Woodstock, Nixon and the Vietnam War were undoubtedly underlying influences on the increasingly oppressive dramaturgy of this incredible ‘Theatre Piece' composed in memory of J F Kennedy.

‘What's a Jewish boy like you doing writing a Mass?', Bernstein was asked at the premiere in September 1971. Perhaps the answer lies with the ‘Celebrant', the central figure in this work originally performed by 200 singers, instrumentalists and dancers, a piece at the crossroads between religions – and at the stylistic crossroads between classical, jazz, folk, blues and rock – which today is still as relevant as ever.

This title was released for the first time in 2004.

“In terms of acoustical clarity, Kent Nagano’s new performance easily beats Bernstein’s original.” - Geoff Brown, The Times, 3 December 2004

“for those of us for whom the joy of it is in just such diversity, then Mass is overwhelming. I think it’s Bernstein’s masterpiece.” - Edward Seckerson, Gramophone, December 2004