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The ideal mix of classical music

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

Georgia Mann 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.

To listen on most smart speakers say "Ask 麻豆社 Sounds to play Essential Classics鈥

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Thu 23 Oct 2025 09:30

Music Played

  • Malcolm Arnold

    Scottish Waltz - Allegretto (4 Scottish dances)

    Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Malcolm Arnold.
    • Malcolm Arnold: English, Irish, Scottish & Cornish Dances: LPO/Arnold.
    • Lyrita.
    • 17.
  • Louise Farrenc

    Sextet in C Minor, Op 40 (Version for Piano Quintet): III. Allegro vivace

    Performer: Emmanuel Despax. Ensemble: Piatti Quartet.
    • Resonance.
    • Signum Records.
    • 3.
  • Francesco Geminiani

    Concerto Grosso no.11 in E major after Corelli

    Performer: David Plantier. Performer: Olivia Centurioni. Ensemble: Ensemble 415. Director: Chiara Banchini.
    • Italiane Baroque.
    • Zig-Zag Territories.
    • 18-22.
  • Alexander Arutiunian

    Elegy

    Performer: Tine Thing Helseth. Ensemble: Ensemble Allegria.
    • LAWO.
  • Fr茅d茅ric Chopin

    Nocturne in E flat major, Op 9 No 2

    Performer: Jean鈥怸ves Thibaudet.
    • Chopin: Preludes/Nocturnes/Waltzes: Thibaudet.
    • Dal Segno.
    • 26.
  • Luciano Berio

    Ritirata notturna di Madrid

    Orchestra: Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Hannu Lintu.
    • ONDINE.
  • Franz Schubert

    Symphony no.9 in C major D.944 'Great' (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Budapest Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Iv谩n Fischer.
    • Schubert: Symphony no.9 etc: Budapest Festival Orchestra/Fischer.
    • Channel Classics.
  • Gabriel Faur茅

    Sicilienne Op.78

    Performer: Michael Collins. Performer: Michael McHale.
    • The Lyrical Clarinet Vol 3.
    • Chandos.
    • 05.
  • Hugo Wolf

    Italian Serenade

    Performer: Nardo Poy. Orchestra: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
  • Charles Aznavour

    La boheme

    • Pianosong.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 26.
  • Marin Marais

    La sonnerie de Sainte-Genevi猫ve du Mont de Paris

    Ensemble: Le Concert des Nations. Director: Jordi Savall.
    • Tous Les Matins Du Monde: Bande Originale du Film, Jordi Savall.
    • Alia Vox.
  • Cecilia McDowall

    I know that my Redeemer liveth

    Choir: Choir of The Queen's College, Oxford. Director: Owen Rees.
    • SIGNUM CLASSICS.
  • Joe Hisaishi

    One Summer's Day (From \"Spirited Away\", Arr. for Guitar by Emmanuel Rossfelder

    • Joe Hisaishi: One Summer's Day (From \"Spirited Away\", Arr. for Guitar by Emman.
    • Evidence Classics.
    • 1.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony no.40 in G minor K.550 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Freiburg Baroque Orchestra. Conductor: Ren茅 Jacobs.
    • Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 39 & 40: Rene Jacobs.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 5.
  • Edvard Grieg

    String Quartet in F major, unfinished (2nd mvt, Allegro scherzando)

    Music Arranger: Alf 脜rdal. Ensemble: Oslo Camerata. Director: Stephan Barratt-Due.
    • Grieg: String quartets: Olso Camerata/Barratt-Due.
    • Naxos.
  • Georges Bizet

    Bizet: Carmen, Act II: Je vais danser en votre honneur

    Lyricist: Henri Meilhac. Lyricist: Ludovic Hal茅vy. Lyricist: Prosper M茅rim茅e.
    • Bizet: Carmen.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
  • Enrique Granados

    El fandango de candil (Goyescas)

    Performer: Garrick Ohlsson.
    • Granados: Goyescas: Ohlsson.
    • Hyperion.
  • Ottorino Respighi

    The Pines of the Appian Way (Pines of Rome)

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Academy of Santa Cecilia, Rome. Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano.
    • Respighi: Fontane di Roma, Pina di Roma, Feste Romane & Il Tramonto.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 8.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Violin Sonata no.5 in F major Op.24 'Spring' (1st mvt)

    Performer: James Ehnes. Performer: Andrew Armstrong.
    • Onyx Classics.
  • Xian Xinghai

    Yellow River concerto for piano and orchestra: 1st movement; Prelude: Song of the Yellow River boatmen

    Performer: Lang Lang. Orchestra: China Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
  • Cassandra Miller

    Leaving

    Ensemble: Quatuor Bozzini.
    • Just So.
    • Another Timbre.
  • Franz Leh谩r

    Gold and silver - waltz Op.79

    Orchestra: Wiener Johann Strauss Orchester. Conductor: Martin Sieghart.
    • Wien, Weib Und Gesang.
    • ARTE NOVA.
    • 7.
  • Louis Gianella

    Flute Concerto No.1 in D minor

    Performer: Emmanuel Pahud. Orchestra: Kammerorchester Basel. Orchestra: Kammerorchester Basel. Conductor: Giovanni Antonini.
    • Revolution.
    • WARNER CLASSICS.
    • 04.
  • Robert Schumann

    Piano Sonata No. 3 in F minor, Op. 14: 3rd mvt - Quasi variazoni

    Performer: Benjamin Grosvenor.
    • DECCA.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto for 4 violins and cello in B minor RV.580 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Amandine Beyer. Performer: Katia Viel. Performer: Yoko Kawakubo. Performer: Alba Roca. Performer: Marco Ceccato. Ensemble: Gli Incogniti.
    • Bach from Italy: The Vivaldi & Marcello Influences.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 11.
  • Richard Rodgers

    Oklahoma (Overture)

    Orchestra: John Wilson Orchestra. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • EMI.
  • William Byrd

    Laudibus in sanctis

    Choir: The Sixteen. Director: Harry Christophers.
    • An Immortal Legacy: The Sixteen/Harry Christophers.
    • Coro.
    • 19.
  • Felix Mendelssohn

    The Hebrides Op.26

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
    • Mendelssohn in Birmingham, Vol. 5.
    • Chandos.
    • 4.

Broadcast

  • Thu 23 Oct 2025 09:30