Premiere of Rossini's Petite messe solennelle in Paris

Background. Rossini composed the Petite messe solennelle in 1863, possibly at the request of Count Alexis Pillet-Will for his wife Louise. This work, his last major composition, was written in Passy, where he spent his final decades. The piece was scored for small forces, including voices, two pianos, and harmonium, making it unsuited for concert hall performance and unacceptable for church services due to the inclusion of women's voices.

Premiere. The mass was first performed on 14 March 1864 at the new home of Countess Louise Pillet-Will in Paris. This private performance took place in the hôtel of the comtesse de Pillet-Will, aligning with the work's modest scoring and private commission origins. The event marked the debut of Rossini's last major composition in a domestic setting rather than a public concert hall.