Gioachino ROSSINI Petite Messe Solennelle - EUROARTS DVD 2057428 [RF]: Classical Music Reviews

Gioacchino Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle was written in 1863, the last, the composer called it, of my péchés de vieillesse (sins of old age). He wrote the work for the consecration of the private chapel of the work’s dedicatee, Countess Louise Pillet-Will, a personal friend. For its first performance on 14 March 1864 Rossini arranged the work with only two pianos, harmonium, four soloists and a choir of twelve. Partly for fear that it would be done anyway after his death, Rossini discreetly orchestrated the Petite Messe Solennelle during 1866-67 and in doing so the king of opera buffa showed his skill in counterpoint in the two extended double fugues, much as Verdi had done in the finale of his last opera Falstaff. The resulting orchestrated version had its first public performance on 28 February 1869, three months after the composer's death.

The magnificently orchestrated version was performed at the Leipzig Gewandhaus in November 2008 on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of the composer's death. The Gewandhaus Orchestra, along with Kurt Masur, its conductor at the time, will always be remembered for their part in the fight for freedom in 1989 as the East German Government sought brutally to repress the population. The stand they took against the repression precipitated the fall of the hated Berlin Wall and the re-unification of Germany. Is it too far to stretch the appropriateness of a performance of a Latin Mass, and its promises of eternal life, with the ideal for which they stood? Certainly these choral and orchestral forces, along with distinguished soloists, in the magnificent theatre and under the baton of a renowned Rossinian, brought such thoughts to my mind.

The joint choruses, with the women of the two choirs distinguished by dress, and all the men in white tie, sing with a thrilling clarity and commitment that not only shakes the rafters but warms the soul. They open softly in the Kyrie (CH.2), are fully vibrant in the opening of the Gloria (CH.3) and are outstanding in the contrapuntal Cum Sancto Spiritu (CH.8). The orchestral contribution is equally magnificent with low strings and wind notable in the opening as are the brass and wind in the Gratis agimus tubi (CH.4). Before mentioning the singers I must also highlight Rossini’s writing for the organ in the Preludio religioso (CH 12) and the organist Michael Schönheit on the large and magnificent instrument from which he draws such elegiac sounds. It is particularly interesting to see his pedal work in close-ups as well as hands moving over the keyboard. The muting mechanism gives further insight into the tonal diversity of this quite large and magnificent instrument.

The solo singers are well up to their task. The two ladies, the tall blonde Manuela Custer, with a sappy resonance and suitable lower notes, alongside the dark-haired warm dramatic coloratura soprano of Alexandrina Pendatchanska, blend well in the Qui tollis (CH.6). I might suggest they blend far better than the famous female duo in the recent recording of the Stabat Mater (see review). Pendatchanska’s creamy tone is heard to advantage as soloist in the Crucifixus (CH.10) whilst the alto has the concluding long Agnus Dei (CH.15) in which her singing is a glory in itself. Whilst the ladies hark from Bulgaria and Romania, the two men are native Italians. Perhaps Mirco Palazzi, whilst his pitching and expression allied to smooth legato is fine, could do with a little more sonority and gravitas, (CHs.3 and 7). When we often grumble of tasteless tenor singing, the native fluent squilla of Stefano Secco’s lyric tenor lays easily on my ear, particularly in the Gratius (CH.4) with its echoes of the Cujus animam from the composer’s Stabat mater.

This work is titled Petite Messe Solennelle. It is neither small nor, in this dramatic reading by Riccardo Chailly, can it be deemed solemn. If this creation is a sin, my old age, and many others, could be better used! This performance strongly gives the work the right to claim as an equal to stand alongside the composer’s other great choral work the Stabat Mater, and elevates it to be counted in the company of that other great Mass composed by a renowned composer of opera, Verdi.

The camera-work is nicely balanced between orchestra, instrumentalists, audience and chorus with the odd view of the dynamic Riccardo Chailly. His reading is profound, bringing out colours and drama that many others have failed to appreciate. The booklet essay, in English, German, French, is brief but informative.

Robert J Farr

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