This performance of L'Assassinio nella cattedrale is doubly exciting as it marks the world premiere of the opera. And contrary to what your expectations might be about an opera written in 1958, L'Assassinio is quite lyrical in nature giving this superb cast of Italianate voices ample opportunities to display their vocal artistry. The musical writing uses dissonance to convey the impending sense of doom without becoming needlessly nightmarish. Leyla Gencer, as the first chorister, does a lot to advocate for the work and is sublime in her extended aria. If you do not know this work, I highly recommend it!