It was an inspired choice by the King’s Lynn Festival Chorus to perform Rossini’s rarely heard ‘Petite Messe Solennelle’ at St Nicholas’ Chapel on Sunday.

The Mass was composed towards the end of the composer’s life, and described by him as “the final sin of my old age”. It was first performed in 1846 and was well-received in its original, chamber version. The Festival Chorus used the version for chorus, soloists, two pianos and accordion, not the uninspired orchestral one. Rossini’s setting of the Mass is theatrical and operatic generally, although there are more serious passages, set in a traditional way.

Rossini’s setting of the Mass is theatrical and operatic generally, although there are more serious passages, set in a traditional way. The work includes some jaunty and catchy melodies not normally associated with religious choral works, but this just adds to the charm of the piece!

Under popular conductor Ben Horden we enjoyed a joyous and uplifting rendering of the work, coping well with the pieces’s contrasts, both dynamic and emotional.

The chorus was on top form, the soloists, Hilary Cronin (soprano), Emma Roberts (mezzo), Zahid Siddiqui (tenor) and Dan D’Souza (baritone) sang with bravado and beauty and the work’s originality enhanced by the contributions of Ian Tindale and Ella O’Neill on pianos and Ben De Souza on accordion, their accompanying and solo roles much appreciated!

Congratulations to all involved in the success of the concert[!]

– Andy Tyler, Lynn News