Mass

While critics at the 1971 premiere found the work derivative and even tasteless, audiences loved this ardent, resourceful, somewhat brazen, ultimately moving Theatre Piece for Singers, Players, and Dancers. Leonard Bernstein's affinity for his public and for the age in which he lived enabled him to successfully outfit his Mass with a stylish mix of contemporary and ancient modes--rock, jazz, electronic music, Gregorian chant--and place it in a context somewhere between Broadway and opera. Though it lacks the visual component of a live performance, the work holds up well on this Bernstein-led recording, the only complete version on disc. From the popular "Simple Song" to the Stravinskian rhythmic devices and abundant, memorable melodies, the vital creative force of Bernstein is never absent. --David Vernier Amazon.com

Mass is phony

This recording is not what it says it is. I put it in my computer CD player and the information on my monitor listed the performers as conductor Kent Nagano, tenor Jerry Hadley and others. I listened to the recording and the voice is clearly a tenor. Alan Titus is a baritone and Bernstein wrote the piece for a baritone. How can this be possible? I gave it one star but it deserves no stars.

Barbara Kober November 29, 2008

Outstanding

An excellent cd sung in english with a libretto to guide you. This two cd set is very much worth owning and is conducted by the composer. It is not like the usual mass in that it employs two orchestras, singers, dancers and two choruses. May 23, 2007

An embarrassment

This is one of the biggest embarrassments of Bernstein's career. In the late 60s/early 70s, everyone was trying to make Catholicism "hip and cool and relevant" in an attempt to appeal to the youth culture of that time. That's why we have time pieces like Jesus Christ Superstar and songs like "Put Your Hand in the Hand" -- a song which would fit nicely here, by the way, so you get the picture. The fact that Bernstein is Jewish, and therefore non-Catholic, didn't seem to deter or bother anyone involved in this ridiculous project. With its dippy-hippy lyrics ("God said it's good to be poor") and mindnumbingly dumb "theological" reflections ("I believe in one God, but I believe in three" huh?) this "mass" is hopelessly dated. This, after all, is a theater piece, not a liturgical mass in the great tradition of Catholic composers such as Beethoven Bruckner and Mozart. As it tries so hard to fit into the youth culture of the early 70's, it ultimately rests there and never transcends into anything musically interesting, spiritually uplifiting, or spiritually challenging. Strong point: "A Simple Song" which is, a simples song from the Psalms sung by Alan Titus without -- mercifully -- any cynical interpolations. Otherwise, file this with the Godspell movie soundtrack. May 17, 2007

An interesting approach to the Christian faith...

Even though I always considered L. Bernstien to be my favorite conductor, it took me a long time to like his "Mass". I would listen to it every year or two and gradually it grew on me. Though Bernstien's music is unmistakable, he draws on Mahler, Stravinsky, Ives, Copland and Gershwin. This piece reveals musical genius and also presents an interesting approach to the Christian faith.

P.S. Bernstien also wrote a symphony called "Kaddish" which is based on Jewish prayers. Like Gustav Mahler, Bernstien must have been quite a seeker and we are to benefit from his variety of religious experiences. April 28, 2007

Albert Batarse

A Bernstein classic. You feel like singing it
over and over and never get tired of it.
An excellent musical way to communicate with God.
July 22, 2005

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