This fine collection of music is associated with Hapsburg rulers in the 16th century: the composers range from Heinrich Isaac… to Alonso Lobo. The young British ensemble Stile Antico exquisitely sing other rich examples by Senfl, Pierre de la Rue, Josquin, Gombert, Crecquillon and Tallis.
SP, The Sunday Times (14 September, 2014)
From the Imperial Court
The remarkable Hapsburg dynasty, which at its peak ruled much of Europe and established the first truly global empire, is the inspiration for Stile Antico’s latest recording, a fascinating and sumptuous journey through two centuries of Continental repertoire. Stile Antico performs music closely associated with the Renaissance Hapsburg monarchs Maximilian I, Charles V and Philip II, who gathered around them some of the finest composers of their day. We encounter coronations, celebrations and funerals, and meet the Hapsburgs at play and prayer, in music ranging from the simplest of Josquin chansons to the intricacies of Isaac, and from Lobo’s exquisite expression of grief to the exuberance of Morales and Gombert.
We regret that this recording is no longer available as a physical purchase. It can still be purchased as a download from popular online retailers.
Recorded: October, 2013
Label: Harmonia Mundi
Format: Hybrid SACD
Catalogue Number: HMU 807595
The singers of Stile Antico reinforce their already formidable reputation: intonation and balance are always flawless; the sound of the voices is glorious, precise and absolutely crystal-clear,
Gramophone
Words are insufficient to convey the transcendent beauty and spiritual scope of this album’s music and what Stile Antico do with it… I dare you to listen to Ludwig Senfl’s Quis dabit oculis, or any other track on this album, and tell me this is not great ensemble singing.
Andrew Stewart, Sinfini Music (30 January, 2015)
Spectacular… Isaac’s monumental Virgo prudentissima is 13 minutes of the finest I’ve ever heard Stile Antico sing.
AH, Early Music Today (Dec 2014 - Feb 2015)
This is wonderful Renaissance music, most of it by Flemish and Spanish composers…. It’s a beautiful disc. Stile Antico is at the top of the Renaissance a cappella scene. Their voices are seamless
Mary Kunz Goldman, The Buffalo News (16 July, 2014)
The singers of Stile Antico reinforce their already formidable reputation: intonation and balance are always flawless; the sound of the voices is glorious, precise and absolutely crystal-clear; the music always moves along effortlessly with well-judged moments of pressure and relaxation.
David Fallows, Gramophone (September, 2014)
As usual—and it’s becoming a habit—Stile Antico’s performances are big, gorgeous, and highly moving renditions, while Harmonia Mundi’s surround sound is superb in every way.
Steven Ritter, Audiophile Audition (30 July, 2014)
This disc would be interesting purely as a historic exploration, even without the breathtaking musicianship on show. What musicianship it is. I’ve written before of Stile Antico’s collaborative spirit and magical sound. What strikes me most in this recording is the incredible tightness of their sound, a consequence, no doubt, of their refusal to sing with a conductor…
Simon Thompson, MusicWeb International (February 2015)
Lucid and fresh-sounding, the young, prolific vocal ensemble Stile Antico sings an intriguing program of 15th- and 16th-century works written for the Habsburg courts of Europe. The group is particularly superb, with tremendous dynamic range, in motets of mourning like Pierre de la Rue’s “Absalon fili mi” and Alonso Lobo’s “Versa est in luctum”.
Zachary Woolfe, New York Times (23 July, 2014)
A compellingly programmed, hold-your-breath beautiful recital of 16th-century masterworks… The ensemble brings flawless blend and balance but also scores expressive points through delicate shading of a cappella tone color.
James M. Keller, Santa Fe New Mexican (3 October, 2014)
The joy of listening to Stile Antico comes not just from the beauty of the individual and collective voices but also from the dense balance of the parts… these voices sound like they are coming from human beings, albeit ones with expert vocal ability, and not gossamer angels.
Jon Sobel, Seattle Post-Intelligencer (3 August, 2014)
- Morales: Jubilate Deo
- Crecquillon: Andreas Christi famulus
- Tallis: Loquebantur variis linguis
- Josquin: Mille regretz
- Senfl: Quis dabit oculis
- Gombert: Magnificat primi toni
- de la Rue: Absalon fili mi
- Gombert: Mille regretz
- Clemens non Papa: Carole magnus eras
- Lobo, A: Versa est in luctum
- Isaac: Virgo prudentissima