Concert -goers might crowd into King’s for any performance but the choice of OLEMS Cambridge’s highest church for the Festival Finale was an inspired one. Here we all were, in a wonderfully vaulted space surrounded by lovely Victorian stained glass and late nineteenth century art. It was a refreshing venue for aptly enough - a Mass.

Rossini was born in Pescara but moved to Bologna with his family to avoid the invasion of Napoleon into Northern Italy . Love of the theatre was in his blood from a young age. A teenager when he began his operas, influenced massively by Mozart, he conquered all before him for more than twenty years. After 40 operas , all work well received , he rounded it all off with the glorious William Tell - a theme I can never hear without turning up the volume to join in. Everyone loved it and still does - and Rossini, now affluent retired. it was 1829. Yes, he is a much earlier composer than we all think, Mozart “the admiration of my youth’ was almost a contemporary.

He moved to Paris, joined the beau monde and spent the money. Photographs of this time show a really well fed , super contented gourmand at home in the city of culture. But after such a long pause in 1855 he began to write again charmingly he wrote a note to God, ‘ Dear Lord, there it is, finished . . poor little mass I was born for comic opera . Little skill, some feeling and that’s all .Therefore let me sing Your praises and grant me your paradise” I am sure he has.

Christopher Wood the other composer of the evening was born nin Wales. He graduated in Medicine and became a Consultant Surgeon - and still found time for music. He now has a world wide reputation - both in innovative medicine and in the arts. His lovely lively Te Deum began the evening sung by the stunning sixteen choristers - they honestly sounded so many more - but each one gave much to the performance.

On a gorgeous piano was Ben Horden, annual accordion given by Valerie Barr- provided the reverent gaiety of the celebration of the Mass whilst Alex Trigg’s organ laid on the gravitas in layers of sonorous skill The principal singers were superb . Sophie Bevan as a soaring soprano is already well known , but new to me anyway was the beautifully modulated voice of Emma Roberts a mezzo0 soprano although her range was hard to identify, it was superb. Francis Melville was a wonderful welcome tenorwith smooch colour and glow in his voice. And James Platt a brilliant bass in any field give such a delightful solidity to the entire musical arrangement.

Conductor Tom Primrose controlled this remarkable ensemble. Taking a break from opera and concert work, he was a hugely impressive figure in the galaxy of these musical stars.

A wonderful evening, a great venue and the performers to celebrate this lovely work.

We trust Rossini gets his reward from the Lord and, rests in peace - to the sound of glorious music,.