Rossini's "Little Solemn Mass, " which the composer famously called "neither little, nor more than intermittently solemn," was nevertheless a great success at its premiere in Paris on March 14, 1864, by which time the famous opera composer was already long "retired," though he continued to write in non-operatic genres. Rossini was 71 when he wrote it, and it was to be his last large composition. The other small songs and piano pieces he created were published under the ironic title of Peches de vieillesse - "Sins of My Old Age." The first version was scored for two pianos, harmonium, and twelve voices and did not yet include the "O Salutaris" for soprano solo which was added later.Within three years Rossini had responded to requests for an orchestration; this version for large ensemble was not given until after the composer's death, at the Theatre Italien in Paris, on February 24, 1869. The Quink Vocal Ensemble is one of the best vocal groups in the world. Their repertoire includes a cappella works ranging from the early Renaissance to contemporary music. Quink has toured the U.S. at least once a year since 1985 and recorded many albums for Telarc. |
