Stile Antico: Toward the Dawn

From dawn to dusk with Stile Antico: twelve superb singers sing the music of the night, from Allegri’s Miserere to Taverner’s mighty Ave Dei patris filia.

As the world turns, twilight deepens into night until the first rays of dawn herald the rebirth of day. It’s no secret that composers have found the hours of darkness inspiring, and Stile Antico follows their nocturnal wanderings tonight. Renaissance masters mourn the setting sun, sacred harmonies glow in the dark and blossoming polyphony illuminates the returning day. With composers like Allegri, Tallis, Monteverdi and Nico Muhly the music creates its own light: a beautiful showcase for the “breathtaking freshness, vitality and balance” of these twelve exceptional singers. One critic called them “a cappella heaven” and you’re about to hear why.

Programme:
EVENING ‘Twilight gray had in her sober livery all things clad’ – Milton

Wilbye Draw on sweet night
Tallis Te lucis ante terminum
Ward Come sable night
Byrd Vigilate

NIGHTFALL ‘Through the spaces of the dark, midnight shakes the memory’ – T.S. Eliot

Sheppard In manus tuas
Allegri Miserere mei

THE SMALL HOURS ‘Come, Sleep, the certain knot of peace’ – Sidney

Rogier/Morley Laboravi in gemitu meo
Lassus Toutes les nuitz
Muhly Gentle Sleep

DAWN ‘The morning steals upon the night, melting the darkness’ – Shakespeare

Tallis O nata lux
Monteverdi Ecco mormorar l’onde
Taverner Ave Dei patris filia

Performers:
Stile Antico