Dante Alighieri’s Comedia (Divine Comedy) is considered one of the greatest works of literature ever written. La Comedia’s enduring imagery has shaped our Western culture’s views and understanding of the afterlife for more than 700 years and has inspired a large body of Western thought, art, and, of course, music.

Telling the story of Dante’s Divine Comedy, Stile Antico descends with Il Divino into Hell, journeys together through Purgatory, and finally arrives at the gates of Heaven. Renaissance madrigals and sacred music by composers such as Victoria, Palestrina and Morales illustrate the way, with music and prayers which the poet features in his epic verse. The music is punctuated by short sections of the Divine Comedy, and texts by Dante himself, set to music by Lazzaschi and Merulo, also narrate the story. At the pinnacle of heaven we meet the Virgin Mary in Tomas Luis de Victoria’s glorious 12-part Magnificat.