst

The Spirit of Turtle is being shipped!

From of today you can order your copy of The Spirit of Turtle!


go to the Northstar web shop or the Turtle Records web shop


IN STOCK!

Lavinia Meijer with DEBUSSY & RAVEL

Introduction et Allegro for Harp, string 4-tet, clarinet & flute by Ravel and Danses for Harp and string players by Debussy

Recordings of Lavinia Meijer and Amsterdam Sinfonietta in The muziekgebouw aan't IJ Amsterdam.

Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Recording producer, balance engineer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording assistant: Brendon Heinst
Recording location: The muziekgebouw aan't IJ Amsterdam.
Recording dates: 15-10-2013

Final stages OPERA REVISITED

G.P. Telemann by Bach Concentus

Ouvertures and Oboe concerto's G.P. Telemann /  Bach Concentus - Ewald Demeyere

A new production of Turtle Records® under the HQ|NORTHSTAR/Challenge flag!

Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Producer, mix, editing & mastering: Bert van der Wolf
Recording assistant: Brendon Heinst
Location: De Singel, Antwerpen, Belgium
Recording dates: 29/11 - 01/10 2013


G.P. Telemann

The Spirit of Turtle out on facebook

The Spirit of Turtle started out on facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/spiritofturtle


The Spirit of Turtle: a collection of the most innovative high-end audio recordings by NorthStar Recording.

If you like the Northstar recordings, than like The Spirit of Turtle:-)

OLIVER'S CINEMA OUT & show case in Pauw & Witteman

Nice TV coverage of our new HQ|NORTHSTAR production Eric Vloeimans' Oliver's Cinema in the Dutch tv programme Pauw and Witteman today...

The SACD is available now in all store's...

Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Recording Location: Galaxy Studios, Mol, Belgium
Recording dates: 19/20-11-2012
Producer, balance engineer, editing & mastering: Bert van der Wolf

KROSSOVER...

This week recordings with The Netherlands Symphony Orchestra / Jurjen Hempel and Tania Kross.
Opera revisited...POP singersongwriters have written "arias' for Tania, pre-arranged by Reijn Ouwehand and arranged/instrumentated by Bob Zimmerman.

A great addition to Tania's repertoire and a treat for both opera and pop lovers.

This record will be released by Challenge Records at the end of October 2013.

Recording dates: 16-20/09/2013
Recording Location: Muziekcentrum Enschede
Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Recording producer/editing/mastering: Bert van der Wolf
Recording assistant: Brendon Heinst

Quantum Stories out now...

The first reviews are rolling in on the new HQ|NORTHSTAR/Turtle Records album Quantum Stories...

Marc van Roon Trio, Quantum Stories: Recorded in a church in North Holland, the Marc van Roon Trio (w/Martijn Vink and Clemens van der Feen) finds a happy medium between an understated delivery and a resonant effect. One of those recordings that lives in the details, offering up thoughtful statements and generous warmth...

Prokofiev 1 with Gaffigan

The first Symphony ("Classique") of Sergei Prokofiev this time...
All symphonies of Sergei Prokofiev with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra lead by James Gaffigan.

What a brilliant music!

Recording: Northstar recording Services BV
Recording Producer & Balance engineer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording dates: 31-08-2013
Recording Location: MCO-5 Hilversum, Holland.
Recording Assistant: Brendon Heinst



James Gaffigan
Foto Brendon Heinst

Maurice Ravel...Ma mere l' oye

This week we are recording a feature film on Maurice Ravel's Ma mere l' oye.
The Gelders Orchestra with Antonello Manacorda.

Recording Location: Musis Sacrum/Arnhem/Holland
Recording Dates: 27-29/08/2013
Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Producer/Balance engineer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording Assistant: Brendon Heinst
Film director: David Stevens


Building up in Musis sacrum
foto Brendon Heinst

Letzbor & Altomonte....

This week editing and mixing The "Fidicinium Sacro-Profanum" by H.I. von Biber Ars Antiqua Austria /Gunar Letzbor.

Doesn't Gunar look great on the balcony with Mr. Bartolomeo Altomonte who painted the recording hall...What a surprise to have some company after 250 years!

Recording Location: Stift St. Florian bei Linz an der Donau
Recording Dates: 10-14 March 2013
Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Producer/Balance engineer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording Assistant: Brendon Heinst


Altomonte hall

Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben...

Northstar faciltated the recording of La Petite Bande's performance of Bach Cantata "Herz und Mund und Tat un Leben..."
This recording will be added to a book that Sigiswald Kuijken is writing about this cantata and released for his 70th birthday in the spring of 2014.

Recording location: Paterskerk , Tielt, Belgium
Recording dates: 16/17-08-2013
Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Recording producer, balance engineer & Editing: Bert van der Wolf
Recording assistant: Brendon Heinst



Paterskerk Tielt

dCS presents The Spirit of Turtle...SIGN IN NOW!

dCS 'Only the Music' presents
The Spirit of Turtle
"A collection of the most innovative high-end audio recordings by Northstar Recording".

These recordings, all in 5.1 surround and stereo, are offered on a Hybrid SACD, a Pure Audio BLURAY and as 192/24 Audio WAV file as supplement on the BLURAY Disc. DSD, 192kS/s-24bit and CD format, so all segments of the High End Audio and Home Theatre market, both consumers and manufacturers can enjoy and use these recordings at the highest level possible.

All this in a luxurious 2 DISC solid "Long Box" with informative booklet inlay.

The product will be available from the first week of October 2013, but we would like to offer you the chance to sign in on it already, so you will be among the first to own it. Please follow this link to order and we will notify you and send the package when shipping starts.

1 Dave Burrel - Up Close 05:34 Tony Overwater & Maarten Ornstein - Teardrops for Jimmy
2 Marc van Roon - Quantum stories 09:16
Marc van Roon Trio - Noodle Effect
3 George Gerhwin- Antonin Dvorak | Gershwin 06:15 Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra Amsterdam / Mario Venzago - An American in Paris (excerpt)
4 Rob van Bavel - Crossroads 04:08 NedSym Lite - Ravel’s Tomb
5 Johannes Brahms - Strings attached 04:44 Arno Piters and members of The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra - Allegretto grazioso / Opus 120/1
6 Erik Satie - ImproviSatie 08:31 Michael Gees - T5ème Gnossienne
7 Ludwig van Beethoven - Ludwig van Beethoven | Symphonies nos. 1 & 5 06:34 The Netherlands Symphony Orchestra / Jan Willem de Vriend - Allegro con brio / Opus 67
8 Benjamin Britten - Benjamin Britten | War Requiem 03:50 The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra / Jaap van Zweden - Dies irae (excerpt)
9 Robert Schumann - Wanderer 02:51 Christoph Pregardien & Ensemble Kontraste - Mein Wagen rollet langsam / opus 142,4
10 Felix Mendelssohn - Felix Mendelssohn | Symphony NO.2 “Lobgesang” 04:41 The Netherlands Symphony Orchestra / Jan Willem de Vriend - Andante / Opus 52 Sopran I, II & Chor
11 Tuur Florizoone - Olivers Cinema 03:45 Eric Vloeimans, Tuur Florizoone & Jörg Brinkmann - L’Amour des Moules
122 Maarten Ornstein - Jungle Boldie 03:58 Tony Overwater, Maarten Ornstein & Wim Kegel - Quicksie
13 Anton Bruckner - Anton Bruckner | Symphony NO.8 07:38 The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra / Jaap van Zweden - Finale (Feierlich, nicht schnell)
14 Dean Peer - Think......It’s all good 04:55 Dean Peer & Ty Burhoe - Mars
Total time 77:00

Liza Ferschtman...THE 4 B's

Starting recording sessions this week with Liza Ferschtman in Galaxy Studio's Belgium...
THE 4 B's....
BIBER, BARTOK, BERIO en BACH.

