Written at age of 71—more than three decades after Rossini's retirement from opera with William Tell—the ironically titled Petite Messe Solenelle ("Little Solemn Mass"), actually runs roughly 75 minutes and ranks alongside his Stabat Mater as one of the composer's greatest religious compositions. Rossini would playfully referred to it as the last of his péchés de vieillesse ("sins of old age").
The work was commissioned for the dedication of the private Parisian chapel of Countess Louise Pillet-Will and premiered on March 14, 1864, with just twelve singers (including four soloists), two pianos, and a harmonium. We'll hear it in that original chamber form in honor of the anniversary of the composer's death—and much more—on Friday's Classical Music With Foley Schuler.
You can hear Foley Schuler's musical selections—and stories behidn the music—every weekday afternoon from 1 until 4 on Blue Lake Public Radio.
