Term 2 Concert 2004
"Italian Masters" Sunday-Afternoon Concert, August 22
Rossini - Petite Messe Solennelle ("Little Solemn Mass") 1863
Rossini returned to composition in the last decade of his life after a long period of inactivity due to illness. During this last period Rossini also wrote many short and humorous piano pieces, which he jokingly called Péchés de viellesse (Sins of Old Age). He did not publish these pieces, and most of them remained unknown until the 1950s.
Rossini's last work is neither little nor especially solemn - Rossini himself pretended not to take "The Little Solemn Mass" very seriously. It is full of passion though with dramatic almost operatic parts reflecting his early background in Italian opera. It is also technically skillful with a great fugue in the style of Bach. At the end of the score, in a characteristic self-deprecating way he wrote:
For more detailed notes on the music and a number of Rossini links, click on our program notes page.
In this performance, the Petite Messe Solennelle will be given in its original version, with accompaniment by two pianos (played by Amanda Miller and David Grisdale) and harmonium (Amy Johansen). Soloists will be Margaret Coen (soprano), Virginia-Marie Stack (mezzo), George Gilmour (tenor), and Richard Anderson (bass).
The choir last performed this work in August 1998. The concert will be attended by the choir's patron, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC, Governor of New South Wales.
Monteverdi, Cherubini, Allegri and Philippe de Monte - Chamber Choir
The new Chamber Choir will also perform works by Italian Masters Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643), Gregorio Allegri (1582-1652), and Luigi Cherubini (1760-1842) as well as Philippe de Monte (who was of Flemish origin but spent important years of his life in Naples). For further details see the program notes page.
"Elijah" Concert - Guest Chorus
Sing Mendelssohn's Elijah with us
For the third concert in our Great Hall Series for 2004, the Choir will be performing Mendelssohn's magnificent oratorio, Elijah, on Saturday, 11 December at 8.00 pm. As with the very successful Messiah in December 2003, this will be a special concert, with a guest chorus in which members of the public will have the opportunity to sing. This "George Faunce Allman Chorale" will join the Choir in singing 13 of Mendelssohn's great choruses. Christopher Bowen will direct this major event, involving a large orchestra and group of soloists.
An application form for membership of the guest chorus, setting out the details including the cost, will be placed in this position soon (we expect it to go up in the week beginning 23 August). We hope you will be able to join us for this exciting performance.
Many critics consider Mendelssohn's Oratorio "Elijah" to be his greatest work. It was given its first performance on 26 August 1846 at the Birmingham Festival, conducted by Mendelssohn himself. The work was received with rapturous applause as described in The Times: "The last note of Elijah was drowned in a long-continued unanimous volley of plaudits, vociferous and deafening... Never was there a more complete triumph - never a more thorough and speedy recognition of a great work of art." "Elijah" was a subject that Mendelssohn has long wanted to set to music and he greatly enjoyed the work's success before his untimely death the following year aged only 38. For further background click here