Always exciting, violin solo, nowhere to hide...and than the energetic musical expression and flawless playing of Liza! Great fun.

Recording Location: Galaxy Studios, Mol, Belgium
Recording Dates: 16/17-07-2013
Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Producer/Balance engineer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording Assistant: Brendon Heinst


Galaxy Hall

Berlioz in Musis sacrum...

This week recordings in Arnhem, Musis Sacrum with The gelders Orchestra/ Antonello Manacorda & Lisa Larsson. Berlioz' 'Cleopatra', 'Herminie' & 'La Captive'...

Recording Location: Musis Sacrum/Arnhem/Holland
Recording Dates: 18-20/06/2013
Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Producer/Balance engineer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording Assistant: Brendon Heinst


Antonello Manacorda

This is the most sophisticated sound technology

"This is the most sophisticated sound technology used so far in any Blu-ray video recording


This week a review was published on HDVD ARTS (hdvdarts.com) with very high praise for the Bluray release of 'Winterreise' performed and recorded by Christoph Prégardien and Michael Gees.

Some quotes written by Henry McFadyen of HDVD ARTS:

"This is the most sophisticated sound technology used so far in any Blu-ray video recording. (We have a few titles with sound recorded at 96kHz24 bit.) The 71 minutes of music has subtitles in German only. There is a nice 21-minute behind-the-scenes documentary with subtitles in English, German, and French.  Released 2013, disc has 5.1 PCM output. In addition, the Blu-ray package has a bonus CD with the music recorded at 44kHz16 bit.

This Winterreise is, from the elitist point of view of this website, the best classical music recording ever produced outside of Japan. All you folks at Decca, DG, Sony, C Major, EuroArts, Accentus and the like---watch out. There may be more challenging video records coming soon to disrupt your markets!  Grade: "A+"

(A+ = "must have" title with exemplary content and disc engineering or some other attribute of special merit. To earn an A+, the title should have broad appeal. And it should be something you can enjoy (or use as a teacher) over and over.)
Source: http://www.hdvdarts.com/titles/winterreise.html

BRUCKNER NO.1 BY VAN ZWEDEN

This week the last episode of our Bruckner cycle.
Symphony NO.1 by The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra/Jaap van Zweden


Recording Location: MCO-5 Hilversum/Holland
Recording Dates: 10-13/06/2013
Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Producer/Balance engineer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording Assistant: Brendon Heinst


Jaap van Zweden/RFO/MCO-5 Hilversum/Holland

'The Spotlights' on HQ|NORTHSTAR...

'...Experience the music in 5.1 Surround...'

Challenge Records International have launched an advertisement campaign in Dutch High End magazine Music & Emotion with exclusive emphasis on HQ|NORTHSTAR productions...

With an explanation of the HQ Musical Mastering principle, which is the basis of all our recordings, this advert is a great testimony for the passion and effort we put in our productions for Challenge.

Thank You!

'Strings Attached'...every day this week on Radio 4!

Our Turtle Records/HQ|NORTHSTAR production 'Strings Attached' with Arno Piters and members of the Concertgebouw Orchestra is the CD to win in the programm 'Light on 4' in the quiz "nootschieten'...Every day a part is played and explained.

Play and win!

Raving 5 stars Review for EVENSONG..!

This week NRC magazine publiced a raving Review of our new production 'Evensong' with Eric Vloeimans and The Netherlands Symphony Orchestra....

'Enchanting Masterpiece' is the qualification that highlights this review...

A listening experience where one forget's about time and space and is taken on an exiting journey by Vloeimans and Fondse. New dimensions etc etc...
GREAT!

De eerst commentaren op het album:

NRC Handelsblad:
"Een volumineus en betoverend meesterwerk dat breed uitwaaiert van klassiek met verfijnd en lichtjes dansende strijkers en pompeuze koperthema's naar jazzdelen met spanning."- Amanda Kuyper

Pauw & Witteman:
"Mooie muziek"- Paul Witteman

Jazzenzo
"'Evensong' gaat dan wel niet over godsdienst, toch zou je na het beluisteren haast in de hemelse heer gaan geloven."- Jan Jasper Tamboer

Met dit album heeft Eric Vloeimans een brug weten te slaan tussen vele muzikale stromingen; tussen klassiek en jazz en tussen Westerse tradities en mysterieuze Oosterse sferen. Het voornaamste stuk op dit album; Evensong, is geschreven in samenwerking met componist en arrangeur Martin Fonse. Dit vierdelige trompet concert weerspiegelt Vloeimans’ virtuositeit op de trompet.

'Italian Style...'

Next up the 4th Symphony of Felix Mendelssohn with the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra lead by Jan Willem de Vriend. The Italian one...
And as a bonus recordings for DVD/BLURAY as well.

Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Recording location: Muziekcentrum Enschede
Recording dates: 8-10/04/2013
Recording producer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording assistant: Brendon Heinst

LET's PARTY...!!

Coming up this week recordings with NedSym Lite, a spin off from the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra. Light Classical, Tango, Gypsy and Tango music performed by musicians from this renowned Orchestra...

LET's PARTY!


...Chique, veelzijdig en flexibel. Dat zijn de musici van het ensemble NedSym Lite. Het uitgebreide repertoire van dit ensemble varieert van licht klassiek tot opzwepende zigeunermuziek en van strakke tango’s tot swingende jazz. Daarnaast spelen ze vakkundig en met veel plezier eigen composities en muziek uit het populaire genre.

Met frisse en eigentijdse arrangementen en een ongekende flexibiliteit leent dit ensemble zich uitstekend voor de meest uiteenlopende gelegenheden. Viool, altviool en contrabas in combinatie met piano of gitaar: het is allemaal mogelijk en dat maakt het NedSym Lite tot een uniek ensemble. Zij geven dan ook regelmatig concerten die keer op keer zeer succesvol zijn.


Recording Location: Evangelisch Lutherse Kerk Haarlem, Holland
Recording Dates: 26-28/03/2013
Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Producer/Balance engineer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording Assistant: Brendon Heinst


Monitoring in Style!

The hills are alive, with the sound of....

