A Renaissance Christmas | Stile Antico

For many, Christmas truly begins at the first carol service of the season. Each year, this magical sequence of music and readings gives new life to the story of the Prophets, the Annunciation, the birth of Christ, and the visits of the shepherds and Magi.

This year the challenges of covid-19 have left many churches unable to hold their carol services. For all those who will miss these special occasions, Stile Antico presents a unique and beautiful sequence inspired by the traditional service of Nine Lessons and Carols. Masterpieces by some of the finest composers of the Renaissance alternate with intimate, metaphysical verse by poets such as John Donne and George Herbert, in place of readings from Scripture. From the joyful exuberance of Aleotti's Angelus ad pastores to the wonder and simplicity of Victoria's O magnum mysterium, the hour-long performance is a veritable feast of words and music, culminating in John Sheppard’s spectacular setting of the famous passage from St John’s Gospel: “The word was made flesh and dwelt among us”.