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Relax into the day with classical

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.

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15 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Thu 18 Dec 2025 09:30
麻豆社 Radio 3

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Music Played

  • George Frideric Handel

    Music for the Royal Fireworks (La r茅jouissance)

    Ensemble: Le Concert des Nations. Conductor: Jordi Savall.
    • Alia Vox.

  • Trad.

    O Come All Ye Faithful

    Composer: John Francis Wade. Music Arranger: Paul Bateman. Orchestra: The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. Choir: Crouch End Festival Chorus. Conductor: David Temple.

    O Come All Ye Faithful

  • Carl Maria von Weber

    Clarinet Quintet in B flat major, Op 34 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: J枚rg Widmann. Orchestra: Irish Chamber Orchestra.
    • ALPHA.

  • Mykola Leontovych

    Carol of the Bells

    Composer: Peter J. Wilhousky. Music Arranger: Richard Hayman. Orchestra: Hall茅. Conductor: Carl Davis.
    • Christmas Classics.
    • Halle.
    • 8.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Symphony No 4 in A major, Op 90, 'Italian' (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt.
    • Mendelssohn: Symphonies Nos.3 & 4: Chamber Orchestra of Europe/Harnoncourt.
    • Teldec.
    • 5.

  • Jorunn Vidar

    The children must be given bread

    Choir: Balthasar-Neumann Choir. Conductor: Thomas Hengelbrock.
    • Christmas in Europe.
    • Deutsche Harmonia Mundi.
    • 5.

  • Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka

    Souvenir d'une nuit d'茅t茅 脿 Madrid

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vassily Sinaisky.
    • Chandos.

  • Ottorino Respighi

    Italiana (Ancient Airs and Dances - suite no.3)

    Orchestra: Lausanne Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Jes煤s L贸pez Cobos.
    • Bella Tuscany: Music Inspired by Tuscany.
    • Telarc.
    • 3.

  • James Lord Pierpont

    Jingle bells

    Music Arranger: Ben Parry. Choir: The Choir Of Trinity College, Cambridge. Conductor: Stephen Layton.
    • HYPERION.

  • Luise Adolpha Le Beau

    Piano Quartet in F minor, Op 28 (2nd mvt, Adagio)

    Ensemble: Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective.
    • Brahms & Contemporaries, Vol. 1.
    • Chandos.
    • 6.

  • Kod谩ly Zolt谩n

    Intermezzo (Hary Janos Suite, Op.35a)

    Orchestra: Budapest Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Iv谩n Fischer.
    • Kodaly: "Hary Janos" Suite: Fischer.
    • Philips.
    • 15.

  • Philip Ledger

    A Spotless Rose

    Choir: Choir of King鈥檚 College, Cambridge. Orchestra: Britten Sinfonia. Conductor: Daniel Hyde.
    • All the Stars Looked Down: A John Rutter Celebration.
    • King鈥檚 College, Cambridge.
    • 2.

  • John Rutter

    All the Stars Looked Down

    Choir: Choir of King鈥檚 College, Cambridge. Orchestra: Britten Sinfonia. Conductor: Daniel Hyde.
    • All the Stars Looked Down: A John Rutter Celebration.
    • King鈥檚 College, Cambridge.
    • 15.

  • Robert Schumann

    Abegg Variations Op.1

    Performer: Lise de la Salle.
    • 狈础脧痴贰.

  • Reena Esmail

    We look for you (A Winter Breviary, No 1)

    Choir: St Martin's Voices. Conductor: Andrew Earis.
    • A Winter Breviary: Choral Works for Christmas.
    • Resonus Classics.
    • 3.

  • Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges

    Symphonie concertante in A major Op.9`2 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Yury Revich. Performer: Libor Je啪ek. Orchestra: Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice. Conductor: Michael Hal谩sz.
    • Saint-Georges: Orchestral Works.
    • Naxos.
    • 4.

  • Trad.

    We Wish You a Merry Christmas

    Composer: Anon.. Ensemble: Harmonic Brass.
    • Joy to the World.
    • Brass Works Munich.
    • 24.