...Baroque Music!
This week to the hills of Salzburg!
Recordings with Ars Antiqua Austria. The "Fidicinium Sacro-Profanum" by H.I. von Biber.

Thrilling stuff again in the very special Baroque Altomonte Recording Room.
(Foto: Brendon Heinst)

Recording Location: Stift St. Florian bei Linz an der Donau
Recording Dates: 10-14 March 2013
Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Producer/Balance engineer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording Assistant: Brendon Heinst


Stift St. Florian

2013 Turtle Records 15 YEARS!!

2013 is a special year! 15 years ago Northstar's Bert van der Wolf teamed up with Harry van Dalen from Rhapsody Sound Masters in Hilversum and they initiated the High End label Turtle records® which than kicked of with a team of 5 inspired people and became highly successful within months...

Now so many years later and Turtle Records, now left with it's "single parent" Bert van der Wolf, Harry and Bert are still "soul mates" in sound and music and because Rhapsody celebrates it's 25th anniversary this year the plan evolved to produce a compilation record of the best of Turtle Records, 15 years "The Spirti of Turtle Records®"

We are in the process of finding the best tracks we produced over the years and are excited to find the results in a few months!

Two weeks of great action...!

And back in the studio again...
With two great recordings under the belt, both earlier announced in this news section.

- The Calefax Reed ensemble teaming up with Eric Vloeimans in a production called "On the Spot". Many improvisation and music from 4 centuries apart. From Baroque to Miles Davis, all with the luscious sound of these 6 marvelous "airbenders"...


- The Kuijken quintet with the famous Schubert quintet with 2 cello's. The musical genes in this family keep me facinated...

ALMOST THERE....!!!!

The work is done, the masters are to the factory...it is a matter of waiting until the first HQ|NORTHSTAR BLURAY will be available. Winterreise with Christoph Pregardien and Michael Gees...really, it does not get better than that!

Than next up....Calefax meets Vloeimans

After more than 20 years I finally will work again with the Calefax Reed Quintet  in 2 weeks. We collaborated on their first recording in '92.
This time Eric Vloeimans gathers up with the guys and I am extremely excited to hear the result. I just finished 2 records with Eric and I cannot wait to experience the blend of sound between these 6 "air benders"....

Next up....Two Generations

Next week recordings with the fabulous Kuijken family in Galaxy Studio's, Schubert String Quintet and Quartet. A true feel good home match!

Quantum Sound....

Today working with Marc van Roon (Piano) and Martijn Vink (Drums) on the new Turtle/HQ|NORTHSTAR release with their trio with Clemens van der Feen.(Bass)

Improvised "quantums of sound" and elegant "standard like" performances...
What a treat to work with these free musical spirits!

A long time personal wish to work with Marc comes true, and the results are far beyond the best expectations I had...and those where extremely high to start with!!

A genuine TURTLE production with exemplary sound quality.

Triple Concerto & 'Archduke' Trio...

This week finishing and mastering Beethoven's Triple Concerto & 'Archduke' Trio with The Storioni Trio and The Netherlands Symphony Orchestra/Jan Willem de Vriend.
The first recording of the Trio on period instruments! A very refreshing performance...The Hybrid SACD will be released by Challenge Classics later this month and presented at the Storioni festival.

Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Recording producer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording assistent: Martijn van der Wolf
Recording location: Muziekcentrum Enschede (Tripleconcerto), Evangelisch Lutherse church Haarlem(Arch Duke trio)
Recording dates: 2&3-07-2012 (Triple concerto), 8&9-10-2012(Arch Duke trio)


Lagrassa, ca 1815

Winter Fun.....

Currently working on the soundtrack for "Der Winterreise" BLU-RAY production with Christoph Pregardien and Michael Gees.
How great this music is and how fantastic these performers!!

This production will be released on Challenge Classics/HQ|NORTHSTAR early 2013 as Hybrid SACD and BLU RAY disc.
A real treat..!

Mendelssohn continued...

This week the recordings of Mendelssohns 1st Symphony, which he wrote at the age of 15(!) and the "Ouvertüre Ruy Blas" as part of our project with the integral cycly of symphonies.
The amazing musical energy of Jan Willem de Vriend with the inspired Netherlands Symphony Orchestra bring this music to live and it is a pleasure and privelage to be part of the process!

Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Recording location: Muziekcentrum Enschede
Recording dates: 3-6 december 2012
Recording producer: Bert van der Wolf

Feature interview on OPUS KLASSIEK...

A brand new article was just released on opus klassiek. An extensive interview by Aart van der Wal with Bert van der Wolf.

Jaap van Zweden discusses score with Bert van der Wolf
picture Aart van der Wal

OLIVERS CINEMA <<>>ERIC VLOEIMANS

We just recorded for Challenge Jazz the new band of Eric Vloeimans, OLIVERS CINEMA...

Great film music themes in a setting for Accordeon, Cello and Trumpet.
Eric Vloeimans, Tuur Florizoone & Jörg Brinkmann...
Very atmospheric indeed!

Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Recording Location: Galaxy Studios, Mol, Belgium
Recording dates: 19/20-11-2012
Producer, balance engineer: Bert van der Wolf

5 ICMA NOMINATIONS...!!

5 productions by Northstar have been nominated for The International Classical Musical Awards 2013! 

WOW, it seems to be getting more and better every year...
Being nominated feels as an honour anyway, let alone with 5 productions at once.

We are proud and immensely thankful to Challenge Classics offering us the opportunity to work with these great musicians.

The nominies for 2013:

- Ockeghem: Requim - De La Rue: Requiem by Cappella Pratensis, S. Bull (Early Music)
- Haendel: Concerti Grossi at.6 no 1, 8, 6, 10, 5, 11 by Al Ayre Español, E. Lopez Banzo (Baroque Instrumental)
- Britten: War Requiem by E. Dovracheva, A. D. Grifey, M. Stone, Netherlands Radio Choir, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, J. van Zweden (Choral)
- Bruckner, Symphony No. 8 by Netherland Philharmonic, J. van Zweden (Symphonic Music)
- Beethoven: Complete Symhonies by The Netherlands Symphony Orchestra J.W. de Vriend (Symphonic Music)

Craftsmanship is masterly...(interview)

The november issue of the Dutch audio magazine HVT features Northstar's Bert van der Wolf in a great interview.

"...The list of productions where he actively left his mark on is really impressive and belongs in terms of recording- and musical quality to the top..."

"...De lijst van producties waar hij
actief zijn stempel op heeft gedrukt, is ronduit indrukwekkend
en behoort qua opname en muzikale kwaliteit tot
de top...."

Bert Oling / HVT

Sergei Prokofiev, a new cycle...

Coming week we start the recordings of a new integral Symphony cycle on Challenge Classics.
All symphonies of Sergei Prokofiev with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra lead by James Gaffigan.
First in line, Symphony nr. 7...

Recording: Northstar recording Services BV
Recording Producer & Balance engineer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording dates: 29/10-01/11-2012
Recording Location: MCO-5 Hilversum, Holland.


Sergei Prokofiev

And...another one!

