Customer Reviews

Leonard Bernstein Mass at the Vatican City

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

If one is to compare this performance with the original PBS version, then you will find this production lacking. However, if you take it on it's own merits, then you will be well pleased with this performance. The tension between the Celebrant and his congregation is well done, and an attempt to give each member of the group their own personality, through dress and mannerism, works well. Kudos must be given to Douglas Webster who provides a moving and sympathetic performance as the Celebrant. The Orchestra of St. Cecilia at times sounds hard pressed, but manages to navigate Bernstein's musical tapestry and are most effective in the Meditations, especially in the Mahlerian first one. As noted, this is basically a semi-staged production, and while I will not harp over what is lacking, I must comment on one ommission which I find regretable. At the emotional apex of the piece, when the Celebrant cries "Pacem!", he is to throw the Communion Chalice onto the floor, which shatters. In this production, there is no Chalice to be seen, which makes the following song "Isn't that Odd?" sound very odd indeed when the Celebrant is describing the spilled wine and shattered glass. This episode reminds me of Wotan singing about his spear, but the director decides that the god will not have one. Come on, cannot a director appreciate the need for a prop once in awhile? Anyone unfamiliar with the MASS, will wonder what the heck the Celebrant is talking about. Now that I aired my pet peeve, I'll conclude by saying that this is a very moving performance that could warm even the coldest of hearts, if only for two hours....recommended with minor reservations..

I am a huge fan of Mass. I have been since 1972 or so. I saw the 1973 BBC/PBS broadcast of the European premiere which was incredible. I saw the 10th anniversary production broadcast live from the Kennedy Center on PBS. It was good, but not as good as the 1973 broadcast. This production doesn't compare. It is a concert production so there is very little staging. The soloists do a fine job with the singing, but for the most part, I have seen more believable acting at my local high school. The classical chorus in the background is small and weak. The climatic scene where the Celebrant hurls down the communion chalice and wafer and removes his vestments and dances on the alter has been emasculated. This is a poor production in most aspects.

Give us the first two video productions on DVD instead of this poorly staged and acted concert production.

I received my Vatican Performance DVD of Mass yesterday and watched it last night. It's a nice performance - I liken it to the PBS version of Les Miz versus a staged theatre version. The scola and children's chorus are adequate, orchestra ok, celebrant, boy soprano and soloists (for the most part) awesome. BUT, this is not a staged version - there is some half-hearted attempt at movement, but no dancers - no elaborate vestments - which I found disappointing having seen the PBS version in the 70's and a staged version at Northwestern University in the 90's. Still, since there are no other versions, this is a worthwhile investment at about $25 on Amazon. Purists be forewarned, apparently Stephen Schwartz lyric changes (specifically during the Confiteor) have been implemented. I would recommend this to anyone who loves Mass, but if you are looking for a fully staged version, we'll have to wait and see if it is ever available on DVD, because this isn't it. The original CDs still offer the best musical quality. The celebrant isn't Mr. Titus, but is excellent in his own right.

If you want to see stunning night vistas of Italian architecture and hear talented voices performing well, you might want to watch the first 10 minutes of this DVD and then just listen to the rest. If you want to view an enactment of Leonard Bernstein's Mass, however, this presentation will disappoint you.

The Celebrant and the leading boy soprano are superb, but they work against daunting limitations. I don't know if the director decided to reinterpret the story or if the Vatican censored it, but Bernstein's central point vanishes in this production.

Disillusionment begins with the stage. About 1/3 the size it needs to be, and 2/3 occupied by an overly large chorus, it is dominated by a sculpture which represents Jesus as neither man nor God (one of the central questions of the congregation). He looks demonic, from whichever of the 57 angles the camera pans in. Even more crucial, this Mass lacks an altar. Unless one has read the original libretto, the critical "Agnus Dei" actions make very little sense. One grasps that the Celebrant experiences a nervous breakdown, but viewers may not understand that the "things [which] get broken" are the chalice and the altar. (Okay, technically, the altar only gets danced upon, but such desecration is a type of breaking.)

