Written almost 30 years after his last opera, the Petite Messe Solennelle, Rossini last composition, was premiered in earnest in 1869, three months after the composer’s death. The work is a unique blend of the comic and devotional, of superficiality and deep feeling. It is performed here with Rossini’s original instrumentation and also includes the hymn for soprano and piano ‘O salutaris hostia’, which is often omitted. As a world first, a bonus track ‘O salutaris de campagne’ is included. The liner notes include the work’s history, the conductor’s interpretation and performer bios.