Next up this week yet another Turtle Records® production.
This time with Ewald Demeyere playing on Virginal & Cembalo.

All will be recorded in the fantastic silence of Galaxy Studio's/ Mol Belgium which for sure will be a thrill...

A new TURTLE RECORDS® production...

A very long time wish came true this week...
A recording production with Jazz piano player Marc van Roon. We knew each other from The Conservatory in The Hague in the eighties, but somehow our paths never crossed again. Until now, and this week we recorded a fantastic set of Marc's compositions, standards and improvisations with his trio with Martijn Vink (drums) and Clemens van der Feen (Double bass).
The picture shows the Evangelisch Lutherse kerk in Haarlem(Holland) where we constructed an innovative microphone setting and surrounding with strategically placed curtains to create an ideal sound scape for the atmospheric music and sounds this trio performs. A great recording in the tradition of "audiophile" Turtle Records®. Like all current Turtle productions the record will be licensed to and released as Hybrid Stereo+Surround SACD on the HQ|NORTHSTAR/Challenge Jazz label. Former Turtle member Harry van Dalen came in as well as a guest producer, which was a joy!

Next up....The Storioni Trio

After our recording of Beethovens triple concerto with the Storionitrio and the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra/JW de Vriend, we now are gearing up for the recording of the so called "Arch Duke trio". The HQ Hybrid SACD will be released in January 2013. The recordings are done with a fortepiano delivered by Edwin Beunk, a first for the trio...

Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Recording producer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording assistent: Martijn van der Wolf
Recording location: Muziekcentrum Enschede (Tripleconcerto), Evangelisch Lutherse church Haarlem(Arch Duke trio)
Recording dates: 2&3-07-2012 (Triple concerto), 8&9-10-2012(Arch Duke trio)

10 in LUISTER...Phenomenal recording!

Our recording of Bruckners 8th symphony with The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra/Jaap van Zweden received a 10/10 recommendation in the Dutch magazine Luister!

"Highest praise ...With distance the best Bruckner 8 of the past period. Great compliments for the orchestra and the technical team. The recording sounds really phenomenal, mostly from the SACD layer."
(ref. Emile Stoffels/LUISTER)

Another review in OPUS KLASSIEK:

"...Ten slotte nog een woord over de weergavekwaliteit van deze – van een uiterst leesbaar essay van Aart van der Wal voorziene – uitgave. Opnieuw deed Studio-5 van het Muziekcentrum van de Omroep in Hilversum dienst als opnamelokaliteit en wederom is het resultaat verbluffend. Zodanig dat men zich op een top avond in de Grote Zaal van het Amsterdamse Concertgebouw aanwezig waant. Een diep peilende en hoogst sonoor werkende klank van het koper, zinderende strijkers, een schitterende ruimtelijke definiëring en een schier onbegrensde dynamiek maken deze vertolking, waarmee Van Zweden nog eens ten overvloede bewijst tot de waarlijk grote Bruckner-interpreten te behoren, tot een hoogst begerenswaardig geheel...."
"...The recording quality is astonishing..."

FOLK STORIES...

This week I am finishing and mastering  the long awaited recording with soprano Cora Burggraaf featuring her most favorite Folk Songs.... A colorful combination of styles and countries of origin make this a great record! Cora proves to be a true chameleon when it comes to languages (German, English, Finnish, Hungarian, Italian &... Rotterdams!) and styles to fit the different songs. From lyrical and dramatic to funny and even corny...all is available on vocal her pallette.

Songs by Beethoven, Britten, Mahler, Respighi, Sibelius a.o.

Cora Burggraaf mezzo-soprano
Simon Lepper piano
Liza Ferschtman violin*
Floris Mijnders cello*
*Beethoven: from Irish Folksongs WoO 152 + 153

Recorded at: De Doelen, Rotterdam (NL)
Recording dates: 26 April & 11-13 December 2011
Recording producer: Bert van der Wolf
Recorded by: NorthStar Recording Services


Simon Lepper

KLARA's 10 For Ars Antiqua Austria

Our latest recording with Ars Antiqua Austria lead by Gunar Letzbor has been awarded with the KLARA's 10 award. A special acknowledgement for this production because the motto of this price is: "because only the best is good enough..."

Great!

Recording Location: Stift St. Florian bei Linz an der Donau
Recording Dates: 10-13 November 2011
Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Producer/Balance engineer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording Assistant: Fir Suidema
A&R Challenge Records International:

Vloeimans' symphonic landscapes...

This week recording Dutch (jazz) trumpet player Eric Vloeimans with the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra lead by Jurjen Hempel. Compositions by Eric and Martin Fondse. Fantastic musical cinematic landscapes! A great challenge to record...

Executive producer: Marcel van den Broek/Challenge Records
Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Recording dates: 11-14 September 2012
Recording producer: Bert van der Wolf
Location: Muziekcentrum Enschede

Martin Fondse

'Der Lindenbaum'...at Galaxy

Recording Winterreise / Franz Schubert at Galaxy studios these days...
3 nice "Lindenbäume" on the studio parking!

Christoph Pregardien/Michael Gees (piano)

Galaxy Studios, Mol,Belgium
Challenge Classics
Recording dates: 01-05/09/2012
Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Producer: Bert van der Wolf

Combattimento Consort A'dam & Lisa Larsson

Cantatas and arias by Joseph Haydn.
Combattimento Consort Amsterdam/ Jan Willem de Vriend & Lisa Larsson, Soprano.

Great music in a wonderful setting in the "Singel" Church in Amsterdam, a place we recorded probably over a hundred productions over the past 25 years.
A wooden Mennonite hidden church in the centre of the city which has the perfect acoustic for this "scenic" music. One can imagine a baroque opera house and Lisa's crystal clear voice sounds amazingly transparent in this acoustic.

Recording dates: 9/11-01 & 26/27-08-2012
Recording location: Doopsgezinde kerk Amsterdam
Recording producer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV

HQ|NORTHSTAR conquers China...

A new chain of distribution is installed for all the HQ|NORTHSTAR productions in Hong Kong, China and bordering regions. All Turtle Records and Challenge Records productions produced by Northstar as a special set under the HQ branding distributed and marketed by Master Music.

This is a true acknowledgement of our HQ recording philosophy and it's impact on music productions and as such recognised as a common property.
Crossing the boundaries of labels, musical styles and playing practices, being an optimal gateway between the musicians and the listeners.

Simply great!!

Mendelssohns Lobgesang...

F. Mendelssohn (1809-1847) Symfonie nr. 2 'Lobgesang'
The Netherlands Symphony Orchestra / Jan Willem de Vriend         
Machteld Baumans, soprano               
Judith Wanroij, soprano
Patrick Henckens, tenor
Consensus Vocalis (study Klaas Stok)

Executive producer: Anne de Jong
Recording at: Muziekcentrum Enschede
Recording dates: 19 & 20 December 2011 / 5&7 July 2012
Recording Producer, Mix & Editing: Bert van der Wolf
Recording assistent: Martijn van der Wolf
Recording: NorthStar Recording Services BV

The Power of Sound

Recording "The Power of Sound" by The Spirit Connection, the new enterprise of my dear friend Harry van Dalen from Rhapsody, Hilversum.

