Rossini's small solemn mass is the last of his Péchés de vieillesse - his sins of old age: a last testament of sorts from the composer over 30 years after he'd ended his career in opera. It is solemn - a serious religious work - but the mass also has the delightful touches you would expect from a man who remained a theatrical composer to the end. It isn’t as small as its title suggests, lasting well over an hour, and it wasn't intended for a church, but for a salon in a Paris townhouse...which is why the scoring is so unexpected: two pianos and harmonium. Durham Choral Society are delighted to add this work to their repertoire.
We are also extremely pleased that this concert provides the opportunity to showcase the talents of our regular accompanist, Alison Gill. She will play one of the pianos in the Rossini, but will also open the concert, alongside her regular concert partner Yoshie Kawamura, with Rachmaninoff's Suite No.2 Op.17 (for two pianos).
