{"id":9643,"date":"2013-02-09T08:25:12","date_gmt":"2013-02-09T13:25:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/?p=9643"},"modified":"2013-02-09T08:25:12","modified_gmt":"2013-02-09T13:25:12","slug":"tips-for-very-vocal-sort-of-saturday-in-a-concert-hall-or-in-an-armchair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2013\/02\/09\/tips-for-very-vocal-sort-of-saturday-in-a-concert-hall-or-in-an-armchair\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips for very vocal sort of Saturday in a concert hall or in an armchair"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Soprano<\/a>
Soprano Gillian Keith rehearsing Friday with Keith Weber at Rosedale Presbyterian Church (Samuel Tam photo).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There are several good reasons to go snowbank hopping today to catch some fine vocal music. There are a couple of equally good reasons to make rum-spiked hot cocoa and curl up on the sofa.<\/p>\n

IN OR OUT<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and conductor Noel Edison serve up one of my favourite pieces of choral music: Giacomo Rossini’s Petite Messe Solenelle<\/em>. The long-retired opera composer wrote this gem after he’d turned 70.<\/p>\n

It had its first performance in 1864 in the private chapel of a French aristocrat, with accompaniment of piano and harmonium.<\/p>\n

Even though it’s a setting of the ordinary of the Mass, plus a little something for the Elevation of the Host, there is nothing pious about Rossini’s always operatic, often funny, writing for soloists and chorus. Rossini called it the last of his “p\u00e9ch\u00e9s de vieillesse” — sins of old age.<\/p>\n

You can catch it in the flesh at 3 p.m., at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, or you can watch it stream live online. You’ll find all the details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Rossini orchestrated the piece before he died, but we’re hearing the original at Yorkminster Park. Here, for a taste of this delectable piece of music is the opening Kyrie, courtesy of Robert King and his Consort:<\/p>\n