Written in the composer’s early twenties, Bernstein’s Jeremiah Symphony, inspired by the Biblical prophet, is his first large-scale orchestral work. Bernstein himself stated that the symphony was about a crisis in faith, symbolized by the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. Composed for the 50th anniversary of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, in 1986, the Concerto for Orchestra ‘Jubilee Games’ represents another affirmation of Bernstein’s Jewish faith. However, whereas the Jeremiah Symphony exudes youthful passion and intensity, the Concerto for Orchestra involves a greater degree of improvisation and experimentation. As with many of Bernstein’s works, it ends with a benediction and a plea for peace.