In this one-night-only special event, GRAMMY-nominated British vocal ensemble Stile Antico delves into the sublime harmony of the high Renaissance by marking the 500th birth anniversary of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina—the undisputed master of the style which gives the group its name. Palestrina’s stellar career was inextricably entwined with the papacy and the great churches of Rome for which he composed. This program explores the sumptuous music Palestrina would have sung at the Sistine Chapel, the changes in his compositional style demanded by the Counter-Reformation, his tragic personal life, and his influence on his successors. This exquisite repertoire includes several of Palestrina’s most beloved and timeless motets, gems by other leading composers active in Rome, and a new work by leading British composer Cheryl Frances-Hoad, written especially for this program. The “Prince of Music” complements last year’s release of Stile Antico’s third album on the Decca Classics label, The Golden Renaissance: Palestrina.