21 Gongs (!), Bach Cello suite, didgeridoo's & Choir....1,5 hour improvisation.

AMAZING!!!!!!!

What a challenge to capture this moment in a surround recording. A "healing" experience to listen it back time and time again....

20 OUT OF 20!!

"...Remarkable recording technique..." (ref. Sven Kerkhoff/musikansich.de)

Two wonderful reviews just appeared on www.musikansich.de, and specific praise in them on NORTHSTAR's recording quality as well. One of them even scores 20 out of 20 points!

On the recording of Händels Concerti Grossi with Al Ayre Español: "...a with plasticity, wonderful layered and juicy sound image..."
On the recording of Graupners Chalumeaux concerti with Ars Antiqua Austria: "...one can speak of 3 successful experiments in this recording: Graupners art, Letzbors interpretation and Bert van der Wolfs splendid producing and recording work!..."

You can find these articles here


Altomonte Hall in St. Florian
Recording Ars Antiqua Austria

THE PAST UNMASKED...

SCHUBERT UNMASKED

This week I am diving in the past...
Anima Eterna Brugge, lead by Jos van Immerseel have asked me to remaster the recordings of all Schubert Symphonies which we recorded in the period 1996/1997 for SONY CLASSICAL...

Digging up the masters in the archive was a joy and it must be said that the version laid down back than has not lost any of it's original appeal. It sounds to me even more actual and relevant than maybe it did back than!

A lot has happened the past 15 years in terms of monitoring in the NORTHSTAR studio, so it is great to have a new look and listen on these recordings. Not much needs to be done however, the recordings are certainly up to spec., but a few tweaks here and there will make these recordings as brand new. GREAT STUFF!!

Berlioz in Musis sacrum...

This week recordings with Lisa Larsson and the Gelders Orchestra lead by Antonello Manacorda. Berlioz' "Cleopatra", "Herminie" & "La Captive...

Recording Bruckner

Anton Bruckner Symphony NO.6 & NO.1 / The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra/Jaap van Zweden.

Recordings for Challenge Classics which will be released later this year and spring 2013.

Executive producer: Anne de Jong
Recording at: Studio MCO 5, Hilversum, Holland
Recording dates: 11-16-06-2012
Recording Producer, Mix & Editing: Bert van der Wolf
Recording: NorthStar Recording Services BV

Great praise for HQ|NORTHSTAR!

About the War Requiem release in OPUS KLASSIEK web magazine

...The great winner of this release is however recording engineer Bert van der Wolf and his team of Northstar Recordings. Especially in the Surround mode, there is a grandiose and very natural definition of the hall created (even more beautiful than the surround version of Hickox), thus giving one the feeling of actually being present in the hall. Because of this, the above mentioned "geography of the performance", with all it's depth and spatial appearance, is presented like a perfect auditive equivalent of a film with 3 dimensional picture...
(Maarten Brandt/OPUS KLASSIEK)

...De grote winnaar van deze uitgave is echter opnametechnicus Bert van der Wolf en zijn team van Northstar Recordings. Speciaal via de surround-modus is er een werkelijk grandioze een zeer natuurlijk overkomende definitie van de zaal ontstaan (zelfs fraaier dan de surround-versie van Hickox), zodat men zich bijkans echt bij het gebeuren aanwezig waant. Zodoende komt eerdergenoemde “geografie van de uitvoering” met alle erbij horende diepte- en ruimtewerking haarfijn tot haar recht, zodat er een perfect geslaagd auditief equivalent in het leven wordt geroepen van het – overdrachtelijk gesproken – zien van een film met driedimensionaal beeld...
(Maarten Brandt/OPUS KLASSIEK)

Britten in the cathedral of Coventry

AND WE HAVE A WINNER!

Jaap van Zweden is the winner of the prestigious award Edison Klassiek in the category Opera! Van Zweden and the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra won the Edison for Parsifal.

The judges are unanimous:
"The live recording of Parsifal, released by Challenge, show again how much Van Zweden is available to play Wagner with maximum excitment, adventure and richness. He shows he is able to unfold the 4 hour opera."

The award will be handed out on the Edison Klassiek Gala on June 15. The gala will be broadcasted by the AVRO on Nederland 2.

This recording is edited and mastered for surround SACD by NORTHSTAR.

AGAIN 2 EDISON Nominations this year!

This year two productions in which Northstar participated are nominated for the Edison Classic audience award of which one also in the category Opera. It is always a great honor and thrilling experience when the people we actually produce the recordings for are so enthusiastic about them and vote for us!
Vote here

- Pauliene & Nienke Oostenrijk/ Nieuw Sinfonietta A'dam / Jaap Terlinden
OBOE PASSION : ARIAS & CONCERTOS BY J.S. BACH & SONS
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Christian Bach
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

-PARSIFAL /Richard Wagner
Klaus Florian Vogt
Katarina Dalayman
Robert Holl
Falk Struckmann
Jaap van Zweden
Nederlands Radiokoor
Radio Filharmonisch Orkest

START OF NEW SERIES RECORDINGS

We started this week with a new series of symphonic orchestra recordings.

The complete symphonies of Robert Schumann with The Netherlands Radio Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra lead by Michael Schønwandt.
During these sessions we recorded the 1st and 4th symphony. In June no. 2 & 3 will follow...

A great honor and a fantastic project which will be released by Challenge Classics.

Recording at: Studio MCO 1, Hilversum, Holland
Recording dates: 16-20 April 2012
Recording Producer, Mix & Editing: Bert van der Wolf
Recording assistent: Martijn van der Wolf
Recording: NorthStar Recording Services BV

TURTLE RECORDS® ALIVE AND KICKING!

We are proud to announce a new Turtle Records® project!

The turtle is "slow", so is our labels release schedule, but rest assure: Turtles get very, very, very old and we intend to as well...
                                                                                            Arno Piters
Arno Piters, Clarinet player in the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra together with his colleagues from the KCO. Wonderful musicians, and we had great fun during the sessions!! Great music by Johannes Brahms for Clarinet & Piano arranged for string sextet & quintet by Geert van Keulen.

Everybody knows the famous original Clarinet Quintet by Brahms which is one of the most popular classical pieces ever. These arrangements are so wonderful, and add so much to these pieces that one could speak of a unique addition to the famous quintet in the repertoire for Clarinet and strings.

Recording dates: 2-4 April 2012
Recording Location: Galaxy Studios, Mol, Belgium
Recording producer, mix & Editing: Bert van der Wolf
Recording: NorthStar Recording Services BV

Geert van Keulen

Coverage on National TV

Liza & Dmitry Ferschtman appeared in the Dutch National TV programm "De Wereld Draait Door" and played a Schulhoff piece of our latest production together. It is great to see how much attention and recognition Challenge receives lately for our productions and we are very proud to have been part of it!

