Stile Antico makes its Czech debut, opening the Summer Festival of Early Music (Letní slavnosti staré hudby) in Prague on Thursday 16th July. They will perform their Legendae sanctorum programme, which explores the lives of the saints — those legendary figures who inspired the Church, and are believed to intercede on behalf of Christian worshippers.
They will sing motets in honour of the Apostles St James and St Andrew, and venerate St William, St Katherine, St Cecilia (the patron saint of music) and – in his anniversary year – the great Francis of Assisi in a mouthwatering selection of motets from Renaissance England, Flanders, Italy and Spain. The programme is framed by two works which carry their own particular legends: Palestrina’s Missa Papae Marcelli, popularly believed to have saved church music from oblivion, and Allegri’s celebrated Miserere, whose origins and traditions are shrouded in layers of intrigue and myth-making.
Ahead of the concert, Gareth Thomas has been interviewed for Klasika Plus, where he speaks about the composers whose works they they often perform. Read the full interview here:
klasikaplus.cz/gareth-thomas-v-praze-uvedeme-skladbu-jejiz-opis-se-trestal-exkomunikaci
📸 – Eduardus Lee