A remarkably engaging treatment of a familiar Christian rite
Bernstein's Mass is unique in its treatment of the Christian Communion Service. It consists of a rich mixture of musical styles from pastiches of traditional church music to modern (in Bernstein's period) popular music. The text draws on wide variety of genres from the time-honoured words of the mass to a poem by Paul Simon. The singing is excellent, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is in top form and it is hard to imagine Marin Alsop's interpretation being bettered. All this at budget price! Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended.