Rossini: Petite Messe Solennelle

Finchley Chamber Choir

Rossini’s “Petite Messe Solennelle” (“Little Solemn Mass”) is famously neither little nor solemn. The composer brings all his operatic talents to bear in a work that is joyously exuberant and dramatic. Writing later in his life, Rossini took the opportunity to please himself and paid little attention to conventional approaches to sacred composition.

The mass is written for choir, soloists, piano and harmonium. In FCC’s performance, the soloists are all regular choir members. We are joined by Richard Leach and Benjamin Newlove as accompanists, and are led by our musical director, David Lardi.