Leonard Bernstein’s Mass

LA Phil 2018, Lincoln Center 2018

What starts as a peaceful gathering gradually shifts into discord. The street chorus sings tropes that punch holes in the fabric of the traditional Mass. As these rifts intensify, the hippies gather momentum moving from breezy questioning to full out protest. What started out so simple becomes entrenched, bogged down, messy. The shifts and accumulation within the piece take us on a visual journey from pre-recorded sound to simple, pure connection with faith to a mired, complicated and painful core that is then gently remedied.

These productions with LA Philharmonic and Lincoln Center were a part of the worldwide celebrations of Leonard Bernstein’s Centennial.

“…a grandiose performance of almost unbelievable splendor. An elaborately staged and choreographed production that had some stunning visual moments…”
-LOS ANGELES TIMES

“…luckily the Los Angeles Philharmonic brought in director Elkhanah Pulitzer, who wisely created a stunning theatrical happening…”
-STAGE AND CINEMA

“Mass’ is both dated and timeless, and this production, directed by Elkhanah Pulitzer and conducted by Louis Langrée, manages to embrace both of those qualities and make the show work.”
-THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

“Even among aficionados of Leonard Bernstein, his rock-opera ritual from 1971 has a tendency to trigger eye-rolls, like the musical equivalent of hippie love beads. But the Mostly Mozart Festival’s convincing revival, conducted by Louis Langrée, with Nmon Ford as the Celebrant, culminated in a blissed-out finale, with recitations of “Lauda” tolling like a scattered choir of church bells and a reverent chorale..”
-VULTURE, NEW YORK MAGAZINE

Composer: Leonard Bernstein
Conductor: Gustavo Dudamel (LA), Louis Langrée (NY)
‍Director: Elkhanah Pulitzer
‍Scenic and Lightning Design: Seth Reiser
‍Projection Design: Adam Larsen
‍Costume Design: Christine Crook
‍Sound Design: Mark Grey
‍Choreography: Laurel Jenkins