Bernstein's MASS Staged at Elbphilharmonie for Hamburg Music Festival

Leonard Bernstein's 'MASS: A Theatre Piece for Singers, Players and Dancers' was performed on May 24 and 25, 2026, in the Great Hall of the Elbphilharmonie as a special concert of the Hamburg Music Festival (until June 1). The Hamburg State Opera production was led by General Music Director Omer Meir Wellber, who also contributed a preface to the program booklet titled 'My Mass'. The booklet included interactive elements such as blank pages for audience reflection and prompts like 'What does love mean to you?' and 'What do you doubt?'. The piece, commissioned by Jacqueline Kennedy for the opening of the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. in 1971, explores faith, doubt, and the fragility of belief. The performance featured baritone Will Liverman as the Celebrant, with multiple choirs including the Audi Youth Choir Academy (prepared by Martin Steidler and Sonja Lachenmayr), Alsterspatzen (Priscilla Prueter), Hamburg Boys' Choir (Luiz de Godoy), and Street People (Pascal Adoumbou). Choreography was by Constantin Trommlitz. The production incorporated a brass band marching through the audience and pre-recorded music, emphasizing Bernstein's stylistic pluralism. At the climax, the Celebrant smashes the monstrance in despair. The finale saw the choir dispersing throughout the hall, creating a unified sound, followed by prolonged applause.