Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Relax into the day with classical

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.

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

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Wed 29 Oct 2025 09:30
麻豆社 Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

The very best of classical music

Next

Celebrating classical greats

See all episodes from Essential Classics

Music Played

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto in C major for 2 trumpets, RV.537

    Performer: Alison Balsom. Performer: Crispian Steele鈥怭erkins. Ensemble: The Parley of Instruments. Conductor: Peter Holman.
    • Music for two trumpets from the Italian Baroque.
    • Hyperion.
    • 33.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Prelude in G flat major, Op 23 No 10

    Performer: Nikolai Lugansky.
    • The Rachmaninov Experience.
    • Warner Classics and Jazz.
    • 16.

  • Carl Maria von Weber

    Clarinet Concerto no.1 in F minor Op.73 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Michael Collins. Orchestra: City of London Sinfonia. Conductor: Michael Collins.
    • Weber: Clarinet Concertos etc.: Stirling/CLS/Collins.
    • Chandos.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Academic Festival Overture Op.80

    Orchestra: Budapest Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Iv谩n Fischer.
    • CHANNEL.

  • Samuel Barber

    4 Songs, Op. 13: No. 3. Sure on this shining night

    Performer: Ben Kennedy. Choir: Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir. Conductor: Paul Spicer.
    • SOMM Recordings.

  • Roxanna Panufnik

    Tibetan Winter (4 World Seasons)

    Performer: Tasmin Little. Performer: Graham Bradshaw. Orchestra: 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra.
    • Chandos.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony no.3 'Eroica' (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Storstr酶ms Kammerensemble. Conductor: 8 Bit.
    • Beethoven: Complete Symphonies.
    • Naxos.
    • 8.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90 ('Italian'): 4th mvt Saltarello

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
    • Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 \"Italian\", Symphony No. 5 \"Reformation\" & Th.
    • Chandos.
    • 9.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Largo (after Piano Concerto No. 5 in F Minor, BWV 1056) [Arr. for Clarinet and P

    • Sony Classical.

  • Ruth Gipps

    Horn Concerto Op. 58; 3rd mvt

    Performer: Martin Owen. Orchestra: 麻豆社 Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Franz Schubert

    Piano Trio in E flat major, D.929 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Renaud Capu莽on. Performer: Gautier Capu莽on. Performer: Frank Braley.
    • Virgin Classics.

  • E虅riks Es虒envalds

    Only In Sleep

    Choir: The Choir Of Trinity College, Cambridge. Conductor: Stephen Layton.
    • Northern Lights and other Choral works.
    • Hyperion.
    • 16.

  • Camille Saint鈥怱a毛ns

    Cello Concerto No 1 in A minor, Op 33 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Truls M酶rk. Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme J盲rvi.
    • Chandos.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    A Musical Joke, K.522: IV. Presto

    Performer: Gerd Seifert. Performer: Manfred Klier. Performer: Rainer Zepperitz. Ensemble: Amadeus Quartet.
    • DG.

  • Jonathan Dove

    Seek Him that maketh the Seven Stars

    Performer: Jeremy Filsell. Choir: Tenebrae. Conductor: Nigel Short.
    • SIGNUM.

  • Benjamin Britten

    Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes (Dawn)

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
    • Chandos.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Songs of Travel (The Infinite Shining Heavens)

    Singer: Christopher Maltman. Performer: Roger Vignoles.
    • Hyperion.

  • Francesco Geminiani

    Concerto grosso in E minor Op3 no.6

    Orchestra: Academy of Ancient Music. Conductor: Christopher Hogwood.
    • Oiseau Lyre.

  • Charles鈥怴alentin Alkan

    Le chemin de fer, Op. 27

    Performer: Yui Morishita.
    • ALKAN Piano Collection 2 芦Concerto禄.
    • ALM RECORDS.
    • 6.

  • Philip Glass

    Violin Concerto, 2nd mvt.

    Performer: Mari Samuelsen. Orchestra: Konzerthausorchester Berlin. Conductor: Jonathan Stockhammer.
    • Mari.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 9.

  • Giuseppe Verdi

    The Sicilian Vespers; Montfort's Aria (Act 3)

    Singer: Quinn Kelsey. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Conductor: Speranza Scappucci.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Symphony No. 6 in D Major, Op. 104

    Conductor: Santtu鈥怣atias Rouvali. Orchestra: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra.
    • Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 6 & 7, The Tempest.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 1.

  • George Frideric Handel

    All we, like sheep, have gone astray (Messiah)

    Ensemble: Dunedin Consort. Director: John Butt.
    • LINN.

  • Michael Haydn

    Duo for violin and viola No 2 in D major, P128 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Rachel Podger. Performer: Jane Rogers.
    • Mozart & M Haydn: Duo Sonatas.
    • Channel Classics.
    • 11.

  • Anton铆n Dvo艡谩k

    Czech suite, Op.39 (Sousedska)

    Orchestra: North German Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Thomas Hengelbrock.
    • Sony.

  • Domenico Scarlatti

    Sonata in A major, K 279

    Performer: Anne Queff茅lec.
    • MIRARE.

  • Franz Leh谩r

    Sirens of the Ball (The Merry Widow)

    Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
    • Vienna Soiree.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 3.

Broadcast

  • Wed 29 Oct 2025 09:30
    麻豆社 Radio 3