Search - New Chamber Singers :: Rossini: Petite messe solennelle

The Petite Messe Solennelle, the last of Rossinis compositions, was written almost 30 years after his last opera. The work had a private premiere in 1864, attended by Parisian high society and the musical elite; it was performed by a small but star-studded group of musicians, including internationally-renowned soloists Barbara and Carlotta Marchisio. Daniel Auber, director of the Conservatoire, had chosen the cream of the crop from his students that year to form the choir, and respected cellist and composer Gaetano Braga even made an appearance as page-turner to the second pianist. The work was premiered in earnest in 1869, three months after the composers death. The work is performed here with Rossinis original instrumentation and also includes the hymn for soprano and piano O salutaris hostia, which is often omitted. As a world first, a bonus track O salutaris de campagne is included. The four soloists are established operatic singers; among soprano Sandro Pastranas string of awards are prizes at the Ottavio Ziino competition in Barcelona, and mezzo-soprano Gabriella Sborgi has appeared as Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro and also in The Rape of Lucretia, A Midsummer Nights Dream and Lenfant et les sortilèges. Recent engagements of tenor Davide Giusti include the role of Alfredo in La traviata, and bass Carlo Lepore is something of a Rossini specialist, appearing regularly in roles such as Don Magnifico (La Cenerentola), and Basilio and Bartolo (Il barbiere di Siviglia). Other information: Recorded in 2013. Contains notes on the history of the work, the conductors interpretation and performer biographies. Includes instrument specifications.