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 together in the wealthy and influential Florentine household of the Medicis, cousins Giovanni & Giulio were always destined for greatness.

As Pope Leo X, Giovanni was a lavish patron of the arts. He sanctioned major renovations on St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, extended the Sistine Chapel Choir, promoted the study of Greek, Arabic & Hebrew, commissioned works from artists such as Raphael & Peruzzi, and maintained a private orchestra as well as the official papal musicians.

In order to fund these lavish artistic interests, Leo X encouraged the purchase of indulgences - remissions of the temporal punishment for sins – which could only be afforded by the most wealthy. Leo was also portrayed by his opponents as a man of gross excess; there were suggestions of sexual impropriety, favouritism and immorality, all of which were fuel to the fire of the burgeoning Protestant Reformation in northern Europe. Needless to say, Leo spent way above the papal means, and when he died suddenly in 1521, the papal treasury was 400,000 ducats in debt.

Leo’s right-hand man throughout his papacy was his beloved cousin, Giulio de Medici. Within three months of Leo’s election as Pope, Giulio had been made Archbishop of Florence, and just three more months down the line, he was appointed Cardinal of Santa Maria in Dominica. By 1517, Cardinal Giulio was made Vice-Chancellor of the Church (ie, second in command). He became deeply involved in the politics of England, France and the Holy Roman Empire, which would eventually backfire on him spectacularly…

When Cardinal Giulio was elected to the heady heights of the Papacy in 1523, as Pope Clement VII, little did he know the struggles that lay ahead. There was already the threat of the Lutherans from northern Europe and the Turks were making in-roads into the east. Plus, there was the childish squabbling of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and King Francis I of France, who both demanded the Pope choose a side, leading to the Sack of Rome in 1527. And six years later, he had Henry VIII’s divorce to deal with. All of this while having to impose austerity measures in an attempt to pay off some of the debts left by his own cousin!

Like his cousin, Pope Clement VII was also a gifted musician. It's likely he too learned from the great composer Heinrich Isaac while growing up in Florence, and over the years he had dealings with the likes of Nicolas Gombert, Jean Mouton, Philippe Verdelot and Costanzo Festa as the music of the High Renaissance swirled around him.

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 cousins, brought up together in the wealthy and influential Florentine household of the Medicis. Giovanni's father, Lorenzo "The Magnificent" and his brother Giuliano were the rulers of the Florentine Republic. In 1478, though, Giuliano de Medici was murdered in Florence Cathedral as part of the Pazzi Conspiracy. As a result, young Giulio was brought up by his uncle. Both boys were guided into a career in the church, and because of the financial and political backing that came with the Medici name, it was clear they were both destined for high office.

In 1513, Giovanni de Medici was elected as Pope Leo X. He made Rome a strong political power, and as a generous patron of the arts, he helped writers, poets, painters and musicians of the High Renaissance to flourish. But, his lavish tastes depleted the papal treasury, and made many enemies who accused him of being "engrossed in idle and selfish amusements". By 1517, would-be reformers in northern Europe had had enough of papal excesses, and Martin Luther published his 95 theses which were to be the start of the Protestant Reformation.

The young Giovanni de Medici was said to have had a fine ear and a melodious voice, and "loved music to the pitch of fanaticism". It's possible he learned from the great Heinrich Isaac, who was the shining musical light in late 15th Century Florence. As Pope Leo X he expanded the Sistine Chapel choir, and procured the services of professional singers, instrumentalists and composers from all over Europe.

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.293 - better known as Autumn.

Dancing, drinking, feasting: Vivaldi's musical depiction of Autumn and the sonnet that accompanies it are all about celebrating the good times of harvest and hunt... and warn of the aftereffects of over-indulgence at the festivities. As part of her exploration of the music and its themes, Hannah talks to Amandine Beyer, Baroque violinist and director of the internationally acclaimed early music group Gli Incogniti, about the concerto and working with choreographers to create a danced version of The Four Seasons. And Hannah sends us one final sonic snapshot from her recent research trip to Vivaldi's haunts in Venice and Mantua.

To listen to this programme using most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play The Early Music Show".

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, RV.269 - better known as Spring.

From the opening's chorus of birdsong to the rustic dance of the finale via the snoring goatherd of the second movement, Hannah considers the concerto's context and inspirations, and shares other early music influenced by the season of hope and new beginnings. Violinist and artistic director of La Serenissima Adrian Chandler talks to Hannah about the Op. 8 collection of concertos that Vivaldi published in Amsterdam in 1725, and what Vivaldi's Spring means to him. And Hannah sends us a sonic snapshot from a recent trip to the church where Vivaldi was baptised in 1678 in the heart of Venice.

To listen to this programme using most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play The Early Music Show".

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, RV.315 - better known as Summer.

In its combination of oppressive heat and violent storms, Vivaldi's concerto and the sonnet that accompanies it focus on the hardships of an Italian summer: a harsh musical depiction of tempests and high temperatures. Recorder player and artistic director of the London International Festival of Early Music Erik Bosgraaf chats to Hannah about the challenges of playing The Four Seasons on a wind instrument. And Hannah sends us a sonic snapshot from a recent trip to Mantua, where Vivaldi spent two years working at the court chapel.

To listen to this programme using most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play The Early Music Show".

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 player Robert Smith plays a set of variations by John Jenkins, harpsichordist Maciej Skrzeczkowski plays John Bull, and recorder player Erik Bosgraaf and the ensemble filoBarocco explore the world of Telemann's Polonaises.

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, RV297 - better known as Winter.

From the trembling, teeth-chattering cold of the first movement to the fireside warmth of the second and the slippery ice and chill winds of the last, in this concerto Vivaldi vividly depicts the harsh brutality of the Venetian winter. Hannah considers the context and inspirations for the music, and shares other early music influenced by the season of frost and darkness. She talks to violinist Daniel Pioro, whose new recording of The Four Seasons couples Vivaldi's music with new poetry by Michael Morpurgo, about what Vivaldi's Winter means to him. And she sends us a sonic snapshot from a recent trip to the Venetian Lagoon, which completely froze over in the brutal winter of 1709 to devastating effect to local communities.

To listen to this programme using most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play The Early Music Show".

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 known as “Eddas” to the influence of mainland Europe that shaped Iceland’s rich sacred choral traditions, which still continue today.

To listen to this programme using most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play The Early Music Show".

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, including King Henry VIII, Thomas Cromwell, Anne Boleyn and Lady Mary, as well as some of the musicians at court: Mark Smeaton, John Taverner and John Blanke.

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 choose some of his favourite recordings.

To listen to this programme using most smart speakers, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play [The Early Music Show".