New bespoke opera releases are rare commodities nowadays, and this is apparently the first studio sourced version of Verdi’s tragicomedy since the mid-1990s. In fact this Un Ballo in Maschera has been sourced from two studios: the sessions took place in 2021 during and after lockdown, with the solo contributions recorded in Monte Carlo and the choruses by the Transylvania State Philharmonic Choir in Cluj, Romania, four months later. Not that anyone is likely to guess; the components have been seamlessly integrated in the final mix, with excellent orchestral playing and lustrous sound throughout.
