Rossini: Toast pour le nouvel an

This CD illustrates Rossini’s great compositional versatility: the works include choral fugues and a capella works for double choir. They range from religious works to drinking songs.

“Opera Rara’s exquisite salon music series” American Record Guide

If a time-machine could take us back through the centuries, which musical occasion might we choose to attend? Surely a soirée at Rossini’s Parisian home would be high on anyone’s list. Some of the most famous singers of the day would be performing, and the guest-list would read like a who’s who of the French capital at that time. And given Rossini’s fame both as gourmet and wit, you could be sure that the food would be as excellent as the conversation would be amusing. Then, of course, there’d be the chance to hear something new by the great master himself. For though he abandoned operatic composition in 1829, Rossini went on to compose hundreds of short vocal items and piano pieces to tickle the musical palates of those lucky nough to be invited to his famous Saturday evening salons. In this latest release in Opera Rara’s Il Salotto series, we present a programme of tasty morsels from Rossini’s musical cuisine, each lovingly prepared by the master’s hand. Four more substantial entrées – including the mighty ‘Le Chant des Titans’, in which the giants threaten the god Jupiter – are served up by soloists from the Geoffrey Mitchell Choir. Why not join them, Mireille Delunsch, Jennifer Larmore, Catherine Wyn-Rogers, Lawrence Brownlee and Malcolm Martineau, for an enticing musical feast!

This disc is accompanied by a fully illustrated booklet, with an introduction and notes to the songs by Rossini specialist Richard Osborne.