Bernstein: Mass / Sykes, Alsop, Baltimore Symphony

$20.99
Label
Naxos
Release Date
August 25, 2009
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      BERNSTEIN, LEONARD
    • ORCHESTRA / ENSEMBLE
      Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Morgan State University Choir, Peabody Children'S Chorus
    • PERFORMER
      Sykes, Alsop
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      August 25, 2009
    • UPC
      636943962220
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      8559622-23
    • LABEL
      Naxos
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      2
    • GENRE
      Choral - Sacred
    Works ⌄

    1. Devotions before Mass: Antiphon: Kyrie eleison (High Soprano, Bass, Soprano 2, Alto, Tenor, Baritone)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Morgan State University Choir, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    2. Devotions before Mass: Hymn and Psalm, "A Simple Song" (Celebrant)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Jubilant Sykes

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    3. Devotions before Mass: Responsory, "Alleluia" (Soprano 1, Soprano 2, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Morgan State University Choir, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    4. First Introit: Prefatory Prayers (Street Chorus, Soprano 1, Soprano 2, Soprano, Celebrant, Boy Soprano, Boys' Choir)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Morgan State University Choir, Peabody Children's Chorus, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Jubilant Sykes, Asher Edward Wulfman

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    5. First Introit: Thrice-Triple Canon: Dominus vobiscum (Celebrant, Boys' Choir, Street Chorus)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Peabody Children's Chorus, Morgan State University Choir, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Jubilant Sykes

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    6. Second Introit: In nomine Patris (Boys' Choir, Chorus, Celebrant)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Peabody Children's Chorus, Morgan State University Choir, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Jubilant Sykes

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    7. Second Introit: Prayer for the Congregation, "Almighty Father" (Chorus)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Morgan State University Choir, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    8. Second Introit: Epiphany (Celebrant)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Jubilant Sykes

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    9. Confession: Confiteor (Chorus)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Morgan State University Choir, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    10. Confession: Trope, "I Don't Know" (First Rock Singer and Descant, Second Rock Singer, Male Street Chorus)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Morgan State University Choir, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    11. Confession: Trope, "Easy" (First Blues Singer, Second Rock Singer, Second Blues Singer, Third Rock Singer, Third Blues Singer, First Rock Singer and Descant, Celebrant, Chorus)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Morgan State University Choir, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Jubilant Sykes

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    12. Meditation No. 1

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    13. Gloria: Gloria tibi (Celebrant, Boys' Choir)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Peabody Children's Chorus, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Jubilant Sykes

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    14. Gloria: Gloria in Excelsis (Chorus)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Morgan State University Choir, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    15. Gloria: Trope, "Half of the People" (Street Chorus, Chorus)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Morgan State University Choir, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    16. Gloria: Trope, "Thank You" (Soprano, Street Chorus)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Morgan State University Choir, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    17. Meditation No. 2

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    18. Epistle: "The Word of the Lord" (Celebrant, A Young Man, Another Young Man, Street Chorus, An Older Man, A Young Woman)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Morgan State University Choir, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Jubilant Sykes

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    19. Gospel-Sermon: "God Said" (Preacher, Street Chorus, 5 Solo Voices)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Morgan State University Choir, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    20. Credo: Credo in unum Deum (Celebrant, Chorus)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Morgan State University Choir, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Jubilant Sykes

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    21. Credo: Trope: "Non Credo" (Street Chorus Male Group, Baritone) - "Crucifixus" (Chorus)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Morgan State University Choir, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    22. Credo: Trope, "Hurry" (Mezzo-soprano) - Sedet ad dexteram Patris (Chorus)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Morgan State University Choir, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    23. Credo: Trope, "World without End" (Street Chorus, Mezzo-soprano) - Et in Spiritum Sanctum (Chorus, 3 Solo Voices)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Morgan State University Choir, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    24. Credo: Trope, "I Believe in God" (3 Solo Voices, Street Chorus, Rock Singer, Chorus)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Morgan State University Choir, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    25. Meditation No. 3 (De profundis, Part 1) (Chorus, Celebrant)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Morgan State University Choir, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Jubilant Sykes

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    26. Offertory (De profundis, Part 2) (Boys' Choir, Chorus)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Peabody Children's Chorus, Morgan State University Choir, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    27. The Lord's Prayer: Our Father … (Celebrant)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Jubilant Sykes

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    28. The Lord's Prayer: Trope, "I Go On" (Celebrant)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Jubilant Sykes

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    29. Sanctus (Celebrant, Boys' Choir, Chorus, Counter-tenors, Street Chorus)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Peabody Children's Chorus, Morgan State University Choir, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Jubilant Sykes

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    30. Agnus Dei (Soloists of Street Chorus, Street Chorus, Celebrant, Chorus)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Morgan State University Choir, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    31. Fraction: "Things Get Broken" (Celebrant)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Jubilant Sykes

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    32. Pax: Communion, "Secret Songs" (Boy Soprano, Bass, Soprano 1, Soprano 2, Tenor 1, Tenor 2, Street Chorus, Celebrant, Chorus)

      Composer: Leonard Bernstein

      Ensemble: Morgan State University Choir, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Jubilant Sykes, Asher Edward Wulfman

      Conductor: Marin Alsop


Leonard Bernstein's own version bettered? Yes, indeed! This is, handily, the best sung, best played, most intelligently interpreted recording of Mass currently available. Of course, Bernstein's rendition always will have sterling qualities, including some wonderful solo singers with really characterful "pop" and Broadway voices, but for its sheer musical integrity combined with the advantage of the composer's final revisions to the score, this version is unbeatable. Jubilant Sykes, as the Celebrant, easily outclasses Alan Titus' very fine premiere recording of the role. His voice has more edge; he's more at ease with the various pop idioms; he sounds radiant at the work's opening and grows increasingly desperate as it proceeds. This only serves to make his climactic breakdown tragically believable.

The various street singers are, one and all, terrific. "God Said" becomes the work's comic climax, which is as it should be. "I believe in God", "Confession", "World Without End", and "Thank You" are both idiomatic and beautifully sung. The children's choir sounds luminous in the Sanctus, while the adult chorus, from Morgan State University, sings with gusto as well as immaculate diction, with every word clearly comprehensible. Marin Alsop knits the whole ensemble together with infallible insight and verve. Her tempos, a bit different from Bernstein's, quicker here ("God Said"), a touch slower there (the wild dance in the Offertory), are no less right.

It's all fabulously recorded with a glittering impact that never turns unduly aggressive. The multi-textural layering in the climactic Dona Nobis Pacem comes across as both musically and physically overwhelming. Mass has its detractors, but when performed with this kind of conviction the piece can be inexpressibly moving. Alsop never has made a finer recording--it's both a tribute to her mentor Leonard Bernstein, as well as to her exceptional talent as an exponent of his music.

--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com (10/10)