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To mark 400 hundred years to the day since the First Folio of Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies was published according to the True Original Copies, the BBC is celebrating this with a season of Shakespeare programmes. Front Row is looking aslant at the other artistic, literary and cultural events of 1623.

Tom Sutcliffe hears from artist historian Karen Hearn about the impact of the first Palladian building in England and what was being painted. Lucy Munro traces the influence of The Spanish Match (which didn\u2019t happen) on drama. The conductor Jeremy Summerly tells Tom about the music being played and sung that year. Folklorist Steve Roud reveals how the news was delivered in broadside ballads, which found their way into Shakespeare\u2019s plays, and singer Lisa Knapp sings one. This was the year when John Donne wrote \u2018no man is an island\u2019. The big draw, apart from Donne\u2019s preaching, was the elephant sent by the King of Spain.

Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe\nProducer: Julian May