A special moment for Northstar!

Due to an advertisement campaign of The Netherlands Symphony Orchestra Northstar has ended up on the side of a train...!

Since Challenge chose to put Norhstar's HQ logo "by Bert van der Wolf" on the cover of the productions, this than suddenly was part of this design on the train. A special feeling to experience, nothing important or life altering  in essence, but it does fill me with pride! One could call this a once in a lifetime situation. How many time will your name appear on a train?
Although many musicians we work with are on the billboards in the cities all over the world all the time, we as more transparent part of musical productions mostly operate relatively invisible. For a few months this is now not the case!

A special moment for Northstar!

Another KLARA'S 10!!

For the second time within a month a Northstar recording received the KLARA'S-10 award...This time for our recording with Cappella Pratensis with Requiem masses of Ockeghem and De la Rue.
We are of course again very proud to have been part of this production and do congratulate the musicians and Challenge Classics for this splendid result.

Many NEW PRODUCTIONS!

A large amount of new titles is available in the shop.
Months of hard work on fantastic productions with great musicians have materialised now in final end products! Check it out....!

KLARA's 10

One of the latest Northstar/Turtle Records productions released by Challenge Classics has been awarded with the "Klara's 10" selection. The 10 most interesting CD releases of this week. The SACD with Ewald Demeyere /18th-Century Flemish Harpsichord Music got the highest recommendation. The record is praised for the great discoveries of wonderful cembalo repertoire and the exquisite recording quality realised from this famous Dulcken instrument. A great honor which makes us proud to have been part of this great production.

A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We wish all our friends, colleagues and clients a happy and prosperous 2012!!

A Great Challenge for Northstar!

The last week of 2011 Northstar faced a real "Challenge..."!
Two big orchestral recordings back to back featuring two of the most promising directors of our time. Starting with The Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, lead by Jan Willem de Vriend, we recorded Mendelssohns second Symphony including "Lobgesang" in Enschede's Music Centre. After that we had to pack up the whole technical facility and move over in one afternoon to Hilversum where the recording of Bruckners 3rd Symphony was scheduled starting at 19:00h. Jaap van Zweden, "International director of the year 2012" (!!), conducting the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. Interesting to see and experience how the former class-mates from the Amsterdam conservatory both developed their skills to such a stellar level and to become such highly respected and searched for international conductors.
So, a lot of high profile action for Northstar just before the Christmas holidays and we are extremely proud to have been contracted to produce and record these wonderful projects.

Recording Al Ayre Español

This week we are recording G.F. Händels Concerti Grossi opus 6 with Al Ayre Español/ Eduardo Lopez Banzo in the Auditorio de El Escorial near Madrid in Spain.
A great project with musicians that have specialized in Händels repertoire on period instruments for many years and with great succes.

Recording Location: Auditorio de El Escorial, San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Recording Dates: 2-5 December 2011
Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Producer/Balance engineer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording Assistant: Fir Suidema

Northstar features in Audio Beat

Audio Beat's Chris Thomas visited the Northstar Studio and wrote a great article...

"...Piece after piece followed. These were mainly classical and all had equal effect. This was dynamic range like I've never heard from CD, but the sound was tonally acute as well, and I never got the impression that the medium itself was inhibiting what Bert was trying to convey with his recordings..."

"...I actually couldn’t stop smiling. This was dynamic range and transient freedom like I have never heard -- nor expected..."

"...Bert is a truly great producer of the type that I haven’t met for many years, and he has built this amazing installation purely for his own enjoyment. I admire that..."

http://www.theaudiobeat.com/blog/dsd_usb.htm

Recording Ars Antiqua Austria

This week we are in St. Florian near Linz and Salzburg for recordings with Ars Antiqua Austria. Music of he 18th century composer Christoph Graupner.
For the first time we record such a "baroque ensemble" in the kind of "room" which most likely is similar to rooms where this music could have been performed regurarely in the 18th century. Often recordings of older music, played with historic "period" instruments, are in concert halls of much later date and in churches with a rather religious acoustic and atmosphere. Worldly chamber music however was mostly played in palaces and this recording location might be much more "authentic" in that sense.  This room communicates the "Baroque philosophy" with an overwhelming visual and auditive illusion. Being a very small room, one however has the feeling to be in a much larger place due to the painted ceilings and walls with deep perspective and the sound is so much "larger than live" that one could speak of a "reverb unit avant la lettre"...A new experience to say the least, and a completely different recording technique is required to capture this surrounding in a convincing way. The picture shows the overwhelming paintings and ornamentations in the room which give it it's distinct acoustic and baroque atmosphere...

Leitung: Gunar Letzbor
Ernst Schlader, Markus Springer , Christian Leitherer - Chalumeaux
Gunar Letzbor, Barbara Konrad - Violinen
Markus Miesenberger - Viola
Jan Krigovsky – Violone 8’
Norbert Zeilberger- Orgel, Cembalo
Hubert Hoffmann - Laute
Karin Gemeinhardt - Fagott
Albert Heitzinger, Michael Söllner - Hörner
Alex Georgiev - Pauken

Recording Location: Stift St. Florian bei Linz an der Donau
Recording Dates: 10-13 November 2011
Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV
Producer/Balance engineer: Bert van der Wolf
Recording Assistant: Fir Suidema

diapason d'or for VIVAT LEO!

Our recording Vivat Leo! - "Music for a Medici Pope", for Challenge Classics, featuring Cappella Pratensis directed by Joshua Rifkin, has been rewarded with a Diapason d'or in the leading French magazine Diapason...Pope Leo was, apart from being a respectable composer himself, a great ambassador for good music in general and astonishing works were written for him and commissioned by him. This CD is an exploration of the musical taste of Pope Leo X with works from f.i. Josquin Desprez and Jean Mouton.
We are proud to have been part of this production and we congratulate Cappella Pratensis for this recognition!

Recorded at : AMUZ, Antwerp
Recording dates: 12-14 April 2010
Recording producer: Bert van der Wolf
Recorded by: Northstar Recording Services BV

Back on the nest...!

I am extremely excited and proud to announce that from November 2011 on I am again engaged by dCS UK to work with them on new products...
After an absense of almost 3 years, dCS have asked me again to join forces. As they call it: their "Golden Ear/Development Advisor"...
Our relation goes back for over 20 years and I was fortunate to be part in almost all "world firsts" by dCS, such as the start of "higher sample rates" back in 1993. We even did the first 192kS/s-24 bit recordings ever for SAMSUNG and for a few years I was spokesman and project manager between dCS and Philips NAT LAB in the DSD/SACD research trajectory.
We will be working on all sorts of projects which will involve improvement in existing products, creating an optimal procedure and circumstances for auditive testing and evaluation, but also many new ideas and possibilities will probably materialize over the coming period.
As a completely committed HQ SURROUND adept I for sure will try to persuede the whole High End world to get into proper Surround again through dCS...

WOW...!! It really feels like returning on the Nest!!

Beethoven Volume 4 & 5...almost!

