Paulo Szot and members of Chicago Children’s Choir.
Courtesy of Patrick Gipson/Ravinia Festival
Leonard Bernstein Mass
Enjoy Ravinia Festival’s production of Leonard Bernstein’s musical led by Tony winner Paulo Szot.
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Fred Vigeant
Courtesy of Patrick Gipson/Ravinia Festival
Paulo Szot and members of Chicago Children’s Choir.
Great Performances presents Leonard Bernstein Mass, Friday May 15 at 9pm on WITF.
Featuring 200 artists, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Ravinia Festival’s 2019 production of Leonard Bernstein’s “Mass” embraces elements of musical theater, folk and rock music with Latin text from the liturgy, as well as music and lyrics by Bernstein and additional text by “Wicked” composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz. Tony Award-winning baritone Paulo Szot (“South Pacific”) stars as the Celebrant, and Baltimore Symphony Orchestra music director and Bernstein protégé Marin Alsop conducts. The choral ensemble Vocality, the Chicago Children’s Choir, and the Highland Park High School Marching Band also perform.
Great Performances: Leonard Bernstein Mass begins with a brief overview of the work’s history as a commission by Jacqueline Onassis to open the Kennedy Center in 1971 and features comments from the director, conductor, Bernstein family members and more. As the performance begins, the Celebrant declares his faith but faces resistance from the Street Chorus who questions him and sends him on a journey of discovery. With metaphorical themes and letters written by cast members addressing social issues such as oppression, immigration and bullying, the musical is as relevant today as when it premiered in 1971.
Watch Great Performances: Leonard Bernstein Mass Friday May 15 at 9pm on WITF and on-demand through the PBS Video app.
A collection of interviews, photos, and music videos, featuring local musicians who have stopped by the WITF performance studio to share a little discussion and sound. Produced by WITF’s Joe Ulrich.
