Stile Antico is a British vocal ensemble, specialising in the polyphonic music of the Renaissance and Early Baroque.
Established in 2001, they won the Audience Prize at the 2005 Early Music Network Young Artists' Competition, and have since been described as "one of the brightest new stars in the firmament of Renaissance vocal ensembles".[1] Unlike groups such as the Tallis Scholars or The Sixteen, Stile Antico has no conductor. The singers rehearse and perform as chamber musicians, an approach which has been praised by critics.[2]
They record exclusively for Harmonia Mundi, and have released five discs to date. Their debut recording, Music for Compline, achieved great commercial success after it was featured on NPR's All Things Considered, reaching #2 in the BILLBOARD Classical Chart; NPR's Tom Manoff described the group as "one of the finest choral ensembles of our day".[3] The disc also received industry awards including the 2007 Diapason d'or de l'année and was nominated for the 50th Grammy Awards. Their release Song of Songs, was the winner of the 2009 Gramophone Award for Early Music, and spent three weeks at #1 on the BILLBOARD Classical Chart. It was also nominated for the 52nd Grammy Awards.
The group has collaborated extensively with Sting, touring Europe, Australia, and the Far East with his Songs from the Labyrinth project and appearing as guests on his new album If on a Winter's Night....