Rossini - Petite Messe Solennelle
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Gioachino Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle (Little Solemn Mass) was written in 1863 and this may have been at the request of Count Alexis Pillet-Will for his wife Louise to whom it is dedicated. Rossini, who had not composed an opera for more than 30 years, described it as "the last of my péchés de vieillesse" (sins of old age).
The work is a full missa solemnis, but Rossini called it “petite”. He scored it originally for twelve singers (four of them soloists), two pianos and harmonium. This is the version we shall use for this course.
The mass was first performed on 14th March 1864 at the Count’s new home in Paris. Rossini later produced an orchestral version, including an additional movement, a setting of the hymn "O salutaris hostia" as a soprano aria, which we include in The Self-Isolation Choir’s version.
It seems extraordinary today, yet this version of the mass was not performed during his lifetime, because he could not obtain permission to perform it with female singers in a church. It was first performed three months after his death, at the Salle Ventadour in Paris by the company of the Théâtre-Italien on 24th February 1869.
Join us for
Rossini - Petite Messe Solennelle
“There is something very special about knowing that I’m singing with my daughter who is 150 miles away”
Emma, Member of The Self-Isolation Choir
Course Director
We welcome back Ellie Slorach from her wonderful course on Bach’s St. John Passion. She will lead us in LIVE learning, recording and performing Petite Messe Solonnelle together with Richard Gowers on piano and harmonium. Her wonderful chamber choir, KANTOS, will provide the vocal backing tracks to assist our learning and will provide the soloists for this piece. 
How It Works
Ellie will teach us the entire work online with LIVE rehearsals, firstly for full choir and then for separate voices so we will have her full attention as she teaches us our own part. Starting on 16th February 2021, we shall have a month of rehearsals to learn this wonderful piece.
REHEARSAL SCHEDULE ALL UK TIME:
16th February – Full Choir
17th February – Tenor at 15:00, Bass at 16:30
18th February – Soprano at 15:00, Alto at 16:30
23rd February – Full Choir
24th February - Tenor at 15:00, Bass at 16:30
25th February - Soprano at 15:00, Alto at 16:30
2nd March – Full Choir
3rd March - Tenor at 15:00, Bass at 16:30
4th March - Soprano at 15:00, Alto at 16:30
9th March – Full Choir
10th March - Tenor at 15:00, Bass at 16:30
11th March - Soprano at 15:00, Alto at 16:30
16th March – Full Choir
17h March - Tenor at 15:00, Bass at 16:30
18th March - Soprano at 15:00, Alto at 16:30
We shall then, if we wish, record our own voice, which shall be combined with all voices in the studio for a Concert Performance
FULL SIC CONCERT 29th April at 19:00
Course Fee
The cost of the course is £40 per person. This includes:
All tuition, rehearsals and backing tracks, with professional singers to assist our learning
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An online score
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The recording instructions
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Piano and harmonium recorded specially for this project
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Participation in the choir for a Concert Premiere performance
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A bespoke collage featuring the whole choir and musicians
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MP3 files of the final mixed SIC tracks for you to keep
Please note: The Self-Isolation Choir has been careful to ensure there are minimal rehearsal clashes in 2021, however rehearsal and course times are subject to change.
