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410-625-3525

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Petite Messe Solennelle

Gioacchino Rossini is remembered primarily for his immense contribution to the Italian operatic repertoire, but he also produced two important pieces of sacred music that are notable for, amongst other things, their overtly operatic style.  Though composers before Rossini combined elements of opera into sacred compositions for greater impact, what is original about Rossini's sacred music is not so much its dramatic power, impressive as it is, as its unashamed romanticism.

By the age of 37 he had written over 40 operas, but in 1829, after completing William Tell, he retired to live in Italy, but suffered a prolonged and painful illness. His wife, Isabella, died in 1845 and the next year he married Olympe Pélissier. In 1855 Rossini returned to Paris. Here his health and humor returned, together with his urge to compose, and he wrote over 150 piano pieces, songs, small ensembles, including the Petite Messe Solennelle (1863). These works were only performed at his salon, for private audiences, which included most of the great artistic and public figures in Paris at the time. Rossini refused to have them published. He referred to them as Péchés de vieillesse ('sins of old age'). Characterized by wit, parody, grace, and sentiment, these pieces were to influence the younger generation of French composers, including Saint-Saens and Chabrier.

The Petite Messe Solennelle is the most substantial of the works written during Rossini's Indian summer of composition. The first performance of the piece was given at the town house of the dedicatee, in the private chapel of the Countess Louise Pillet Will, and those who attended agreed that the Mass represented a magnificent feat of creative self-renewal for the seventy-one-year-old composer. The work's title is misleading, since the Petite Messe Solennelle is neither petite nor particularly solemn. The music ranges from hushed intensity to boisterous high spirits, and abounds in the memorable tunes and rhythmic vitality for which Rossini became justly famous.

The quiet A minor opening of the Kyrie contrasts sustained choral writing with a running bass part in the piano accompaniment. This soon gives way to a brighter mood as the music moves into the major. For the Christe Eleison, Rossini echoes the church music of Palestrina some 300 years earlier. As the second Kyrie unfolds, the movement returns to the opening's serious mood. The Gloria begins with a short introduction for chorus and soloists, followed by four extended solo movements that are operatic arias in all but name. The chorus returns for the final section of the Gloria, an extended fugue to 'Cum sancto spiritu in gloria Dei Patris, Amen.' This is a tour de force of musical craftsmanship, reflecting the thorough classical training in harmony and counterpoint that Rossini received all those years ago at the Bologna Academy.

In the Credo Rossini ingeniously uses the word 'credo' as a unifying motif to which he repeatedly returns. This section of the mass concludes with another brilliant fugue for the chorus, 'Et vitam venturi saeculi, Amen.' There follows an extended piano solo, leading to a lyrical Sanctus and Benedictus, and the final, luminescent Agnus Dei for contralto (Rossini's favorite voice) and chorus brings the work to a glorious, dramatic conclusion.

Concert Artists of Baltimore

Presents

Opera Goes to Church

Petite Messe Solennelle

Concert Artists of Baltimore will present a special concert of Rossini's masterpiece, Petite Messe Solennelle to help support St. Ignatius' Loaves & Fishes program. Loaves & Fishes is a winter feeding program for the homeless. Their mission is to provide a nourishing weekend meal to the homeless and poor of Baltimore City.

The ministry began in 1986, under the already established organization, "At Jacob's Well," as a weekend feeding program providing soup and sandwiches to Baltimore City's homeless. After several years of operation, the van feeding program became an independent ecumenical program known as Loaves & Fishes, run by volunteers from St. Mary's Seminary, Church of the Redeemer, Church of the Good Shepherd, First Baptist Church of Pimlico, and Epiphany Church in Timonium. In an endeavor to institutionalize the program, the Pastoral Council of St. Ignatius Church voted to adopt the program in 2001, and to provide the St. Ignatius Loyola Academy's van for the Saturday night runs.  In 2002 the program was expanded to Sunday nights through volunteers from St. Ignatius Parish.

The ministry provides an evening meal of sandwiches, hot soup, fresh fruit (generally oranges and bananas), coffee, and a sweet snack. Each Saturday and Sunday volunteers gather to prepare hot, homemade soup and sandwiches. Blankets and clothing (socks, underwear, coats, sweaters, raingear, gloves, boots) are given out during more severe weather to those clearly in need. They also have an informal association with several shelters in Baltimore City and attempt to provide referrals and information to homeless patrons. The van also makes a special run on Christmas Eve distributing boxed suppers with wrapped Christmas gifts, prepared by Sunday school youth from the Church of the Redeemer. Through the "Boots For Baltimore" program Loaves & Fishes receives approximately 90 pairs of new work boots (with boot socks) for distribution to the homeless. While numbers vary from week to week, the feeding program serves meals to an estimated average of 150 patrons each Saturday and Sunday evening.

The Beautiful Music Continues. . .

Sunday, April 17^th  

2:30 pm                           

QUINTANGO

SPONSORED BY McCORMICK & COMPANY

The Engineers Club

The Garrett-Jacobs Mansion

11 West Mount Vernon Place

Three-time winner of Washington's Prestigious WAMMIE award, this quintet of two violins, cello, bass, and piano brings a century's worth of tango repertoire alive with accompanying narration.  QuinTango performs with sizzling energy and contagious passion.

Make it a completely memorable afternoon and treat yourself to a delectable pre-concert brunch in the Mansion's beautiful dining room, for a modest additional charge. Reservations must be made in advance through Concert Artists (410 625-3525 or www.cabalto.org). Click here for the Engineers Club website, where you can find directions and much more.

Saturday, May 14^th    

8:00 pm

A ROYAL INVITATION

The Gordon Center For Performing Arts

3506 Gwynnbrook Avenue

Owings Mills, MD

Barber                        Adagio

Barber                        Cello Concerto

                                  Gita Ladd, Cello

Argento                      A Royal Invitation

Ginastera                   Estancia

Come see why The Gordon Center For Performing Arts was voted "Best Concert Venue" by Baltimore Magazine in 2001. The Gordon Center For Performing Arts offers an intimate atmosphere, acoustic grandeur, comfortable seating, and ample free, well-lit  parking.

For Tickets, Call Concert Artists of Baltimore
Box Office at:  410-625-3525

Or Click Here to reserve tickets online