Stile Antico marks the 500th anniversary of Palestrina’s birth at Bourgie Hall LiveEvents March 22, 2025 171 The Prince of Music: Palestrina in the Eternal City The prestigious British ensemble Stile Antico marks the 500th anniversary of Palestrina’s birth. A central figure of Renaissance polyphony, Palestrina is closely associated with the splendours of the papacy and the great churches of Rome. Photo: Eduardus Lee Stile Antico is firmly established as one of the world’s most accomplished and innovative vocal ensembles. Working without a conductor, its twelve members have thrilled audiences on four continents with their fresh, vibrant and moving performances of Renaissance polyphony. Its bestselling recordings have earned accolades including the Gramophone Award for Early Music, Diapason d’or de l’année, Edison Klassiek Award, and Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik. The group has received three Grammy® nominations, and performed live at the 60th Grammy® Awards at Madison Square Garden. Based in London, Stile Antico has appeared at many of the world’s most prestigious venues and festivals. The ensemble’s performances are often praised for their immediacy, expressive commitment, and their sensitive and imaginative response to text. These qualities arise from the group’s collaborative working style: members rehearse and perform as chamber musicians, each contributing artistically to the musical results. The group is also noted for its compelling programming, which draws out thematic connections between works to shine new light on Renaissance music. “No matter how elaborate the counterpoint, there are no hesitations, no rough edges.” – Geoff Brown, The Times Photo: Eduardus Lee Stile Antico’s repertoire focuses on the astonishingly rich legacy of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century polyphonic composition. Just as no single voice predominates in the polyphonic style, Stile Antico’s collaborative working method allows all its members to contribute artistically in crafting its performances. The results have been described as ‘wonderfully vivid’ – a direct, personal interpretative approach to the choral repertory, conveying both the beauty and the drama of the finest polyphonic music of the Renaissance. During 2025, as Stile Antico celebrates twenty years as a professional ensemble, it also marks the five hundredth birthday of Palestrina, the quintessential master of the stile antico. Wednesday April 2, 2025 at 7:30pmTo purchase your tickets, please visit: www.mbam.qc.ca/en/bourgie-hall/ Only a few tickets remaining!
