An exploration of early music, looking at early developments in musical performance and composition in Britain and abroad. UK only: please note that not all episodes are podcast.
Latest episodes
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30 min ↗
The Medici Popes - Part 2: The most unfortunate of Popes
Hannah French with the second of two programmes exploring the lives of two 16th Century Popes: Leo X and Clement VII, and the music that surrounded them.Having been brought up toge…
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25 min ↗
The Medici Popes - Part 1: Cousins in arms
In this first of two programmes, Hannah French explores the lives of two 16th Century Popes: Leo X and Clement VII, and the music that surrounded them.Giovanni & Giulio were cousin…
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27 min ↗
The Four Seasons: Autumn
In the last of four programmes across 2025 marking the 300th anniversary of the publication of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, Hannah French explores the Violin Concerto in F major, RV…
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31 min ↗
The Four Seasons: Spring
In the second of four programmes across 2025 marking the 300th anniversary of the publication of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, Hannah French explores the Violin Concerto in E major,…
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29 min ↗
The Four Seasons: Summer
In the third of four programmes across 2025 marking the 300th anniversary of the publication of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, Hannah French explores the Violin Concerto in G minor, R…
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60 min ↗
London International Festival of Early Music
Hannah French presents highlights of last November's London International Festival of Early Music. There's music by Corelli from the young Korean recorder player Jiyeon Bang, viol…
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27 min ↗
The Four Seasons: Winter
In the first of four programmes across 2025 marking the 300th anniversary of the publication of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, Hannah French explores the Violin Concerto in F minor, R…
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34 min ↗
Radio 3's European Road Trip: Early Music in Iceland
As part of Radio 3's European Road Trip, Hannah French is joined by musicologist and conductor Árni Heimir Ingólfsson to explore early Icelandic music - from the 13th-century poems…
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31 min ↗
The Music of Wolf Hall
Hannah French visits Claire van Kampen - the Tudor music advisor & arranger for both Wolf Hall TV series - to explore the music associated with many of the main characters, includi…
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26 min ↗
Ton Koopman at 80
Hannah is joined in the studio by organist and director of Amsterdam Baroque as he celebrates his 80th birthday this year. They'll chat about his incredible 60-year career and choo…
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26 min ↗
The Notre-Dame School and its musical legacy
As the cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris reopens its doors to the public after more than five years since fire caused its closure, Hannah French examines the early musical history o…
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27 min ↗
Gold
In honour of the Paris Olympics, Hannah French explores medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music associated with gold, silver and bronze across three episodes of The Early Music Sho…
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59 min ↗
London International Festival of Early Music
Hannah French presents the second of two programmes of highlights from the 2023 London International Festival of Early Music, today focusing on their support of young, up-and-comin…
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59 min ↗
London International Festival of Early Music
Hannah French presents the first of two programmes of highlights from the 2023 London International Festival of Early Music, including performances from harpsichordist Jane Chapman…
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25 min ↗
John Wilbye's madrigals
Hannah French explores the life and music of John Wilbye, the most famous of the English madrigalists. Wilbye's fame rests almost entirely on the 64 works contained in two books of…
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22 min ↗
Ensemble Augelletti - A Curious MInd
For their first visit to the Beverley and East Riding Early Music Festival, Ensemble Augelletti - the newly appointed BBC New Generation Baroque Ensemble focus their musical lens o…
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33 min ↗
The Rise and Fall of JB Lully
Hannah French is joined in the Early Music Show studio by musicologists Berta Joncus and Lola Salem to explore the life and career of Jean-Baptiste Lully, who shot to fame at the c…
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28 min ↗
Silver
In honour of the Paris Olympics, Hannah French explores medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music associated with gold, silver and bronze across three episodes of The Early Music Sho…
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22 min ↗
Bronze
In honour of the Paris Olympics, Hannah French explores medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music associated with gold, silver and bronze across three episodes of The Early Music Sho…
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20 min ↗
Matthias Weckman
Lucie Skeaping looks at the life and music of German organist and composer Matthias Weckmann, who died 350 years ago this month.