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Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle
Forget everything you know about sacred music; Rossini brings a rare, theatrical intensity to this masterpiece that bridges the gap with opera. Experience a vibrant performance featuring an unconventional blend of piano and accordion inside a stunning local heritage site.
Eglise Saint Sulpice (Paris 6th)
About
On Saturday, October 24, 2026, the Saint-Sulpice Church hosts a performance of Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle. This masterpiece, which bridges the gap between sacred music and operatic intensity, is presented in its original version. Featuring a choir, soloists, piano, and accordion, the performance offers an intimate and powerful musical experience in the heart of the 6th arrondissement. The concert lasts from 20:00 to 22:00. Tickets are available across various price categories, with discounted rates offered to students and job seekers, ensuring a diverse audience can enjoy this exceptional evening of classical repertoire.
One of Rossini's masterpieces of sacred music, performed here in its original version for soloists, choir, piano, and accordion.
With his Petite messe solennelle, Rossini returns to a genre he had abandoned during his composing career: sacred music. There are two versions of this work. The first, with a modest ensemble (which earns it the name "little mass"), brings together four soloists (soprano, contralto, tenor, bass), a mixed choir, piano, and an accordion. The other version, re-orchestrated by Rossini himself, has a larger ensemble. Regardless of the version, it is a particularly expansive score, lasting an hour and a half, halfway between sacred music and opera.
Hélios Text:
Dynamic and eclectic, the Hélios orchestra has established itself since its creation in 2014.
Its artistic director, Paul Savalle, encourages the professional integration of young musicians through orchestral practice. Thus, young graduates mingle with experienced orchestral musicians, conductors, and soloists, in optimal working conditions.
From baroque to contemporary music, the programs are varied, the repertoire is both symphonic and choral, with the orchestra partnering with departmental and regional choirs.
Thanks to collaboration with various conductors, the musicians approach a very rich repertoire while broadening their interpretative palette. They all come from major French conservatories, some belonging to a national orchestra.
From a string quartet to a symphony orchestra, including the brass ensemble, the orchestra always expands its audience by modulating its composition. The "strings" ensemble performs in the most prestigious churches in Paris, allowing the public to discover a very rich architectural heritage.
Its variable geometry formation allows the Hélios orchestra to tackle a very broad repertoire with passionate curiosity.
Our take on this event
The Saint-Sulpice Church is the venue for an evening dedicated to Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle on October 24, 2026. Under the artistic direction of Paul Savalle, the Hélios Orchestra presents this composition in its traditional form, utilizing four soloists, a mixed choir, piano, and accordion. This structure reflects the composer's initial vision, blending sacred tradition with the theatrical flair of his operatic works. The event is scheduled to run from 20:00 to 22:00.
Ticket pricing is structured to accommodate different budgets. Prestige seats are priced at 60 €, with standard tickets available in Category 1 at 40 €, Category 2 at 30 €, and Category 3 at 20 €. Special reduced fares are applicable for students and job seekers, offering entry at 30 € for Category 1 and 20 € for Category 2. Given the venue's historical significance and the prestige of the ensemble, early booking is recommended for those wishing to experience this unique blend of symphonic and choral artistry.
