“The singing is staggeringly beautiful” - Sunday Times

Inspired by the traditional service of Nine Lessons and Carols, Stile Antico present a beautiful sequence of festive music from the Renaissance interspersed with intimate, metaphysical verse by poets such as John Donne and George Herbert. From the exuberance of Praetorius’ Magnificat quinti toni, which includes the carols In dulci jubilo and Joseph lieber, to the wonder and beauty of Tallis’ Videte miraculum, the performance is a veritable feast of words and music, culminating in John Sheppard’s spectacular setting of the famous passage from St John’s Gospel: “The word was made flesh and dwelt among us”.

Stile Antico is one of the world’s finest vocal ensembles, renowned for vibrant and expressive performances of Renaissance music. The ensemble has an extensive and award-winning discography on the Harmonia Mundi & Decca labels.

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Stile Antico Website

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Programme:

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Plainsong  - Corde natus ex parentis

‍Emilia Lanier  -  Eve’s Apologie in defence of women

‍Thomas Ravenscroft   - Remember O thou man

‍Book of Psalms  -  Psalm 85 from the Sidney Psalter

‍William Byrd  -  Rorate caeli

‍George Herbert  -  The Flower

‍Michael Praetorius  -  Es ist ein Ros entsprungen

‍George Herbert  -  Peace

‍Peter Philips  - Hodie nobis de caelo

‍John Donne  -  Annunciation

‍Josquin des Prez  -   Ave Maria

‍Hieronymus Praetorious   -   Magnificat quinti toni

INTERVAL

‍Thomas Tallis  - Videte miraculum

‍John Donne  -  Nativity

‍Hans Leo Hassler  -  Hodie Christus natus est

‍Henry Vaughan   -  The Shepherds

‍Rafaella Alleoti   -   Angelus ad Pastores ait

‍Lancelot Andrewes  -  Extract from ‘A Christmas Sermon’

‍Francisco Guerrero  -  A un niño llorando

‍Robert Southwell   -  The Burning Babe

‍John Sheppard   -   Verbum caro factum est

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