Universal Music Enterprises The Mask and Mirror Definitive Edition 4-Disc Set

A four-disc box set, The Mask and Mirror Definitive Edition revisits Loreena McKennitt’s 1994 album with remastered audio, new immersive mixes and archival recordings. It brings together music, film and printed material in one collection.

For a focused listen, the remastered stereo recording offers the original studio album on CD. For a more immersive presentation, the Blu-ray adds HD stereo and Dolby Atmos, while 5.1 mixes are available on the DVD and Blu-ray.

The set also reaches beyond the album itself, with a restored concert broadcast, previously unreleased film material and an essay by McKennitt. It suits listeners looking for a deeper archive of this release, rather than just a standard album edition.

Technical overview

The original studio recording is remastered for stereo on CD1 and HD stereo on the audio Blu-ray. The Blu-ray also includes a new Dolby Atmos mix, with new 5.1 mixes on both the DVD and Blu-ray. These options make it possible to choose between a straightforward stereo listen and a more immersive surround presentation, using a compatible playback setup for the relevant format.

CD2 features a restored remaster of McKennitt’s 1994 Mountain Stage concert broadcast. The DVD adds a previously unreleased 30-minute concert film, recorded at the Avon Theatre in Stratford, Ontario, and a remastered version of the 1995 PBS documentary No Journey’s End. More than an hour of audiobook material, narrated by McKennitt, is spread across CD1 and CD2.

Everyday use

This edition offers different ways to return to the album: play the studio recording, explore the concert and documentary footage, or listen to McKennitt’s spoken material. It works well for an uninterrupted album session, while the extra recordings and film provide a way to spend more time with the music and its history. Buyers who simply want the original album can choose a standard edition, this collection is aimed at those who value the additional audio, video and booklet content.

Customers often describe the album’s melodies as hauntingly beautiful and highlight McKennitt’s voice and musicianship. Some also find the music soothing, making it a considered choice for a quiet listening session. These are listener impressions of the album, alongside the expanded material that distinguishes this edition.

Included in the pack

The four-disc set contains two CDs, a DVD and an audio Blu-ray, housed in a deluxe hardback book. A 32-page booklet brings together the original artwork and sleeve notes, an essay by McKennitt, and memorabilia relating to the album’s recording, release and promotion in 1994 and 1995. The booklet adds context to the recordings, while the discs cover both the studio album and related concert and documentary material.

Before you decide

What is on the audio Blu-ray? It includes the remastered album in HD stereo, a new Dolby Atmos mix and a new 5.1 mix, as well as the restored audio of the original studio recording.

Which video features are included? The DVD contains a previously unreleased 30-minute film of a 1994 concert at the Avon Theatre and a remastered version of the 1995 documentary No Journey’s End. The Blu-ray also features the new 5.1 mix of the studio recording.

What does the audiobook material cover? Narrated by McKennitt, it includes the 1994 Words and Music promotional interview and a recording of her reading the essay written for the Definitive Edition booklet. The material runs for over an hour across CD1 and CD2.

Final verdict

For listeners who want more than a reissue of the 1994 studio album, this Definitive Edition brings together remastered listening options, immersive mixes, concert and documentary footage, and McKennitt’s own written and spoken reflections. Its mix of music and archival material makes it especially suited to revisiting The Mask and Mirror in depth.