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Your perfect classical playlist

Ian Skelly plays the best in classical music, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites.

Ian Skelly plays the best classical music for your morning, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites. Including the Playlister challenge: our regular listener-created sequence inspired by a different piece of music each day. Plus a new classical release in focus for Album of the Week.

1000 Playlister starter: listen and send us your ideas for the next step in today's musical journey. Text 83111 or email essentialclassics@bbc.co.uk.

1030 Album of the Week: an exciting new classical release in focus throughout the week.

1115 Playlister reveal: an uninterrupted sequence of music suggested by you in response to today's starter piece.

1200 Feast of a Piece: indulge your ears with an orchestral masterpiece.

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3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Fri 8 Aug 2025 09:30
麻豆社 Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Emil Nikolaus von Reznicek

    Donna Diana: Overture

    Conductor: Leonard Bernstein. Orchestra: New York Philharmonic.
    • Overtures: Mozart - Nicolai - Strauss, Jr. - von Weber - Thomas.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 3.

  • Franz Liszt

    Concert Study no.3 in D flat major 'Un sospiro'

    Performer: Lang Lang.
    • Sony Classical: 88697891402.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 7.

  • John Wilbye

    Draw on, sweet night

    Choir: The Cambridge Singers. Conductor: John Rutter.
    • Collegium.

  • Takashi Yoshimatsu

    Atom Hearts Club Suite No. 2, Op. 79a: III. Brothers Blues

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Sachio Fujioka.
    • Chandos.

  • 脡mile Waldteufel

    Les Patineurs

    Orchestra: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme J盲rvi.
    • Entry of the Gladiators.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 3.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Vocalise, Op.34 No.14

    Orchestra: Sinfonia of London. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Anton铆n Dvo艡谩k

    String Quintet in E flat major Op.97 (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Pavel Haas Quartet. Performer: Pavel Nikl.
    • Dvorak: Quintets Op. 81 & 97.
    • Supraphon.
    • 6.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Capriccio Brillante in B minor, Op.22

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough. Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Lawrence Foster.
    • Mendelssohn: Piano Concertos.
    • Hyperion.
    • 1.

  • Giacomo Puccini

    Un bel d矛 vedremo (Madam Butterfly)

    Singer: Angela Gheorghiu. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Conductor: Sir Edward Downes.
    • CONIFER.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Fantasia & Fugue in G Minor, BWV 542 "The Great" (Arr. for Orchestra)

    Music Arranger: Sir Andrew Davis. Orchestra: 麻豆社 Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Martyn Brabbins.
    • King of Kings: Bach Orchestral Transcriptions.
    • Chandos.
    • 107.

  • Teresa Carre帽o

    Venise, Op 33

    Performer: Clara Rodriguez.
    • Teresa Carreno: Clara Rodriguez.
    • Nimbus.
    • 14.

  • Peter Warlock

    Capriol Suite

    Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Richard Studt.
    • Naxos.

  • Ola Gjeilo

    Serenity [O magnum mysterium]

    Choir: Swedish Chamber Choir. Performer: Jennifer Pike. Conductor: Simon Phipps.
    • Chandos.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony no.86 in D major (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Orchestre de chambre de Paris. Conductor: Douglas Boyd.
    • Haydn: Complete Paris Symphonies Nos. 82-87.
    • NoMadMusic.
    • 108.

  • Giacomo Puccini

    Humming Chorus (Madam Butterfly)

    Choir: Vienna State Opera Choir. Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Herbert von Karajan.
    • Your Hundred Best Opera Tunes IV.
    • Decca.
    • 8.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Song without Words in A major, Op 19 No 3

    Performer: Daniel Barenboim.
    • Mendelssohn: Lieder Ohne Worte: Daniel Barenboim.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 3.

  • Samuel Barber

    Agnus Dei

    Choir: Accentus Chamber Choir. Conductor: Laurence Equilbey.
    • Barber: Adagio for Choir.
    • NAIVE RECORDS.
    • 1.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Badin茅rie (Orchestral Suite no.2, BWV.1067)

    Music Arranger: Ward Swingle. Choir: The Swingle Singers.
    • Anyone for Mozart, Bach, Handel, Vivaldi? The Swingle Singers.
    • Philips.
    • 06.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto in C major for 2 trumpets, RV.537

    Performer: Crispian Steele鈥怭erkins. Performer: John Thiessen. Orchestra: Tafelmusik. Conductor: Jeanne Lamon.
    • Trumpet Music: Steele-Perkins, Taflemusik, Lamon.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 9-11.

  • Maurice Ravel

    Menuet arr for oboe and piano (Le tombeau de Couperin)

    Performer: Emily Pailthorpe. Performer: Julian Milford. Music Arranger: Daniel Pailthorpe.
    • Though Lovers be Lost.
    • Oboe Classics.
    • 13.

  • Fela Sowande

    Akinla (African Suite)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Paul Freeman.
    • Black Composer Series, Vol. 7: William Grant Still, Fela Sowande & George Walker.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 4.

  • George Frideric Handel

    As steals the morn (L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato)

    Singer: Lucy Crowe. Singer: Mark Padmore. Orchestra: The English Concert. Conductor: Andrew Manze.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

  • John Williams

    Schindler's List (Theme)

    Performer: Nicola Benedetti. Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Kirill Karabits.
    • Nicola Benedetti: The Silver Violin.
    • Decca.
    • 1.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Flute Concerto in G major, K 313

    Performer: Emmanuel Pahud. Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic. Conductor: Claudio Abbado.
    • Mozart Flute Concertos Concerto For Flute And Harp.
    • EMI Classics.

  • William Walton

    Battle in the Air (Battle of Britain Suite)

    Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Neville Marriner.
    • Walton: Battle of Britain Suite etc.: ASMF/Marriner.
    • Chandos.
    • 17.

  • Charles Villiers Stanford

    Morning, communion and evening services in G major Op.81: no.5; Magnificat

    Singer: Alastair Hussain. Performer: James Vivian. Choir: Choir of King鈥檚 College, Cambridge. Choir: Choir of King鈥檚 College, Cambridge. Director: Stephen Cleobury.
    • Stanford: Evening Services and Anthems.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 1.

  • Arturo M谩rquez

    Danzon No 9

    Orchestra: Sim贸n Bol铆var Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Gustavo Dudamel.
    • Danzon No. 9.
    • Platoon.
    • 101.

  • Fr茅d茅ric Chopin

    12 Studies Op.25 (no.3 in F major)

    Performer: Beatrice Rana.
    • Chopin: 12 脡tudes, Op. 25 & 4 Scherzi.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 3.

  • Trad.

    The Londonderry Air

    Orchestrator: Sir Hamilton Harty. Orchestra: Ulster Orchestra. Conductor: Bryden Thomson.
    • Harty: The Children of Lir etc. - Holmes/Harper/Ulster Orchestra/Thomson.
    • Chandos.

Broadcast

  • Fri 8 Aug 2025 09:30
    麻豆社 Radio 3