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Rossini was renowned for his prolific production of operas - 36 in 19 years.However, he changed his focus in the latter years of his life when he composed Petite Messe Solennelle.
But this is a mass unlike any other you are likely to come across.
Not for Rossini was this a great solemn occasion, although there are moving and delicate moments, it was more a work of celebration packed with wonderfully bright and fresh melodies.
At every turn in the music you can hear the master of opera phrasing at work and the solos, duets and trios could easily have been plucked from one of those popular operas.
It is a beautiful creation which lifts the spirit and the choir provided a rich mellow tone accentuated by the acoustics in the church.
Under the baton of Clive John, the performance took on almost a soothing quality with the beauty of the music flowing into every corner of the church.
The quality and tone of the choir was, unfortunately, not always matched by the four soloists who seemed to have a harder edge to their voices which did not work so well with the acoustics.
Performed without a break, the 90-minute long composition, was the perfect antidote to a cold, damp autumn evening, lifting the spirit and calming the nerves.
A word of praise too for the accompanists, Susan Croall and William Reynolds on pianos and Hugh Thomas on the harmonium.
They provided perfect support for the whole performance.
The soloists were Sally Harrison, soprano, Carolyn Dobbin, alto, Nicholas Ransley, tenor and Gavin Carr, baritone.
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