Leonard Bernstein Mass at the Vatican City
Timeless traditions and contemporary anxieties clash musically and theatrically in  Leonard Bernstein's powerful but rather neglected "Theatre Piece for Singers,  Players and Dancers," The dancers are omitted in this semi-staged performance,  produced for the Vatican's Jubilee 2000 celebration, but the show's eclectic musical  brilliance, its adept mingling and clash of musical styles, its contrasts of hope  and anxiety, faith and unbelief, ancient serenity and modern dissatisfaction are  all brilliantly conveyed. More than 30 years after its premiere, for the opening of  the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.,Massstill has the impact  of this morning's newspaper headlines.Only Bernstein, a crossover genius, could have produced this score, which mingles  folk and ecclesiastical styles, choral and solo vocals, spoken dialogue and dramatic  gestures, classical, rock, blues, Broadway-style tunes, gospel, electronic effects,  Hebrew prayer, a symphony orchestra, and a kazoo ensemble, and made it all work  together with shattering impact. The enormous cast of this production is equal to all its stylistic and musical demands,  and the cameras and microphones capture it all effectively.--Joe McLellan