Summer Concert : Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle

Gioachino Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle (1863) is a brilliant contradiction. True to Rossini’s playful spirit, this Mass is neither “petite” nor particularly “solemn” – instead it overflows with charm, wit, and expressive warmth.

Bon viveur Rossini, who had become enormously wealthy through his successful comic operas, wrote the Mass towards the end of his life, and jokingly called it “the last of my sins.” He brilliantly combines sacred tradition and operatic flair in a work that speaks with a depth of emotion to everyone. “Oh Lord” he prayed, “you know as well as I do that I was born to write comic opera.” And when it came to writing his Little Solemn Mass, Rossini couldn’t help but fill it with cheerful rhythms, superb solos and tune after irresistible tune.

With a star cast of soloists and with Rossini’s original arrangement of two pianos and a harmonium, sacred music doesn’t get much more entertaining than this.

100 strong chorus 

Conductor Richard Harker 

Pianists David Smith and Anita D'Attellis 

Harmonium Tammas Slater 

Christine Cunnold is a lyric soprano who trained with English National Opera on their acclaimed Opera Works programme. Christine has sung with the Royal Opera House, English National Opera, Aix en Provence Festival, and Birmingham Opera Company. Christine also enjoys performing on the concert platform. Recent solo performances include: Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem, Strauss Four Last Songs, Rossini Stabat Mater and Mendelssohn Elijah.

Rhonda Browne’s passion for singing began with the internationally acclaimed New Zealand Youth Choir. She relocated to London to pursue a solo career and was awarded the London Wagner Society’s Bayreuth Bursary and Audience Prize. Rhonda’s concert repertoire Mozart Requiem (New Zealand Symphony Orchestra); Mahler Das Lied von der Erde (English National Ballet); and Elgar Sea Pictures (Sheffield Symphony Orchestra

Samuel Snowden is a Welsh Baritone graduating with Distinction in his Master of Music from the Royal Northern College of Music. In 2024 he was an Opera Holland Park Young Artist, performing the role of Doctor Bartolo in Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia as part of their summer festival. Recent performances include Handel Messiah, Haydn Creation, Bach B Minor Mass, Faure Requiem, and Mozart Requiem.

Stuart McDermott studied Physics at Imperial College London, before taking undertook a postgraduate diploma in Vocal Studies at the Royal Academy of Music. As an Oratorio Soloist, Stuart has sung Bruckner Te Deum and Mass in F minor, Haydn Creation, Schubert Masses in Eb and G, Dvorák Mass in D, William Lloyd Webber The Saviour, Mozart Coronation Mass, C Minor Mass and Requiem and the premier of Rachel Stott's Companion of Angels.

We are delighted that both Henley Choral Society and Henley Youth Choir’s superb regular accompanists, David Smith and Anita D’Attellis will be joining us for this performance. We welcome back Tammas Slater, London-based organist, pianist, conductor, and composer recognized as a former BBC Young Composer of the Year winner. A Cambridge University organ scholar (Gonville and Caius College), he has performed at the Wigmore Hall and Bridgewater Hall, Manchester.