Stile Antico have launched their new Dante programme ‘A Divine Hope’ with a Lecture Recital given at St Peter’s Church, Eaton Square in London. The launch event featured music from the programme and talks from Joseph Gascoigne, University of York, who spoke on ‘Hope in Dante’s Divine Comedy, and Dr Lachlan Hughes, University of Durham, who discussed ‘the Musical Afterlife of Dante’s Divine Comedy’.
More information about A Divine Hope
Dante Alighieri’s Commedia (‘The Divine Comedy’) is considered one of the greatest works of literature ever written. Its imagery has shaped Western understanding of the afterlife for more than seven centuries, and inspired an immense body of scholarship, philosophy, art, and music.
Telling Dante’s story, Stile Antico descends with Il Divino into Hell, journeys with him through Purgatory, and finally arrives at the gates of Heaven. Renaissance madrigals and sacred music by composers such as Palestrina, Guerrero and Morales illustrate the way, setting to music prayers which the poet features in his epic verse. Texts by Dante himself, set to music by Luzzaschi and Merulo, also narrate the story. These are punctuated by readings from the Divine Comedy. At the pinnacle of heaven we meet the Virgin Mary in Victoria’s glorious 12-part Magnificat.
Repertoire
Nicolas Gombert: Media vita
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina: Peccantem me quotidie
Luzzasco Luzzaschi: Quivi sospiri pianit ed alti guai
Francisco Guerrero: Vexilla Regis
Tomás Luis da Victoria: Te lucis ante terminum
Palestrina: Salve Regina
Claudio Merulo: Salvum fac populum tuum
Cristobál de Morales: Agnus Dei from Missa Mille regretz
Orlande de Lassus: Beati pauperes spiritu
Cristobál de Morales:Asperges me
Anon: Venite a laudere
Merulo: Vergine, madre, figlia del tuo
Vicente Lusitano: Regina caeli a5
Tomás Luis da Victoria: Magnificat a12
Future performances of A Divine Hope
30 January
Warwick, UK
2 February
Nantes, France
3 February
Nantes, France
6 March
Newcastle, UK
21 March
London, UK
13 April
New York, NY, USA
14 April
Westerly, RI, USA
19 April
Cambridge, MA, USA
27 July
Holt, UK
Visit Stile Antico’s website for further information and ticket links