Come and Sing “Stabat Mater” at Westbourne Church

Please see the poster below.

Registration by emailing stephens253@btinternet.com.

For most choral singers, mention of Rossini brings to mind his wonderful quasi-operatic Petite Messe solennelle. But did you know that he wrote other equally wonderful sacred works?

Two decades before the Petite Messe emerged from his pen, he was asked by the Archdeacon of Madrid to set to music the 20 three-line stanzas that comprise the Stabat Mater dolorosa. At the height of his operatic fame and powers, Rossini’s version uses the whole range of emotion and drama familiar from his music for the stage. The result has all the musical and colourful heft expected of the maestro.

You have the opportunity to be immersed in this glorious music yourself on Saturday 14 November at St.John’s Church Westbourne PO10 8UL. We will spend the day workshopping the Stabat Mater plus a complementary motet, before presenting all this music in concert that evening with four first-class professional soloists, accompanied at the organ by Stewart Taylor and directed by Christopher Mabley.