Few people had comparable charisma to him, few like him could blur the borders between ‘serious’ classical music and ‘entertaining’ popular music and few apart from him could find access to people of all generations like Bernstein. Living together and love instead of antagonism and hatred permeate his entire life’s work in words and notes. Many of the attributes mentioned apply to MASS, premiered in 1971. For the understanding of this unusual work, it is crucial to note that it is not really seen as a mass composition, but in keeping with Bernstein’s intentions as ‘a theatrical piece with the title ‘MASS’. So, it is perhaps the most audacious interpretation of the liturgical contents up to then and since then. The responses to the premiere were thoroughly ambivalent, as, apart from enthusiasm, there was also rejection on the part of conservative minded circles. And the clearly conveyed message of peace was partly rejected since it could be understood not least as an unmistakable indictment of the Vietnam War still in progress.
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Reviews
"... This is a fine recording of a problematic but important work."
Peter J Rabinowitz – Fanfare – November/December 2020
Pizzicato Supersonic
“… With its clear, precise sound, this recording reflects all the expressionistic excitement of the composition, and is definitely one of Mass’s reference recordings.”
Remy Franck - Pizzicato.lu – 19 March 2020
“… a valuable addition to the Bernstein discography.”
Nick Barnard – MusicWeb-International.com – 20 April 2020
Media Downloads
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