On Thursday 4th December, Stile Antico performs its “A Spanish Nativity” programme at St Martin-in-the-Fields, which is described as “an irresistible mix of sumptuous Christmas polyphony and joyful folk influences from the sensual world of Renaissance Spain. Luminous devotional music by Victoria and Morales jostles with beautiful Christmas songs, a colourful retelling of the Epiphany, and classic villancicos – Spain’s answer to the traditional carol.”
At the concert, the group will also be presented with the award they have recently been given of “Preis der Deutschen Schallplatten Kritik Annual Awards 2025″ in Germany. The prize has been awarded for The Golden Renaissance: Palestrina album, released earlier this year:
“There are moments in history when the wealth of future generations seems to hang on a single, fragile thread. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina spun one of these precious threads in his time, almost single-handedly saving the world of sacred vocal music – or so the myth goes. At a time of schism in the Church, his Missa Papae Marcelli demonstrated that polyphony need not be incomprehensible, nor vocal complexity confusing. He created such a convincing model of compositional balance, that later generations would proclaim him the saviour of church music on the basis of this work alone.
While the truth is a more nuanced business, it is fair to say that Palestrina’s music helped complex polyphony, the subject of theological controversy, to gain acceptance and splendour. Along the way, his genre had shaped its own compositional style: the Stile Antico. The British vocal ensemble of the same name sings this work of genius with flawless diction, of course, and with a passionate closeness to the text, without restraint, organic, supple. “
More information is available here:
📸 – Eduardus Lee