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The Early Music Show

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.

Radio 3,189 episodes

Episodes

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Happy New Year - 18th Century German style
German cantatas to usher in the new year.
04 Jan 2026,59 mins
The Spohr Collection
Performance and news from the world of early music.
28 Dec 2025,59 mins
Christmas with Handel
A festive visit to London's Handel Hendrix House.
21 Dec 2025,59 mins
The Four Seasons: Autumn
Hannah French explores the world of Autumn from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.
05 Oct 2025,26 mins
The Medici Popes - Part 2: The most unfortunate of Popes
The music surrounding two 16th Century Popes: Leo X and Clement VII.
21 Sep 2025,30 mins
The Medici Popes - Part 1: Cousins in arms
The music surrounding two 16th Century Popes: Leo X and Clement VII.
14 Sep 2025,25 mins
The Four Seasons: Summer
Hannah French explores the world of Summer from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.
29 Jun 2025,28 mins
London International Festival of Early Music
Performance and news from the world of early music.
04 May 2025,59 mins
The Four Seasons: Spring
Hannah French explores the world of Spring from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.
23 Mar 2025,30 mins
The Four Seasons: Winter
Hannah French explores the world of Winter from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.
16 Feb 2025,27 mins
The Music of Wolf Hall
Hannah French explores the Tudor music of Wolf Hall.
12 Jan 2025,31 mins
Ton Koopman at 80
Hannah French explores the world of Early Music.
29 Dec 2024,26 mins
The Notre-Dame School and its musical legacy
Hannah French explores music in Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris from the 12-18th centuries.
08 Dec 2024,26 mins
Radio 3's European Road Trip: Early Music in Iceland
Hannah French explores the world of early music in Iceland.
24 Nov 2024,33 mins
Gold
As the Paris Olympics draw to a close, Hannah French explores gold in early music.
11 Aug 2024,27 mins
Silver
Marking the Paris Olympics, Hannah French explores early music associated with silver.
28 Jul 2024,28 mins
Bronze
As the Paris Olympics draw near, Hannah French explores early music connected with bronze.
21 Jul 2024,22 mins
The Rise and Fall of JB Lully
Hannah French explores the world of Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music.
30 Jun 2024,33 mins
Ensemble Augelletti - A Curious MInd
Hannah French explores the world of early music.
09 Jun 2024,22 mins
London International Festival of Early Music
Hannah French explores the world of Early Music.
12 May 2024,59 mins
London International Festival of Early Music
Hannah French explores the world of Early Music.
05 May 2024,59 mins
John Wilbye's madrigals
Hannah French explores the life and music of English madrigalist John Wilbye.
14 Apr 2024,25 mins
Matthias Weckman
Performance and news from the world of early music.
11 Feb 2024,20 mins
Chinoiserie
Performance and news from the world of Early Music.
14 Jan 2024,32 mins
Early Music for Christmas Eve
Festive pieces with a historical vibe.
24 Dec 2023,36 mins
Carl Friedrich Abel
Lucie Skeaping delves into the life and music of C18 viol player Carl Friedrich Abel.
10 Dec 2023,26 mins
Early Music in Derbyshire
Performance and news from the world of Early Music.
03 Dec 2023,45 mins
The Tallis Scholars at 50
Founder Peter Phillips reviews the Tallis Scholars' five-decade career.
29 Oct 2023,28 mins
Fifty years of the Academy of Ancient Music
Hannah French chats to Laurence Cummings and John McMunn of the Academy of Ancient Music.
15 Oct 2023,34 mins
Guillaume de Machaut
Lucie Skeaping discovers the remarkable Guillaume de Machaut, renowned poet and composer
01 Oct 2023,35 mins