Rossini’s unique choral work, Petite Messe Solennelle, was composed in his final years and this was, amazingly, over thirty years since he had stopped writing around forty operas.   The music here is immediately appealing both to sing and to listen to.  There are continuous attractive melodies throughout and the magnificent choral sections include a magical setting of the opening Kyrie which has a specially effective type of syncopated rhythm accompaniment.  There are a number of superb solo numbers including a heroic tenor aria and a powerful bass aria.  The soprano and contralto have a glorious duet in the Gloria as well as some fine arias and the Mass ends with an intensely moving  Agnus Dei  set for solo contralto and chorus.  

This concert will also include some of the major pieces from Elgar’s Scenes from the Bavarian Highlands.