13-05-2025
Stile Antico review — classics and rarities in a majestic birthday party
It doesn't seem long ago that Stile Antico were the new kids on the block, challenging established professional choirs with a revolutionary tactic: no conductor at the front deciding how everything should sound.
In fact, it's been 20 years since Stile Antico gave the first of its 600 concerts to date. This Wigmore Hall programme was an epic celebration of that anniversary. Stretched over nearly three hours, it comprised 14 substantial Renaissance pieces, two commissioned works and onstage interviews with all 12 current members by Radio 3's Hannah French. When former members joined in at the end for an exquisite singalong of The Silver Swan, it did feel rather like an episode of This Is Your Life.
Interspersed with the banter, however, was
