Celebrating Bernstein: More Sides of the Story

This concert by London Concert Choir and their conductor Mark Forkgen celebrates the centenary of one of the most talented and successful musicians in American history. The items include the Chichester Psalms, Missa Brevis, solo songs and the Choral Suite from West Side Story. 

Also taking part are Nathan Mercieca (countertenor), Richard Pearce (organ) Anneke Hodnett (harp) and Sacha Johnson and Alistair Marshallsay (percussion).

The Chichester Psalms include an exuberant setting of ‘O be joyful in the Lord all ye lands’ (Psalm 100) and a gentle Psalm 23, ‘The Lord is my shepherd’, as well as menacing music cut from the score of West Side Story. The vibrant Missa Brevis was developed from the incidental music in medieval style that Bernstein had composed for The Lark, Anouilh’s play about Joan of Arc. The concert ends with favourite numbers from West Side Story, including Tonight, Maria, I Feel Pretty, America and Somewhere.