Icons/Idols: Irene

The court is in mourning and strongly opposed to Irene's new role as Regent, forcing Staurakios into a final violence that tests Megaris's long-standing faith in her friend, Irene.

ICONS/IDOLS: IRENE was written by Helen Banner and composed by Grace Oberhofer. Featuring Hilary Asare (Narrator), Iris Beaumier (Cyra), Isabella Dawis (Constantine VI), Hannah Eakin (Constantine V), Julia Izumi (Court), Grace Oberhofer (Court), Lukas Papenfusscline (Staurakios), Shanta Parasuraman (Megaris), Yael Shavitt (Leo) and Kay Weber (Irene). Music direction by Robert Frost. Audio engineering by Nathan Leigh. Sound design by Grace Oberhofer and Nathan Leigh. Featured foley artist Nicole Orabona. Produced by Emily Caffery. Learn more about the Byzantine Choral Project at www.byzantinechoralproject.com/podcast.

If you enjoyed this episode, you can support our work by making a tax-deductible donation to the Byzantine Choral Project at byzantinechoralproject.com/donate. Thank you for listening!

Irene tries to give her new icon to her son to protect him, but discovers too late the lessons the iconoclasts have been teaching him. Seeing the danger, Megaris tries to keep Constantine's loyalty.

ICONS/IDOLS: IRENE was written by Helen Banner and composed by Grace Oberhofer. Featuring Hilary Asare (Narrator), Iris Beaumier (Cyra), Isabella Dawis (Constantine VI), Hannah Eakin (Constantine V), Julia Izumi (Court), Grace Oberhofer (Court), Lukas Papenfusscline (Staurakios), Shanta Parasuraman (Megaris), Yael Shavitt (Leo) and Kay Weber (Irene). Music direction by Robert Frost. Audio engineering by Nathan Leigh. Sound design by Grace Oberhofer and Nathan Leigh. Featured foley artist Nicole Orabona. Produced by Emily Caffery. Learn more about the Byzantine Choral Project at www.byzantinechoralproject.com/podcast.

If you enjoyed this episode, you can support our work by making a tax-deductible donation to the Byzantine Choral Project at byzantinechoralproject.com/donate. Thank you for listening!

Irene finds new courage, as Staurakios attempts to use the terror of the Purple Room to engineer a reconciliation with Leo. Aided by Cyra, Constantine tries to bring a warning to his father, but Leo is struggling with the heat from his new crown and its stolen crown jewel.

ICONS/IDOLS: IRENE was written by Helen Banner and composed by Grace Oberhofer. Featuring Hilary Asare (Narrator), Iris Beaumier (Cyra), Isabella Dawis (Constantine VI), Hannah Eakin (Constantine V), Julia Izumi (Court), Grace Oberhofer (Court), Lukas Papenfusscline (Staurakios), Shanta Parasuraman (Megaris), Yael Shavitt (Leo) and Kay Weber (Irene). Music direction by Robert Frost. Audio engineering by Nathan Leigh. Sound design by Grace Oberhofer and Nathan Leigh. Featured foley artist Nicole Orabona. Produced by Emily Caffery. Learn more about the Byzantine Choral Project at www.byzantinechoralproject.com/podcast.

If you enjoyed this episode, you can support our work by making a tax-deductible donation to the Byzantine Choral Project at byzantinechoralproject.com/donate. Thank you for listening!

Irene is fearful of Cyra's growing control over her son and longs for her old icon. Leo receives a new crown from the iconoclasts, but Staurakios has his own gift for Irene.

ICONS/IDOLS: IRENE was written by Helen Banner and composed by Grace Oberhofer. Featuring Hilary Asare (Narrator), Iris Beaumier (Cyra), Isabella Dawis (Constantine VI), Hannah Eakin (Constantine V), Julia Izumi (Court), Grace Oberhofer (Court), Lukas Papenfusscline (Staurakios), Shanta Parasuraman (Megaris), Yael Shavitt (Leo) and Kay Weber (Irene). Music direction by Robert Frost. Audio engineering by Nathan Leigh. Sound design by Grace Oberhofer and Nathan Leigh. Featured foley artist Nicole Orabona. Produced by Emily Caffery. Learn more about the Byzantine Choral Project at www.byzantinechoralproject.com/podcast.

If you enjoyed this episode, you can support our work by making a tax-deductible donation to the Byzantine Choral Project at byzantinechoralproject.com/donate. Thank you for listening!

Four years after crushing the icon, Leo rules alone, while Irene is locked in her rooms and kept from her son. Staurakios fears the rising power of the iconoclasts led by Cyra's brothers, but a sick Leo pushes him away.

ICONS/IDOLS: IRENE was written by Helen Banner and composed by Grace Oberhofer. Featuring Hilary Asare (Narrator), Iris Beaumier (Cyra), Isabella Dawis (Constantine VI), Hannah Eakin (Constantine V), Julia Izumi (Court), Grace Oberhofer (Court), Lukas Papenfusscline (Staurakios), Shanta Parasuraman (Megaris), Yael Shavitt (Leo) and Kay Weber (Irene). Music direction by Robert Frost. Audio engineering by Nathan Leigh. Sound design by Grace Oberhofer and Nathan Leigh. Featured foley artist Nicole Orabona. Produced by Emily Caffery. Learn more about the Byzantine Choral Project at www.byzantinechoralproject.com/podcast.

If you enjoyed this episode, you can support our work by making a tax-deductible donation to the Byzantine Choral Project at byzantinechoralproject.com/donate. Thank you for listening!