This week I am editing and mixing on Beethoven's 9th symphony and finishing the masters of volume 4 with the 2nd & 3rd symphony. All recordings with The Netherlands Symphony Orchestra lead by Jan Willem de Vriend. So far the releases of this integral Beethoven Symphonies project have received high praise in the international press and have been awarded already as well. In January the whole box with all symphonies will be available at Challenge Classics.

Recording at: Muziekcentrum Enschede
Recording dates: Symfonie nr 3: 18-20 mei 2009, Symfonie nr 2: 7-8 september 2010
Recording Producer, Mix & Editing: Bert van der Wolf
Recording: NorthStar Recording Services BV

Prof. Keith O. Johnson visits Northstar

Multi award winning recording engineer, chief engineer at Spectral Audio and founder of Pacific Microsonics, inventor of the HDCD principle and dear colleague Professor Keith O. Johnson finally visited the Northstar studio and enjoyed listening to our recordings. Because we use many of "his" electronics and I personally am a great admirer of his work as a recording engineer for Reference Recordings, this was a great honor and opportunity to learn. For many years we have been in contact and through several visits over the years by Spectral's Rick Fryer, we communicated our love for the profession and music on a regular basis. It turned out to be a wonderful exchange of ideas and experiences and most likely Northstar will benefit greatly from all the input Keith gave after hearing our work. As a bonus we will get access to the microphone pre-amplifier technology Spectral developed for his own recording facility and a meeting at his place in America is planned for in the near future. It will add tremendously to the quality of our productions when the Spectral technology moves further back in the chain...We already use Spectral exclusively in our monitoring systems, but as of a front end this still remained a dream until now!
It was an enlightening experience to have such a knowledgeable, friendly and interesting colleague around to review our results...
THANK YOU KEITH!!
Much appreciated...

Elektra & Der Freischütz

We are extremely happy and proud to announce that Northstar has been contracted to do the editing, mix and mastering of two wonderful opera productions. "Der Freischütz" by C.M. von Weber, Radio Kamer Filharmonie and Groot Omroepkoor (Michael Schønwandt) and Elektra by Richard Strauss, Nederlands Filharmonisch Orkest (Marc Albrecht)
Both works have been performed live recently and have been awarded with great enthusiasm from the audience and wonderful reviews in the press.
It is great that these documents will be released on hybrid surround and stereo SACD by Challenge Classics so they are preserved optimally for future generations!

Pizzicato Award

In the Luxembourgian magazine Pizzicato conductor Jan Willem de Vriend and the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra got a Supersonic award! This means the Beethoven Symfonies Volume 3, Nr. 7 & 8. got a ten out of ten points!

A recording for Challenge Classics, produced and engineered by Northstar's Bert van der Wolf.

dCS World Premiere Presentation

Friday and Saturday September 23rd & 24th, Northstar facilitated dCS's world wide introduction of a new format for audio playback on their Debussy DA converter... DSD master files played through a standard USB interface on a standard MAC/PC. This groundbreaking feature might forever change the way we will have access to high resolution audio formats. SACD will no longer be the sole carrier for this wonderful format for sure...!
Northstar was chosen to deliver the DSD source material and Bert van der Wolf gave a lecture on the use of DSD & DXD in the recording process and on why it is such a splendid alternative for traditional PCM formats. The event took place at Rhapsody Sound Masters in Hilversum, Holland.
After this the international press embarked on a tour to the Northstar Studio to get a glimpse of what might become possible in the forseable future with DSD surround files and Ultra High End playback systems!

Nomination Gramophone Award

The SACD Italienisches Liederbuch of Christoph Prégardien, Julia Kleiter & Hilko Dumno is nominated for a Gramophone Award 2011! The Gramophone Award is an annual celebration of the best in recorded classical music. The winner will be revealed at the Gramophone Classical Music Awards on October 6 at London's Dorchester Hotel.

A recording for Challenge Classics, produced and engineered by Northstar's Bert van der Wolf.

05/09 Famous Dulcken

This week I am working further on the editing and mastering of the recording:

Joannes Daniel Dulcken & Pièces de Clavecin
Eighteenth-Century Flemish Harpsichord Music

Played by Ewald Demeyere on one of the most famous original harpsichords on the planet, build by Joannes Daniel Dulcken.

This production is a co-production between Turtle Records and Challenge Classics and will be released coming fall.

Recording at: Vleeshuis Museum, Antwerp, Belgium
Recording dates: 28-30 March 2011
Recording Producer, Mix & Editing: Bert van der Wolf
Recording: NorthStar Recording Services BV

01/09 New Web Site for Northstar

As you can see the new web site of Northstar Recording Services is a fact!
New Art has designed a wonderful new house style and branding around the "High Quality Musical Surround Mastering" principle which will coincide seamless with all new Challenge Classics and Turtle Records releases which are produced by Northstar. The HQMM principle by Bert van der Wolf has found it's place in many recording productions and receives high acclaim amongst artists and music lovers from all over the world.

31/08 Mastering Dvorak/Gershwin

Final stages in editing and mastering this next Hybrid Surrround SACD for Challenge Classics. This project is choosen to feature in the "aangenaam klassiek" campaign, so we are a bit in a hurry to get the job done!

Violin Concerto a minor/Op. 53 / Antonin Dvorak
An American in Paris / George Gershwin
Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra Amsterdam / Mario Venzago / Liza Ferschtman

Artistic manager: Sven Arne Tepl, NedPhO
Executive producer: Anne de Jong
Recorded at: Beurs van Berlage, Amsterdam The Netherlands
Recording dates: 20 – 22 April 2011
Recording Producer, Mix & Editing: Bert van der Wolf
Recorded & Mastered by: NorthStar Recording Services BV

25/08 Recording Bruckner

Anton Bruckner Symphony NO.8 / The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra/Jaap van Zweden.

A recording for Challenge Classics which will be released first half of 2012

Executive producer: Anne de Jong
Recording at: Studio MCO 5, Hilversum, Holland
Recording dates: 25-29 August 2011
Recording Producer, Mix & Editing: Bert van der Wolf
Recording: NorthStar Recording Services BV

15/08 Editing Ockeghem/De La Rue

Editing and mixing the project with Cappella Pratensis of two requiem masses by Ockeghem and De La Rue. Release is expected in January 2012


Recording at: Catholic Church Vieux-Sart, Belgium
Recording dates: 9-12 June 2011
Recording Producer, Mix & Editing: Bert van der Wolf
Recording: NorthStar Recording Services BV

18/07 2nd complete Beethoven...

We just finished the last recordings of the integral Beethoven symphonies cycle with The Netherlands Symphony Orchestra and Jan Willem de Vriend with the final of the 9th symphony. Meanwhile volume 1, 2 and 3 are available and so far the reactions of consumers and press are fantastic. The whole series will be complete in the spring of 2012 with the 9th. Next up are 2nd and 3rd symphonie.

For Northstar this is the second integral recording cycle of Beethoven's symphonies. The first was with Anima Eterna Brugge lead by Jos van Immerseel which was recorded between 2006 and 2008 and released by the French label Zig-Zag Territoires. We are extremely proud that such renowned ensembles have chosen Northstar to produce such enormously prestigious projects.

