Bernstein’s Mass may be based on the traditional Catholic order of service, but it’s anything but conventional. Its riot of colors, styles, and voices form a vast musical feast showcasing the composer at both his most daring and most intimate. The wildly ambitious score calls for large orchestra, two choruses, children’s choir, marching band, and rock group—and it draws on musical theater, jazz, gospel, and rock. Of all the complete recordings of the Mass, this is a performance of rare virtuosity and chutzpah, topped by Nézet-Seguin’s skill at drawing Bernstein’s disparate worlds together.
- Gidon Kremer, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein, Ruth Mense, Dicky Tarrach & Thissy Thiers
- Nicole Cabell, Seattle Symphony, Asher Fisch & Roderick Cox
- Riccardo Muti, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Chorus, Aleksandrs Antonenko & Krassimira Stoyanova
- Christa Ludwig, Lukas Foss, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra & Leonard Bernstein
- Anthony Rolfe Johnson & Graham Johnson
- Frederica von Stade, London Symphony Orchestra, Michael Tilson Thomas & Thomas Hampson