Not only does the Celebrant lack both altar and chalice, he also lacks convincing liturgical robes. Instead, he dons a cheap-looking garment from the local Robes-R-Us, as do the choir and the children. The altar boy completes the "priestly" garment with a slim yellow strip of cloth, which the Celebrant can only toss to the floor at the story's crisis. Our protagonist does enter strumming a real guitar, but that is the only prop in this performance, and he loses that early on.

If the stage and costuming are bad, the stage directions are worse. The director uses only five: wander aimlessly, sit frozen, play pat-a-cake, touch someone on the shoulder, or move slowly with expressions of anguish on the face.

Because of all these limitations, the conflict between the Celebrant and his skeptical congregation does not build in intensity. Not until the "Agnus Dei" does the congregational rebellion manifest, and then, the Celebrant can only wander up and down two small sets of steps, looking more and more unhappy. To his merit, he does manage to achieve emotional intensity.

It is sad that someone decided to prune this opera of perceived blasphemy, for in the original story, the wine of the shattered chalice has turned to blood, the miracle of the Mass, despite all doubts and questions, has occurred. I guess the story will have to wait for a more enlightened director and venue. Or perhaps PBS will one day put the performance from their old archives on DVD.

For anyone who had a chance to see the original production or televised version of the same, this is absolutely horrific! It was as though this production was thrown together quickly and haphazardly. It had seemingly no direction. What was forgotten in this production is that this glorious, brave, daring work is not merely a genius piece of music but it is also a brilliant piece of "theatre" of drama. In this, the performers seemed to have no idea of who their characters were or why they were singing (except for Anika Noni Rose). The director didn't seem to know that this was a piece about faith and doubt and worldliness and choice. It questions who is God, what is the Church, how does it all fit into our daily lives as we struggle here on earth. What it means to believe in ones religion and be a part of the world. In fact there was no direction. What a complete disservice to Mr. Bernstein and to JFK in whose honor it was originally written.

I have followed the Mass from its beginning. I was fortunate to experience it at the JFK Center on opening night, the second opening attended by Lenny with the former First Lady and also at the Pope Paul VI auditorium. It is a masterpiece and timeless. The Surround Sound does not begin until the Credo. Am I the only one that has this problem or do I have a defective DVD.

Does anyone know of another DVD of The Mass? I watch it weekly and Lenny has the insight to see the Catholic Church as it is.

What an experience.

Thanks ofr any help with questions I ask.

Those who may have seen MASS live at the Kennedy Center,

or who remember PBS's 1981 broadcast of that lavish production, will be in for a surprise with this production performed at the Paul VI Hall of Audiences at Vatican City. The set is minimal, there are no marching bands, no lavish banners, and yet this production of Leonard Bernstein's MASS is still quite a pleasure to watch and listen to. The singers are more than competent, and what the show lacks in scenery and props, it more than makes up for in "heart." This is a nice MASS.

Somehow I missed the inaugural presentation of Bernsten's Mass at the opening of the Kennedy Center and had to content myself with the audio only open reel rendition, conducted by the composer.

To see it now in all of its glory as performed at the Vatican (and attended by a slew of prelates thereby laying to rest the iconoclastic criticisms it elicited at first) is a treat not to be missed. All is topnotch here -- production, costumes, decor, singing, setting, orchestral conducting and playing -- doing full justice to the the excellency of the score. This DVD occupies a pride of place in my collection.

I consider the Bernstein Mass to be the most important piece of classical music since Puccini and Strauss were in their prime, and it's much more powerful if you see it rather than just hearing it. The conclusion is especially powerful. However, not having seen it before, I was puzzled by the lack of the broken chalice. I knew what was supposed to happen, and I was wondering why it didn't happen. Thanks to the other reviews, I know what else I missed. If the PBS version is ever released on DVD, I'll buy that one and donate this somewhere.

I too have been a huge fan of this work since the early 70's, and looked forward to this production understanding that it was going to be considerably smaller, stripped down from the PBS version. But after viewing it, I found myself uncomfortable with the visual presentation - musically it is wonderful, even if some of the vocalists are not "top notch". The staging is awkward, it plods and is uninspired, and really doesn't add anything to the production. To make matters worse, the photography and lighting are awful and more appropriate for a live sporting event. The staging is almost non existant and unimaginative.

However, despite these shortcomings, the production does capture the beauty and power of the score and the emotional web it weaves. I'd still recommend it!