Stile Antico

A Divine Hope: Dante’s journey from inferno to paradise

Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy is considered one of the greatest works of literature ever written. Its enduring imagery has shaped Western culture’s views of the afterlife for more than 700 years and has inspired a large body of philosophy, art, and—of course—music.  The intensely collaborative singers of Stile Antico, one of the world’s vibrant and expressive vocal ensembles, return to BEMF to tell the story of Dante’s descent into Hell, journey through Purgatory, and final arrival at the gates of Heaven. Renaissance music by composers such as Victoria, Palestrina, and Morales illuminate the path, while texts by Dante himself—set to music by Luzzaschi and Merulo—narrate the story. At the pinnacle of Heaven we meet the Virgin Mary in Giovanni Gabrieli’s glorious 12-part Magnificat.