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Celebrating classical greats

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

Thu 30 Oct 2025 09:30
麻豆社 Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony no.94 in G major H.1.94 'Surprise' (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Conductor: Colin Davis.
    • PHILIPS.

  • Max Bruch

    8 Pieces Op.83 (no.7 in B major)

    Performer: Michael Collins. Performer: Michael McHale. Performer: Isabelle van Keulen.
    • Mozart, Schumann & Others: Clarinet Trios.
    • BIS.
    • 10.

  • Amy Beach

    Symphony in E minor 'Gaelic', Op.32 (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Nashville Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Kenneth Schermerhorn.
    • NAXOS.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Swell, swell the full chorus (Solomon, Act 2)

    Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort. Director: Paul McCreesh.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Piano Concerto No 2 in B flat major, Op 83 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough. Orchestra: Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg. Conductor: Mark Wigglesworth.
    • Brahms - Piano Concertos.
    • Hyperion.
    • 2.

  • Malcolm Arnold

    The Padstow Lifeboat - March, Op. 94 (orch Philip Lane)

    Music Arranger: Philip Lane. Orchestra: 麻豆社 Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
    • Chandos.

  • Hector Berlioz

    Serenade (Harold en Italie, Op 16)

    Performer: Timothy Ridout. Performer: Hamadi Ferjani. Orchestra: Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg. Conductor: John Nelson.
    • Berlioz Les nuits d鈥櫭﹖茅; Harold en Italie.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 9.

  • Joanna Marsh

    Now I lay

    Conductor: Robert Hollingworth. Ensemble: I Fagiolini. Ensemble: VOCES8.
    • A Plastic Theatre.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 102.

  • Claude Debussy

    Jeux de vagues (La mer)

    Orchestra: Los Angeles Philharmonic. Conductor: Carlo Maria Giulini.
    • Giulini in America: Los Angeles Philharmonic/Giulini.
    • Deutsche Grammaphon.
    • 2.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    French Suite No.5 in G Major, BWV 816: I. Allemande

    Performer: Martin Fr枚st. Performer: Jonas Nordberg. Music Arranger: Martin Fr枚st. Music Arranger: Jonas Nordberg.
    • B.A.C.H..
    • Sony Classical.
    • 11.

  • Anatoly Konstantinovich Lyadov

    A Village Scene by an Inn - Mazurka, Op. 19

    Orchestra: Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Stephen Gunzenhauser.
    • Naxos.

  • Richard Strauss

    Piano Quartet in C Minor, Op. 13: III. Andante

    Ensemble: Nash Ensemble.
    • R. Strauss: Metamorphosen, Capriccio & Piano Quartet.
    • Hyperion.
    • 4.

  • Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

    Valse Rustique (4 Characteristic Waltzes)

    Orchestra: RT脡 Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Adrian Leaper.
    • Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, orchestral works.
    • MARCO POLO.
    • 7.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Clarinet Concerto in A Major K.622 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Julian Bliss. Orchestra: Royal Northern Sinfonia. Conductor: Mario Venzago.
    • Nielsen: Clarinet Concerto - W.A. Mozart: Clarinet Concerto.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 6.

  • Joan Trimble

    Suite for strings; 1st mvt

    Orchestra: Irish Chamber Orchestra. Director: Fionnuala Hunt.
    • Black Box.

  • Arcangelo Corelli

    Trio sonata in G major Op.4`10

    Orchestra: Rebel Baroque Orchestra. Director: J枚rg鈥怣ichael Schwarz.
    • DORIAN.

  • Alan Rawsthorne

    Prelude and Nocturne (from The Cruel Sea)

    Orchestra: Royal Ballet Sinfonia. Conductor: Kenneth Alwyn.
    • The Ladykillers: Those Glorious Ealing Films.
    • Decca (UMO) (Classics).
    • 5.

  • Georg Philipp Telemann

    Orchestral Suite in C Major, TWV 55:C3 "Wassermusik": X. Die lustigen Botsleute

    Orchestra: Bremen Baroque Orchestra. Conductor: Wolfgang Helbich.
    • Telemann: Hamburger Admiralitatsmusik (Live).
    • CPO.
    • 110.

  • John Philip Sousa

    The Liberty Bell

    Ensemble: Eastman Wind Ensemble. Conductor: Frederick Fennell.
    • Fennell Conducts Sousa Marches.
    • Mercury.
    • 9.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Egmont Overture

    Orchestra: Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. Conductor: Riccardo Chailly.
    • Decca.

  • Jean Sibelius

    2 Pieces for Violin & Orchestra, Op. 77: No. 1, Cantique. Laetare anima mea

    Performer: Mikaela Palmu. Conductor: Leif Segerstam. Orchestra: Turku Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Sibelius: Jedermann, 2 Pieces & In memoriam.
    • Naxos.
    • 1.

  • Helena Munktell

    Menuetto 脿 l'antique (Suite for large orchestra, No 2)

    Orchestra: G盲vle symfoniorkester. Conductor: Tobias Ringborg.
    • Sterling.

  • Philippe de Monte

    Super flumina Babylonis

    Choir: Stile Antico.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

  • Fritz Kreisler

    Praeludium and Allegro in the style of Gaetano Pugnani

    Performer: Jack Liebeck. Performer: Katya Apekisheva.
    • Hyperion.

  • Alexander Glazunov

    The Sea Op.28

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Jos茅 Serebrier.
    • Glazunov - Complete Syphonies and Concertos.
    • Warner.
    • 5.

  • Georges H眉e

    Gigue

    Performer: Edward Beckett. Orchestra: London Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Ross Pople.
    • Fantasie: Romantic French flute music: Beckett/London Festival Orch/Pople.
    • Black Box.
    • 1.

  • Emmanuel Chabrier

    Habanera

    Orchestra: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. Conductor: Neeme J盲rvi.
    • Chabrier: Orchestral works: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande/Jarvi.
    • Chandos.
    • 3.

  • Rita Strohl

    Quatuor pour violon, alto, violoncelle et piano: IV. Th猫me et variations

    Performer: H茅lo茂se Luzzati. Performer: Alexandre Pascal. Performer: L茅a Hennino. Performer: C茅lia Oneto Bensaid.
    • Rita Strohl: Volume 2, Musique de chambre.
    • La Bo卯te 脿 P茅pites.
    • 204.

  • Edward Elgar

    Dream Children, Op 43 (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Davis.
    • Elgar : Orchestral Works.
    • Rhino.
    • 3.

  • Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

    Cello Concerto in A major Wq. 172 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Steven Isserlis. Orchestra: The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen.
    • Haydn & Bach: Cello Concertos.
    • Hyperion.
    • 7.

  • Anton铆n Dvo艡谩k

    Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 From the New World - 3rd mvt

    Conductor: Semyon Bychkov. Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic.
    • PENTATONE.

Broadcast

  • Thu 30 Oct 2025 09:30
    麻豆社 Radio 3