PME recorded Bernstein's Mass with Kent Nagano and the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester in Berlin. The recording received a Grammy nomination in 2005 for Best Choral Performance. The work calls for a "Street Chorus" that is able to perform such American musical styles as jazz, blues and rock. Since PME has long been known for being able to do the crossover between "classical" and other forms, Nagano decided that for his recording PME had to be hired and brought to Berlin. Over forty singers went for a week of recording sessions and concerts. In addition to singing the choral parts, PME supplied twenty soloists. Also heard on the recording is the Rundfunkchor Berlin and the Staats- und Domchor Berlin, with whom we share the nomination. The Mass was commissioned in 1971 by Jacqueline Kennedy for the opening of the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Ours is the first recording of the piece since the original was conducted by Bernstein. |