  • Bedrich Smetana

    Vltava (Ma Vlast)

    Orchestra: Symfonick媒 orchestr hlavn铆ho m臎sta Prahy FOK. Conductor: Libor Pe拧ek.
    • Dvorak: New World Symphony: Prague Symphony Orchestra/Pesek.
    • Sony.

  • C茅sar Franck

    Panis Angelicus

    Music Arranger: Owain Park. Singer: Nick Pritchard. Ensemble: London Choral Sinfonia. Conductor: Michael Waldron.
    • The French Album.
    • Orchid Classics.
    • 401.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Das Butterbrot

    Performer: Martino Tirimo.
    • Mozart: Complete Works for Solo Piano.
    • Heritage Records.
    • 104.

  • Trad.

    The Boar's Head Carol

    Singer: George Parris. Ensemble: Choir of The Queen's College, Oxford. Conductor: Owen Rees.
    • Carols from Queen's.
    • AVIE Records.
    • 16.

  • Amy Beach

    3 Browning Songs, Op. 44, No. 3: I Send My Heart up to Thee! (Arr. for Cello)

    Performer: Raphaela Gromes. Performer: Olga Scheps.
    • Sony.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Karelia Suite: Alla marcia

    Orchestra: Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Okko Kamu.
    • Sibelius: Orchestral Works: Various orchestras and conductors.
    • Finlandia.
    • 4.

  • Jean Mouton

    Nesciens mater virgo virum for 8 voices

    Choir: VOCES8.
    • Christmas.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 1501.

  • Jan Dismas Zelenka

    Hipocondrie a 7 in A major

    Orchestra: Freiburg Baroque Orchestra.
    • DEUTSCHE HARMONIA MUNDI.

  • Hugh Martin

    Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Arr. Y. Zhislin for String Orchestra)

    Music Arranger: Yuri Zhislin. Ensemble: Camerata Tchaikovsky.
    • Christmas Without Words.
    • Orchid Classics.
    • 601.

  • Niccol貌 Paganini

    Violin Concerto No. 2 in B Minor, Op. 7: III. Rondo "La Campanella"

    Performer: Chlo毛 Hanslip. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Paul Mann.
    • 颁丑濒辞毛.
    • Warner Classics International.
    • 1.

  • Gerald Finzi

    In terra pax, Op 39

    Singer: Roderick Williams. Singer: Julia Doyle. Choir: City of London Choir. Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Hilary Davan Wetton.
    • In Terra Pax: A Christmas Anthology.
    • Naxos.
    • 6.

  • Quincy Jones

    The Color Purple; Main Title

    Composer: Jeremy Lubbock. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: Joel Rosenbaum.
    • The Color Purple.
    • HIP-O (Geffen AM).
    • 2.

  • 脡mile Waldteufel

    Les Patineurs, Op.183

    Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Charles Groves.
    • Sir Charles' precious music box 2: Philharmonia/Groves.
    • Denon.
    • 5.

  • Amanda R枚ntgen-Maier

    6 Pieces for violin and piano (no.6)

    Performer: Cecilia Zilliacus. Performer: Bengt Forsberg.
    • Amanda Maier, Volume 2.
    • db Productions.
    • 12.

  • Dobrinka Tabakova

    Of a rose sing we

    Performer: Owen Chan. Choir: Choir of Merton College, Oxford. Conductor: Benjamin Nicholas.
    • On Christmas Night: Carols from Merton.
    • Delphian Records.
    • 7.

  • Henry Purcell

    Chacony in G minor, Z.730

    Ensemble: Musica Alta Ripa.
    • MDG.

  • Anton铆n Dvo艡谩k

    Legend, Op.59 No.8

    Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Tom谩拧 Netopil.
    • PENTATONE.

  • Jule Styne

    Let it Snow

    Performer: Joshua Bell. Performer: Julian Lage. Performer: Rob Moose. Performer: Michael Aarons. Performer: William Holhouse. Music Arranger: Rob Moose. Singer: Chris Lightcap.
    • Musical Gifts From Joshua Bell and Friends.
    • Sony/Masterworks.
    • 2.

Broadcast

  • Thu 18 Dec 2025 09:30
    麻豆社 Radio 3