Introducing......Rossini's Petite Messe Sollenelle
| Type of post: | Chorus news item |
| Sub-type: | No sub-type |
| Posted By: | Ian Sutherland |
| Status: | Current |
| Date Posted: | Wed, 2 Oct 2024 |
In this series of news items we'll be introducing the music from our next programme, along with the soloists and other musicians who will be taking part in the concert. We start with Rossini's Petite Messe Solonnelle.
Luke Fitzgerald says......
Luke Fitzgerald says......
Why is Rossini’s Solemn Mass Petite? It certainly isn’t short, running for around 80 minutes. No, it’s petite because when it was written, Rossini needed just 15 people to perform the music: 8 singers for the choir, four to sing the solo arias, (Rossini called them his “cherubim”) two pianists and a harmonium player who also conducted. There were only a similar number of people to hear the first performance of the music.
Its musical style combines much of the wit and sense of joy of the operas Rossini wrote earlier in his career with church music styles in movements such as the Sanctus. Overall it is an absolute joy to listen to and to perform.
Our performance will be less petite than the premiere, as we have a choir of around 60 singers along with four wonderful soloists from the London Conservatoires. These include the fabulous Tom Butler whom I’ve had the pleasure of performing in Rossini’s La Cenerentola. Will I follow the example of Albert Lavignac, the 18 year old who led that first performance, and conduct from the harmonium?
Its musical style combines much of the wit and sense of joy of the operas Rossini wrote earlier in his career with church music styles in movements such as the Sanctus. Overall it is an absolute joy to listen to and to perform.
Our performance will be less petite than the premiere, as we have a choir of around 60 singers along with four wonderful soloists from the London Conservatoires. These include the fabulous Tom Butler whom I’ve had the pleasure of performing in Rossini’s La Cenerentola. Will I follow the example of Albert Lavignac, the 18 year old who led that first performance, and conduct from the harmonium?
Buy your ticket he
re to find out.
