ROSSINI

- Petite mess solennelle (in Rossini's orchestration) (a)
- Messa di Milano (b)

NUCCIA FOCILE, soprano (a)
SUSANNE MENTZER, mezzo-soprano (a, b)
RAÚL GIMENEZ, tenor (a, b)
SIMONE ALAIMO, bass (a, b)
IAN BOSTRIDGE, tenor (b)
CHORUS AND ACADEMY OF ST MARTIN IN THE FIELDS
conducted by Sir NEVILLE MARRINER

- These two works are "bookends" to Rossini's career - the Messa di Milano is one of his earliest works (ca. 1803-1808) and the Messe solennelle comes from the very end of his life (1863). This work was originally scored for 12 voices, 2 pianos and harmonium

- the version that is most often heard today. However, in 1867 he revised the work for choir and orchestra. This rarely performed version is to be found on this recording.

CD 446 097-2 (2 CD set) DDD
PHILIPS