A Garden of Delights

Our programme explores a selection of ‘heavenly delights’ in settings from the Biblical Song of Songs – some pious, and some decidedly less so, alongside music from the pastoral world of English and Italian madrigals, peopled by nymphs, shepherds and birds. The repertoire ranges from the early Renaissance to the beginning of the Baroque; composers include Byrd, Guerrero, Monteverdi, Palestrina, Praetorius, and many lesser-known masters. Crowning the programme is Huw Watkins’ dazzling setting of Shakespeare, The Phoenix and the Turtle, composed especially for the twelve voices of Stile Antico.