Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle

disc 11. Kyrie I2. Christe3. Kyrie II4. Gloria I. Gloria in excelsis Deo5. Gloria II. Laudamus Te6. Gloria III. Gratias7. Gloria IV. Domine Deus8. Gloria V. Qui tollis9. Gloria VI. Quoniam10. Gloria VII. Cum sancto spiritudisc 211. Credo I. Credo in unum Deum12. Credo II. Crucifixus13. Credo III. Et resurrexit14. Credo IV. Et vitam venturi15. Prélude religieux pendant l'offertoire16. Sanctus I. Ritournelle pour le Sanctus17. Sanctus II. Sanctus18. Communio. O salutaris hostia19. Agnus Dei19. Agnus Dei20. Appendix. O salutaris de CampagneThe 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 sortileges. 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). Rossini wrote his Petite Messe Solennelle in his old age, 30 years after his last opera. The work, for the unusual combination of 4-part chorus, vocal soloists, piano 4-hands and harmonium, is a unique blend of the comic and devotional, of superficiality and deep feeling. Because of the small instrumental forces the work is often performed, to great public success. Also included is the seldom performed Hymn O salutaris hostia, for soprano and piano. A world premiere is the Salutaris de campagne, added as a bonus track. The soloists on this new recording have won their spurs in the field of Italian opera, all of them seasoned Rossini singers. The excellent liner notes relate the history of the work and its interpretation, the specifications of the instruments used, and biographies of the singers