On Thursday, July 17th, at 7:30 PM, the Bucheon City Choir's 176th Subscription Concert, featuring Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle, will take place at the Bucheon Arts Center Concert Hall. Conducted by Artistic Director Kim Sun-ah, with pianists Moon Jin-ho and Lee Soo-kyung, harmonium player Yang Ha-young, and the Bucheon City Choir, this performance promises to fully capture the grandeur, humor, and profound moments of reflection found in Rossini's late masterpiece.

A Masterpiece Filled with the Sincere Final Thoughts of a Joyful Genius, Rossini 

Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868) was a prominent Italian opera composer in the first half of the 19th century, renowned as a master of opera buffa (comic opera). His representative work includes the opera William Tell, which he composed at the age of 39, and with this piece, he virtually retired from opera composition. For the next 30 years, he lived a quiet life away from the public eye in the Parisian suburbs, composing various short pieces, which he self-deprecatingly called "Sins of Old Age (Péchés de vieillesse)."

Petite Messe Solennelle is considered the most important work among those Rossini composed in his final decade after his retirement, in 1863. The title "Petite" (small) was given because it was originally composed as a chamber work for two pianos, a harmonium, and twelve singers. It premiered at the mansion of Countess Pillet, a contemporary Parisian aristocrat, and it is said that the audience was deeply moved by this work, finding it as humorous yet sublime as his operas.

Regarding this work, Rossini famously wrote on the last page of his autograph score, with wit, "Dear Lord, is this truly sacred music, or is it rather a sacrilegious work? I was born for opera buffa, as you well know. Little skill, a little heart, that's all. Bless me, and grant me paradise." This inscription vividly illustrates the unique coexistence of operatic merriment and the solemn reverence of a sacred mass within the work.

"Small" Grandeur Blending Musical Depth with Human Touch 

Petite Messe Solennelle consists of 14 movements, following the traditional mass liturgy: 'Kyrie,' 'Gloria,' 'Credo,' 'Prélude religieux,' 'Sanctus,' 'O salutaris,' and 'Agnus Dei.' Each movement showcases Rossini's distinctive melodic beauty and dramatic expressive power, with beautiful solo parts resembling opera arias alternating with majestic fugues, displaying a diverse musical spectrum.

In particular, despite using religious texts, this Mass frequently reveals Rossini's unique humor and human touch. The lively rhythms and bright harmonies add vitality and joy instead of the typical solemnity of a Mass, reflecting Rossini's lifelong endeavor to express "human emotions" through music. For this reason, some scholars have described this work as an "operatic mass" or "the most secular mass."

Later, Rossini also arranged this work for orchestra, but it was published posthumously, and most performances of Petite Messe Solennelle today adhere to the original scoring for piano, harmonium, and vocal ensemble. This is because it better preserves the intimate and concise chamber music quality intended by the composer. Performed with such a rare orchestration, Petite Messe Solennelle is a representative work that combines Rossini's artistic maturity in his later years, his devout spiritual reflection, and his joyful sensibility, holding immense musicological value.

A Special Musical Experience This Summer in Bucheon 

Through this subscription concert, the Bucheon City Choir plans to explore the true meaning of Petite Messe Solennelle and present the depth and charm of Rossini's musical legacy to the audience. Artistic Director Kim Sun-ah's delicate and profound interpretation will effectively convey the work's grandeur, humor, and contemplation, while the collaboration with pianists Moon Jin-ho and Lee Soo-kyung, and harmonium player Yang Ha-young, will further illuminate the beauty of the original piece.

This performance will be more than just a rendition of a mass; it will be a precious opportunity to glimpse Rossini's artistic world, where the joys and sorrows of life are sublimated with humor and sublimity. Through his music, the audience is expected to experience a special moment of escape from daily life, gaining sincere human insight and spiritual enlightenment.

Tickets for the Bucheon City Choir's 176th Subscription Concert, Rossini, Petite Messe Solennelle, can be purchased through the Bucheon Arts Center website and various ticketing platforms including NOL Ticket, Ticketlink, and Yes24 Ticket. Ticket prices are 20,000 KRW for R seats, 15,000 KRW for S seats, and 10,000 KRW for A seats. Don't miss out on the most special musical experience in Bucheon this summer.
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