Recording at: Muziekcentrum Enschede
Recording dates: 12-14 & 18 July 2011
Recording Producer, Mix & Editing: Bert van der Wolf
Recording: NorthStar Recording Services BV

04/07 Recording Haendel Concerti Grossi

2nd half of the recording of all Concerti Grossi op.6 / Georg Friedrich Händel by the Combattimento Consort Amsterdam / Jan Willem de Vriend. The first half is recorded in December 2010 and the estimated release of the complete set is scheduled for the first half of 2012.


Recording at: Muziekcentrum Enschede
Recording dates: 4-8 July 2011
Recording Producer, Mix & Editing: Bert van der Wolf
Recording: NorthStar Recording Services BV

23/05 Recording Family Ferschtman

Finally a recording of Liza Ferschtman and her also famous father Dmitri together. Works for duo Violin and Cello by Maurice Ravel, Zoltán Kodály and Erwin Schulhoff. A very inspiring session with these two extremely talented and expressive musicians.
The recording is made for Challenge Classics and will be released in the first half of 2012.

Executive Producer: Anne de Jong
Recording venue: Muziekcentrum Frits Philips, Eindhoven, Holland
Recording dates: 23-25 May 2011
Recording Producer, Engineer & Editing: Bert van der Wolf
Recording: Northstar Recording Services BV

17/04 Recording St. John Passion

Recording Sessions of J.S. Bach's St. John Passion with La Petite Bande / Sigiswald Kuijken. Just like our recording of the Matthäus Passion with single parts for every voice, so the soloists form also the choir. A new approach, suggested byJoshua Rifkin and adopted by Sigiswald Kuijken as probably  historically correct.

Executive Producer: Anne de Jong
Recording at: Academiezaal, St. Truiden, Belgium
Recording dates: 17-20 April 2011
Recording Producer, Mix & Editing: Bert van der Wolf
Recording: NorthStar Recording Services BV

2 Edison Nominations this year

2 SACD's produced by Northstar are nominated for the Edison Audience award this year. Obviously we are very proud with such a recognition by the public!

WORKS FOR VIOLIN SOLO
Componist(en): Bach/Ysaÿe Uitvoerenden: Liza Ferschtman

MATTHÄUS-PASSION BWV 244
Componist(en): Bach Uitvoerenden: La Petite Bande o.l.v. Sigiswald Kuijken

3 ICMA Nominations

The international Classical Music Award (ICMA) has nominated 3 productions which are produced by Bert van der Wolf of Northstar Recording Services.

CC 72389 Pauline Oostenrijk/Baroque Academy of the NSO- Vivaldi: Concertos for Oboe and Strings
CC 72361 The Netherlands Symfonie Orchestra/Jan Willem de Vriend - Beethoven Symphonies 4&6
CC 72357 La Petite Bande/Sigiswald Kuijken - Bach: Matthaus Passion

In 2009 the recording of "Die Schöne Müllerin" with Christoph Pregardien and Michael Gees won the prestegious "MIDEM record of the year Award", which now is called the ICMA award.

BBC Music Award 2011

We are extremely happy to announce that Christoph Prégardien has been nominated for a BBC Music Magazine Award for the Italienisches Liederbuch of Hugo Wolf (Christoph Prégardien / Julia Kleiter / Hilko Dumno - CC 72378) This great news can even get better when you as a music lover VOTE for this CD NOW: here.
Produced and engineered by Bert van der Wolf

Edison Luister Publieksprijs 2010

We are proud and very happy with the winning of the Edison Luister Publieksprijs, which was handed out to Rudolf Koelman for his extraordinary recording, with the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra and conductor Jan Willem de Vriend, of the Violin Concertos nos. 1 & 2 of Niccolò Paganini. The Award was handed out on the 18th of June, in the Edison Classical Award-Gala which took place in the magnificent Kurhaus in Scheveningen and was broadcasted on National Dutch television (Ned 2) by the AVRO.  Because this award was chosen by the public, everyone had been able to vote themselves for their favorite Classical Album of the year 2009 out of a selection made by the Jury of the Edison Stichting and classical Dutch magazine 'Luister'. The album was recorded live, which makes it an even more incredible performance. To listen to samples of the album, click here.
Produced and engineered by Bert van der Wolf

16 NORTHSTAR PRODUCTIONS on Anniversary CD

We are proud to have been asked by German loudspeaker builder Audio Physic to produce a compilation of our classical recordings for their 25th anniversary CD...
The disc was presented at the High End Audio Show 2010 in Munich Germany.

The theme of the disc is:
“Classical Music with 21th Century understanding and insights...”

This compact disc has been compiled with the idea of not only demonstrating sound quality and realism in recording and playback techniques, but also to show the variety in modern playing practice of ‘Classical’ music.

Tracklist:
1 Second Concerto Pour Trompette, 2nd movement, 1954 / André Jolivet 4:26
2 “Wohin” from “Die schöne Mullerin”, 1824 / Franz Schubert 2:25
3 Quintet in D Major Hob.X:5, 3rd movement, Baritone, Viola, Contrabass & 2 Horns, appr. 1770 / Joseph Haydn 3:28
4 Rondo /Allegro KV 485, 1786 / Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 4:41
5 Gaude Virgo, 15th century / Pierre de la Rue 3:58
6 Variationen “Ei du feiner Reiter”, aus Konzert fuer Cembalo und Streichorchester opus 14. 1935 / Hugo Distler 4:58
7 A duoi Liutti vnisoni, Canzon di Claudio da Correggio a 4, late 16th century / Giovanni Antonio Terzi Da Bergamo 3:18
8 Excerpt from 1st Symphony “Titan” (Hamburg 1893 version)/Gustav Mahler 7:58
9 “Ich kann’s nicht fassen, nicht glauben” from “Frauenliebe und Leben”, 1840/ Robert Schumann 1:32
10 ”Mache dich, mein Herze, rein” from St. Matthew Passion BWV 244, 1728 / Johann Sebastian Bach 6:07
11 “Eritaña” from “Iberia”, 1905 / Isaac Albeniz 5:56
12 L’Arte del Violino, opera omnia III, Concerto 5, Allegro/Cappricio (no.10), 1733 / Pietro Antonio Locatelli 3:17
13 String quartet no. 1, 3rd movement, Quasi agitato, 1982 / Tristan Keuris 7:18
14 “Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben” from the Christmas Oratorium, 1734/ Johann Sebastian Bach 5:39
15 “Die Taubenpost”, 1828 / Franz Schubert 3:22
16 Wellingtons Sieg, “(Die) Schlacht bei Vittoria”, op. 91, 1813 / Ludwig van Beethoven 8:30

GOLDEN AWARD

For Jan Willem de Vriend after selling the first 10.000 copies in the Netherlands of the Weihnachts Oratorium of Johann Sebastian Bach.
Produced and engineered by Bert van der Wolf