The students of Irene Drummond are taking on a huge challenge by performing Rossini’s Petite Messe Solenelle and they pull it off with some real vigour. Far from little, Rossini’s composition, which he wrote ahead of his own memorial, has a running time of over an hour. Do not assume, however, that this is a dreary work. Complete with a full choir, piano and organ, it is more often wonderfully intense and full of drama rather than melancholy.
The beginning Kyrie-Christie is actually very joyful and the soloists and chorus work beautifully together, filling the entire church instantly. It is not long before the music takes a more ominous turn however, especially where the exceptional organist Simon Niemski joins. It’s easy for the organ to come across as a clumsy instrument and I sometimes feel it is only present to be very loud, but Niemski plays with such subtlety that he manages to convey a range of emotions and he really holds this mass together. The Gloria in part one is equally triumphant. There are some impressive solos, too, the most outstanding delivered by bass Ben Ellis. His voice is clear, the part perfectly accented and also highly dramatic (the gentleman sitting next to me woke up with quite a start). Others are a lot quieter, but still very effective.
Although still very colourful, part two is increasingly intense. Whilst the singers show no signs of tiring on the whole, it is clear that pianist Stuart Hope is struggling at points. This is probably due to the fact that the group are using The New Novello Choral Edition in which music for a second piano has been stuffed into one part, and he does still give a great performance. The Crucifixus, O Salutaris and Agnus Dei are particularly moving and the organ solo during the Preludio Religioso is another highlight. Other movements are less special, but the concert is still very successful. The students of Irene Drummond possess a great deal of talent, and the diligence that is required to produce a performance like this has definitely paid off. Petite Messe Solenelle is certainly not light hearted, but it is an excellent work and it’s just as heartfelt as Rossini intended it to be.
