Rossini’s ‘Petite Messe Solennelle’ at Ponte last Sunday (which I announced at https://longoio3.com/2018/04/23/a-little-solemn-mass/ ) got me to write the following comments on Facebook in both Italian and English after its performance. I’m re-printing them here in case you’re not connected to FB.

Un trionfo assoluto la ‘Petite Messe Solennelle’, eseguita ieri pomeriggio nella colma chiesa dello SS Crocifisso a Ponte a Serraglio. Il Maestro Biancalana, Viareggino, notissimo direttore di coro di fama internazionale, con apprezzatissime incisioni al suo credito, mi ha finalmente, col suo ensemble, che ha studiato per mesi questo capolavoro, rivelato la grandezza di Rossini nel pantheon musicale, fino ad ora considerato principalmente per le sue divertenti opere buffe, tra le quali il famoso Barbiere. Due ore di musica sentita, ben eseguita, divina..…come disse Shakespeare, la musica è il cibo dell’amore.

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An absolute triumph for the ‘Petite Messe Solennelle’ performed yesterday afternoon in the brim-full church of the Holy Crucifix in Ponte a Serraglio. Maestro Biancalana, from Viareggio, internationally renowned choir conductor, with highly acclaimed recordings to his credit, has finally, with his ensemble, revealed to me Rossini’s greatness in the musical pantheon, someone, who, until now, I considered mainly for his amusing comic operas among which the famous Barber. Two hours of music truly felt, well played, divine … … as Shakespeare said, music is the food of love.