British Vocal Ensemble Stile Antico Returns for U.S. Tour Today

The critically acclaimed British vocal ensemble Stile Antico embarks on a major U.S. tour this month, performing selections from its new album From The Imperial Court. With stops including Boston Early Music Festival's St. Paul Church (March 1), New York's Church of St. Mary the Virgin (February 28), Washington, DC's Church of the Ascension and Saint Agnes (February 25th), the tour program follows the music that captures the triumphs and tragedies of the Imperial courts of the Hapsburgs.

The remarkable Hapsburg dynasty, which at its peak ruled much of Europe and established the first truly global empire, is the inspiration for a fascinating journey through two centuries of music. Stile Antico performs works closely associated with three of the greatest Hapsburg monarchs: the Emperor Maximilian, who greatly expanded the empire, his grandson Charles V of Spain, and Charles's son Philip II, who married Queen Mary of England. We encounter coronations, celebrations and funerals and meet the Hapsburgs at play and at prayer, as their story is told through repertoire ranging from Gombert's " agnificat primi toni" to Lobo's exquisite expression of grief, and from the intricacies of Isaac to the exuberance of Morales. Across the generations, in times of peace, victory, and sorrow, the era's finest composers echoed the majesty of royal life with elegant and richly textured works.

Stile Antico's album From The Imperial Court is characterized by the same ravishing natural vocal sound that has driven all of Stile Antico's recordings to the top of the classical charts. The Santa Fe New Mexican described it as "hold-your-breath beautiful," the New York Times called their performance of Pierre de la Rue's motet "Absalon film mi" "particularly superb" and Sinfini awarded the album all their possible stars simply calling it "transcendent." LISTEN to featured tracks HERE.

Working without a conductor, the 12-member ensemble rehearses and performs cooperatively in the manner of chamber musicians, a process that the young chamber group has "come to realize as a great strength," according to soprano Kate Ashby. The group has been praised for its "staggeringly beautiful [singing]" (Sunday Times), "pure tone and expressive manner" (Dallas Morning News) and "immaculate ensemble work and balance" (Boston Globe), and its ability to collectively feel the pulse of the music - combined with a stunning, transparent vocal sound - has earned Stile Antico multiple Diapasons d'Or de l'année, a Gramophone Award, and two GRAMMY nominations.

U.S. TOUR : FEBRUARY 21 - MARCH 6, 2015:
Feb 21 - Durham, NC - Duke Chapel
Feb 22 - Davidson, NC - Davidson United Methodist Church
Feb 25 - Washington, DC - Church of the Ascension and Saint Agnes
Feb 27 - Kansas City, MO - Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Feb 28 - New York, NY - Church of St. Mary the Virgin
Mar 1 - Cambridge, MA - Boston Early Music Festival
Mar 3 - Miami, FL - Tropical Baroque Festival
Mar 6 - Columbus, OH - First Congregational Church

For more, visit StileAntico.co.uk.

To post a comment, you must register and login.