Hannah French chats to conductor Stephen Rice about his Oxford-based choir The Brabant Ensemble which celebrates its silver anniversary in 2023. Stephen chooses some of his favourite recordings from the group's first 25 years, including music by Pierre de Manchicourt, Nicolas Gombert, Jacobus Clemens non Papa, Cristobal de Morales, Orlando Lassus, Jean Mouton, Francisco Guerrero, Giovanni da Palestrina, Josquin des Prez, Robert Parsons, Antoine de Fevin and Jacquet of Mantua.

Hannah French leafs through a new book of 100 exhibits exploring Renaissance music history, in conversation with its editors Vincenzo Borghetti and Tim Shephard. Links to images of the exhibits they discuss: Venus (Florence, c. 1464): www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1845-0825-467 Plato charming the wild animals by his music (Lahore, 1595): https://imagesonline.bl.uk/asset/1355 The Whole Booke of Psalmes (London, 1627): bit.ly/3ITG3Xi Chansonnier of Margaret of Austria (?Mechelen, c. 1515/20): https://lib.is/IE7906245/representation?fl_pid=FL7906763 Valance (England, Scotland or France, c. 1570/1600): https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O15351/valance-unknown Le Jardin de Plaisance et Fleur de Rhétorique ((The Garden of Delight and the Flower of Rhetoric, Paris, c. 1501/2): https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k1511444h The Musicians of the Holy Church, Exempt from Tax (Peru, c. 1615): www5.kb.dk/permalink/2006/poma/680/en/text/?open=idm464 Sacred and Profane Love (Venice, 1514): www.collezionegalleriaborghese.it/opere/amor-sacro-e-amor-profano

Lucie Skeaping charts the history of German art song from its beginnings with the 12th-century Minnesänger through to the Renaissance in the 1500s, with music by Tannhäuser, Walther von Vogelweide, Oswald von Wolkenstein and Heinrich Isaac.

On the first anniversary of the passing of Clare Salaman, Lucie Skeaping celebrates her life and work. Clare founded The Society of Strange and Ancient Instruments, and championed rare and exotic instruments including the trumpet marine. With archive of Clare herself and contributions from fellow practitioners from the world of early music including Rachel Podger.

2023 marks the 400th anniversary of English composer William Byrd - often hailed as one of the finest of the European late Renaissance. Hannah French will explore his influence with the vocal ensemble Stile Antico, including music from their newly released recording.

Hannah French celebrates the 40th birthday of the choir and period instrument orchestra Gabrieli, in conversation with their founder and Artistic Director Paul McCreesh. Including a visit to Coventry Cathedral, the penultimate stop on Gabrieli's winter tour of eight cathedrals performing a Christmas programme of music by Praetorius with teenagers from local schools as part of their ambitious commitment to working with young people, Gabrieli Roar.

Lucie Skeaping is joined by three members of His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts to mark the ensemble's 40th anniversary this year, including some of their favourite recordings from those four decades.

Hannah French is in Germany to mark the 40th anniversary of one of Europe’s most successful early music ensembles - the Akademie für alte Musik Berlin. Founded in 1982 in what was then East Berlin, the Akademie has blossomed into a Grammy award-winning outfit that tours worldwide and enjoys a reputation to match. Hannah will be talking to the ensemble’s general manager Uwe Schneider, long-standing oboist Xenia Löffler, founder member and concert master Bernhard Forck and one of the ensemble’s eminent regular guest conductors – René Jacobs. Music includes the Akademie’s recordings of JS Bach, CPE Bach, Handel, Mozart, Gluck, Telemann, Keiser and Vivaldi. Plus, there'll be the usual round-up of Early Music News with Mark Seow.

Hannah French chats to the Dunedin Consort's artistic director John Butt in the ensemble's 25th anniversary year, and John chooses some of his favourite recordings from their discography.

Lucie Skeaping is joined by Professor Magnus Williamson of Newcastle University to explore the life & music of 16th Century composer Robert Parsons, who died 450 years ago this year, at the young age of 37.