Leonard Bernstein Mass At The Vatican City (2004)

Timeless traditions and contemporary anxieties clash musically and theatrically in Leonard Bernsteins powerful but rather neglected Theatre Piece for Singers Players and Dancers The dancers are omitted in this semistaged performance produced for the Vaticans Jubilee 2000 celebration but the shows eclectic musical brilliance its adept mingling and clash of musical styles its contrasts of hope and anxiety faith and unbelief ancient serenity and modern dissatisfaction are all brilliantly conveyed More than 30 years after its premiere for the opening of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC Mass still has the impact of this mornings newspaper headlines