Mass

Mass
A Theatre Piece For Singers, Players and Dancers
Music by Leonard Bernstein
Texts after the Roman Mass
Additional texts by Stephen Schwartz and Leonard Bernstein
Chamber Version (Orchestrations by Sid Ramin)
In the original English language

Leonard Bernstein’s “Mass” was premiered in 1971 in New York for the opening of the Kennedy Center, at a time of social upheaval and protests against war and political hypocrisy. The monumental work combines choral and mass elements with classical symphonic music, vocals and jazz, rock and blues sounds to create a multi-layered reflection on faith and doubt and is considered visionary today. Bernstein combines the Latin liturgy of the mass with often rebellious texts that express the inner conflict between spiritual longing and institutional mistrust. At the centre of the action is the celebrant, a priest experiencing a crisis of faith. “Mass” will be the festival’s fifth major music theatre production in the Johannes church, featuring three choirs, soloists, an orchestra and a rock band. The directing duo Hanna Werth and Philipp Heitmann promise “a moving spectacle with over 100 participants”.

Wolfgang Abendroth, Musical direction
Hanna Werth, Philipp Alfons Heitmann, Direction
Paulina Barreiro, Costume
Nora Pfahl, Takao Baba, Choreography
Justine Wanat, Musical Director Academy for Choir and Music Theater at Johanneskirche
Björn Bock, Lighting design
Hans-Jürgen Müller, Technical management

Samuel Schürmann, Celebrant
Neele Jacobsen, Soprano
Sarah Cassaro, Mezzo-Soprano
Luzia Ostermann, Mezzo-Soprano
Anna Magdalena Beetz, Alto
Lukas Baeskow, Tenor
Robert Reichinek, Tenor
Guido Schikore, Baritone
Ferdinand Krumbügel, Baritone
Chamber choir of Johanneskirche
Academy for Choir and Music Theater at Johanneskirche
Youth Company of tanzhaus nrw
Düsseldorf Festival orchestra