A Triumphant MASS in Baltimore 10/17/08

[FeelingElectric]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 5:02am

I attended the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's presentation of Leonard Bernstein's 1971 masterpiece at the Meyerhoff in Baltimore last night. It is the most incredible production I have seen all year.

The show deals with issues of religion and faith. It also is a clash of musical styles and an expression of Berstein's theories on tonality and atonality. It an incredible eclectic score combining elements of Rock, Pop, Jazz, Opera, and Classical music into a seemless two hour experience full of sound and life. There is no intermission, and no breaks for any response by the audience.

By the time the show finally ended, the auditorium exploded in a five minute standing ovation and three curtain calls.

This production features the BSO under Maestra Marin Alsop (a protege of Bernstein), the Morgan State University Choir and Marching Band, and The Peabody Children's Chorus.

It also features a Street Chorus with amazing Broadway talent, including Sarah Uriarte Berry, Amy Justman, Telly Leung, Janet Saia and Kevin Vortman.

The biggest praise of this cast has to go to the amazing Jubilent Sykes. He plays the Celebrant, the focal character of the piece.

MASS has one more performance at the Meyerhoff tonight at 8. After that, the production will record a live album on Monday and Tuesday. Following that, it will go to Carnegie Hall and the United Palace Theater in NYC for performances on Friday night and Saturday afternoon respectively.

It will then conclude with a performance at The Kennedy Center (where it premiered in 1971) next Sunday afternoon. I will be attending that performance.

If you are a Bernstein fan, you should definitely see this production.

Leonard Bernstein's MASS

Updated On: 10/18/08 at 05:02 AM