Leo and Irene celebrate their new happiness as they take power, but Cyra uses baby Constantine's innocence to devastating effect.

ICONS/IDOLS: IRENE was written by Helen Banner and composed by Grace Oberhofer. Featuring Hilary Asare (Narrator), Iris Beaumier (Cyra), Isabella Dawis (Constantine VI), Hannah Eakin (Constantine V), Julia Izumi (Court), Grace Oberhofer (Court), Lukas Papenfusscline (Staurakios), Shanta Parasuraman (Megaris), Yael Shavitt (Leo) and Kay Weber (Irene). Music direction by Robert Frost. Audio engineering by Nathan Leigh. Sound design by Grace Oberhofer and Nathan Leigh. Featured foley artist Nicole Orabona. Produced by Emily Caffery. Learn more about the Byzantine Choral Project at www.byzantinechoralproject.com/podcast.

If you enjoyed this episode, you can support our work by making a tax-deductible donation to the Byzantine Choral Project at byzantinechoralproject.com/donate. Thank you for listening!

The Old Emperor is dead and Leo and Irene must make every rival swear loyalty to them as the new rulers. Cyra continues her quest to prove that Irene has a forbidden icon, while Staurakios warns Leo about being too accommodating to icon lovers. 

ICONS/IDOLS: IRENE was written by Helen Banner and composed by Grace Oberhofer. Featuring Hilary Asare (Narrator), Iris Beaumier (Cyra), Isabella Dawis (Constantine VI), Hannah Eakin (Constantine V), Julia Izumi (Court), Grace Oberhofer (Court), Lukas Papenfusscline (Staurakios), Shanta Parasuraman (Megaris), Yael Shavitt (Leo) and Kay Weber (Irene). Music direction by Robert Frost. Audio engineering by Nathan Leigh. Sound design by Grace Oberhofer and Nathan Leigh. Featured foley artist Nicole Orabona. Produced by Emily Caffery. Learn more about the Byzantine Choral Project at www.byzantinechoralproject.com/podcast.

If you enjoyed this episode, you can support our work by making a tax-deductible donation to the Byzantine Choral Project at byzantinechoralproject.com/donate. Thank you for listening!

Five years on, a sick Irene and Leo care for their son, Constantine VI, while trying to resist the quickening preparations for war. As the court splits into iconophiles and iconoclasts, Staurakios tries to contain the chaos, whilst Cyra reveals Irene's secret to an unexpectedly hostile audience.

ICONS/IDOLS: IRENE was written by Helen Banner and composed by Grace Oberhofer. Featuring Hilary Asare (Narrator), Iris Beaumier (Cyra), Isabella Dawis (Constantine VI), Hannah Eakin (Constantine V), Julia Izumi (Court), Grace Oberhofer (Court), Lukas Papenfusscline (Staurakios), Shanta Parasuraman (Megaris), Yael Shavitt (Leo) and Kay Weber (Irene). Music direction by Robert Frost. Audio engineering by Nathan Leigh. Sound design by Grace Oberhofer and Nathan Leigh. Featured foley artist Nicole Orabona. Produced by Emily Caffery. Learn more about the Byzantine Choral Project at www.byzantinechoralproject.com/podcast.

If you enjoyed this episode, you can support our work by making a tax-deductible donation to the Byzantine Choral Project at byzantinechoralproject.com/donate. Thank you for listening!

A newly-crowned Irene struggles to impose her will on her aristocratic ladies, but makes a new friend in the eunuch Staurakios. The Emperor grows angry at foolish words spoken by Megaris, but is mollified by some unexpected news.

ICONS/IDOLS: IRENE was written by Helen Banner and composed by Grace Oberhofer. Featuring Hilary Asare (Narrator), Iris Beaumier (Cyra), Isabella Dawis (Constantine VI), Hannah Eakin (Constantine V), Julia Izumi (Court), Grace Oberhofer (Court), Lukas Papenfusscline (Staurakios), Shanta Parasuraman (Megaris), Yael Shavitt (Leo) and Kay Weber (Irene). Music direction by Robert Frost. Audio engineering by Nathan Leigh. Sound design by Grace Oberhofer and Nathan Leigh. Featured foley artist Nicole Orabona. Produced by Emily Caffery. Learn more about the Byzantine Choral Project at www.byzantinechoralproject.com/podcast.

If you enjoyed this episode, you can support our work by making a tax-deductible donation to the Byzantine Choral Project at byzantinechoralproject.com/donate. Thank you for listening!

A scared Irene is taken to the crowded Purple Room to give birth to her son in front of the whole court. Cyra makes a shocking discovery that reignites her hostility towards her mistress.

ICONS/IDOLS: IRENE was written by Helen Banner and composed by Grace Oberhofer. Featuring Hilary Asare (Narrator), Iris Beaumier (Cyra), Isabella Dawis (Constantine VI), Hannah Eakin (Constantine V), Julia Izumi (Court), Grace Oberhofer (Court), Lukas Papenfusscline (Staurakios), Shanta Parasuraman (Megaris), Yael Shavitt (Leo) and Kay Weber (Irene). Music direction by Robert Frost. Audio engineering by Nathan Leigh. Sound design by Grace Oberhofer and Nathan Leigh. Featured foley artist Nicole Orabona. Produced by Emily Caffery. Learn more about the Byzantine Choral Project at www.byzantinechoralproject.com/podcast.

If you enjoyed this episode, you can support our work by making a tax-deductible donation to the Byzantine Choral Project at byzantinechoralproject.com/donate. Thank you for listening!