Touted as the first major label opera recording in years, it seems that no expense was spared. The starry cast is headed by Radvanovsky, Kaufmann, Jaho, Pertusi, and Spyres as old Altoum! All are under the baton of Pappano with the Chorus and Orchestra dell’Accademia di Santa Cecilia. But all these wonderful ingredients fail to come together.

To my ears, the performance is defeated by the unpleasant, overly controlled sonics. It sounds bloated. This does not help our two leading ladies. While I admire both Radvanovsky and Jaho, they do not possess the most phonogenic voices. Radvanovsky as Turandot sounds pressed in a way she never does in the opera house, while Jaho’s moving frailty here sounds quavery and wan. Kaufmann’s burly tenor still impresses, but he lacks the Italianate freedom on top notes that the role of Calaf is built around. Pertusi is a serviceable Timur. Pappano leads these forces with style and feeling, but the whole performance fails to gel. I am now going into hiding.