Bernstein's Mass - Royal Festival Hall with Paulo Szot
Apr 6, 2018 22:00:41 GMT
Nicholas, Someone in a tree, and 2 more like this
Post by jek on Apr 6, 2018 22:00:41 GMT
Have just come back from a fantastic evening seeing a performance of Leonard Bernstein's Mass which was commissioned for the opening of the Kennedy Centre for Performing Arts in 1971. Nobody seems to be able to decide what genre the piece belongs to - Bernstein called it a 'Theatre Piece for singers, players and dancers' - but as he collaborated on it with Stephen Schwarz and it seems likely to be of interest to people who like Godspell, I'm putting it in the musicals thread. It is on again tomorrow night and there are still tickets available.
This production, conducted by Marin Alsop, has a cast of hundreds - young people from the National Youth Orchestra, Chineke! Junior Orchestra, Trinity Laban (musical theatre students) and many more. They are led by Paulo Szot as the Celebrant - he is terrific. Having seen (on You Tube) a rather stilted version of the piece from the 2012 proms this was such an improvement. I have to admit I had no idea who Szot was (apart from the publicity material telling me he had won a Tony for South Pacific) but I'd certainly look out for him in other things. Fascinating Polish/Brazilian background which I suspect gave him extra insight into this role.
I have to say that the material counts as special interest for me. I was brought up Catholic in the 60s and 70s - a time of folk masses and nuns getting rid of their habits! It was all very exciting and the Bernstein mass reflects the culture that existed in the moment. It is very much a period piece but done with such energy and commitment by the young performers that you can forgive it some of its excesses.
There is a lot of movement on stage and projections of key events of the 60s.
One caveat. It is 2 hours long with no interval and certainly the seats we were in (on the balcony) were punishingly uncomfortable. But for only £18 it seems churlish to complain. As I'm not a regular at the Festival Hall I can't tell you whether the top price £30 seats offer more leg room - but I'd certainly investigate that before seeing anything else there.
This production, conducted by Marin Alsop, has a cast of hundreds - young people from the National Youth Orchestra, Chineke! Junior Orchestra, Trinity Laban (musical theatre students) and many more. They are led by Paulo Szot as the Celebrant - he is terrific. Having seen (on You Tube) a rather stilted version of the piece from the 2012 proms this was such an improvement. I have to admit I had no idea who Szot was (apart from the publicity material telling me he had won a Tony for South Pacific) but I'd certainly look out for him in other things. Fascinating Polish/Brazilian background which I suspect gave him extra insight into this role.
I have to say that the material counts as special interest for me. I was brought up Catholic in the 60s and 70s - a time of folk masses and nuns getting rid of their habits! It was all very exciting and the Bernstein mass reflects the culture that existed in the moment. It is very much a period piece but done with such energy and commitment by the young performers that you can forgive it some of its excesses.
There is a lot of movement on stage and projections of key events of the 60s.
One caveat. It is 2 hours long with no interval and certainly the seats we were in (on the balcony) were punishingly uncomfortable. But for only £18 it seems churlish to complain. As I'm not a regular at the Festival Hall I can't tell you whether the top price £30 seats offer more leg room - but I'd certainly investigate that before seeing anything else there.