Das Vokalensemble Stile Antico

nahm in London einen Jahrespreis 2025 entgegen.

04.12.2025 – Das englische Vokalensemble Stile Antico ist einer der Gewinner eines Jahrespreises 2025. PdSK-Juror Helge Grünewald überreichte dem Ensemble die Urkunde in der Pause des vorweihnachtlichen Konzertes »A Spanish Nativity« in der ausverkauften Kirche St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London unter großem Beifall des Publikums.

Stile Antico ist eines der international versiertesten und innovativsten Vokalensembles. Die zwölf Mitglieder des Ensembles, das ohne Dirigenten arbeitet, begeistern das Publikum weltweit mit ihren lebendigen und bewegenden Aufführungen renaissancezeitlicher Polyphonie. Helge Grünewald gratulierte den Sängerinnen und Sängern, die für ihre Aufnahme von Palestrinas »Missa Papae Marcelli« ausgezeichnet wurden.

Die Sopranistin Rebecca Hickey nahm die Urkunde entgegen und erklärte, das Ensemble sei begeistert über die Auszeichnung mit dem Jahrespreis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik. Es sei die renommierteste Auszeichnung der deutschen Musikjournalisten die jedes Jahr nur an wenige Künstlerinnen, Künstler und Ensembles vergeben werde.

Laudatio und Urkundenübergabe
von Helge Grünewald
gehalten am 4. Dezember 2025 in der Kirche St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London

Dear singers, dear audience,
I am honoured to present this year’s annual award of the German Record Critics’ Award to Stile Antico today. Our association is a unique institution in Germany – a powerful body that is independent of the interests of the music producers and the music industry. With currently 32 specialist panel members, we cover the entire, diverse spectrum of genres – from symphonic music, vocal music, opera – to heavy metal, rock and hip-hop. We publish Quarterly Critic’s Choices, honoring the best new releases, and also present Annual Awards and Honorary Awards.

Stile Antico is a fantastic ensemble, one of a unique kind. Since Christophe Kasolowsky – Trustee of the Stile Antico Foundation, whom I know from my work for the Wilhelm Furtwängler Society in Germany –, brought the ensemble to my attention a few years ago, and since I heard their first recordings, I have been captivated and fascinated by this group and their artistry of singing – artistry well understood as »the art of singing«. Until today, I haven’t had the opportunity to hear the ensemble live myself. So – this is a premiere for me.

You, dear singers, have prevailed against numerous competitors (from all musical genres!) and strong competition amongst the panel of the German Records Critics’ Award.

Let me quote from the panel’s citation:
»At a time of schism in the Church, Palestrinas Missa Papae Marcelli demonstrated that polyphony need not be incomprehensible, nor vocal complexity confusing. He created such a convincing model of compositional balance, that later generations would proclaim him the saviour of church music on the basis of this work alone… While the truth is a more nuanced business, it is fair to say that Palestrina’s music helped complex polyphony, the subject of theological controversy, to gain acceptance and splendour. Along the way, his genre had shaped its own compositional style: the Stile Antico. The British vocal ensemble of the same name sings [Palestrina’s Missa] this work of genius with flawless diction … and with a passionate closeness to the text, without restraint, organic, supple.«

Congratulation and best wishes for your future work and commitment to a music which is not designated for specialists, listeners of Ancient Music – but to all music lovers.