Chorus Juventus

The Petite messe solennelle of 1863 is Rossini's second large-scale sacred work alongside the Stabat Mater, scored for four soloists, SATB choir, piano and harmonium. With 80 minutes duration, it is a large-scale solemn mass; the self-deprecating “petite”, small, of the title is Rossini’s very own brand of irony. Below the original score, the composer wrote, playing on the words “sacre”, sacred, and “sacré”, damned: ‘Good God. Here it is, the pathetic little mass. Have I really made holy or unholy music? I was born for opera buffa, as you well know. A little knowledge and a little heart, that's all. So be blessed and grant me paradise.’

Rossini, who was celebrated as a composer of operas, was 71 when he wrote the mass; he had long since retired from opera. The “Petite messe” was close to his heart, and its performance is a special experience for musicians and audiences alike.

Martina Neubauer | soprano