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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.

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24 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Thursday 09:30
麻豆社 Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Ottorino Respighi

    Gli Uccelli - suite: Prelude

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Istv谩n Kert茅sz.
    • Decca.

  • Anton铆n Dvo艡谩k

    Serenade for Strings, Op.22 (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: Rotterdam Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Conrad van Alphen.
    • Grieg/Dvorak/Elgar: Rotterdam Chamber Orchestra/van Alphen.
    • Telarc.
    • 8.

  • Robert Schumann

    Piano Quartet in E-Flat Major, Op. 47: I. Sostenuto assai - Allegro ma non tropp

    Performer: Hrachya Avanesyan. Performer: Diemut Poppen. Performer: Alexander Chaushian. Performer: Yevgeny Sudbin.
    • Schumann: Piano Quartet, Op. 47 - Brahms: Piano Quintet, Op. 34.
    • BIS.
    • 101.

  • Amy Beach

    Pastorale for Woodwind Quintet, Op. 151

    Ensemble: Ambache Chamber Ensemble.
    • Beach: Violin Sontata etc..
    • CHANDOS.
    • 6.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    The Hebrides Overture 'Fingal's Cave', Op.26

    Orchestra: Swedish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Thomas Dausgaard.
    • BIS.

  • Clive James Osgood

    Songs from Three Counties: No. 4, The Mermaid

    Choir: Polyphony. Orchestra: Britten Sinfonia. Conductor: Stephen Layton.
    • Clive Osgood: English Folksongs.
    • Convivium Records Ltd.
    • 10.

  • Richard Strauss

    Violin Concerto (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Tasmin Little. Orchestra: 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Michael Collins.
    • Strauss: Concertante Works.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 008.

  • Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

    Nonet in F minor, Op.2 (1st mvt)

    Performer: John Fadial. Performer: Janet Orenstein. Performer: Scott Rawls. Performer: Brooks Whitehouse. Performer: Andrew Harley. Performer: Mary Ashley Barret. Performer: Michael Burns. Performer: Kelly Burke. Performer: Lynn Huntzinger Beck.
    • Samuel Coleridge-Taylor; Chamber Music.
    • CENTAUR.
    • 9.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Symphony no.2 in E minor Op.27 (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Sinfonia of London. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2, Prelude in C# Minor.
    • Chandos.
    • 103.

  • Franz Schubert

    4 Impromptus, Op. Posth. 142, D. 935: No. 2 in A-Flat Major

    Performer: Eric Lu.
    • Schubert: Impromptus, D. 935: No. 2 in A-Flat Major.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 1.

  • Dorothy Howell

    Humoresque

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Rebecca Miller.
    • Dorothy Howell Orchestral Works.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 101.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Preise dein Gl眉cke, gesegnetes Sachsen (Canata BWV.215)

    Choir: Bach Collegium Japan Chorus. Orchestra: Bach Collegium Japan. Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki.
    • Bach: Celebratory Cantatas.
    • BIS.
    • 12.

  • Edward Elgar

    Introduction and Allegro, Op 47

    Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Adrian Boult.
    • Elgar: Cello Concerto etc..
    • EMI.
    • 6.

  • Joseph Haydn

    The Mermaid's Song, Hob.XXVIa:25

    Performer: Eric Schneider. Lyricist: Anne Hunter. Singer: Anna Prohaska.
    • 厂颈谤猫苍别.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 5.

  • Max Bruch

    Die Loreley Op.16 (Overture)

    Orchestra: Bamberg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Robert Trevi帽o.
    • Bruch: Symphonies Nos. 1-3 & Overtures.
    • CPO.
    • 401.

  • Eric Whitacre

    Seal Lullaby

    Choir: Eric Whitacre Singers. Choir: Laudibus. Performer: Christopher Glynn. Conductor: Eric Whitacre.
    • Eric Whitacre: Light & Gold: Eric Whitacre.
    • Decca.
    • 7.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Le nozze di Figaro, K492: Overture

    Ensemble: Manchester Camerata. Conductor: G谩bor Tak谩cs鈥怤agy.
    • Chandos.

  • Eric Coates

    Spring time in Angus - Elizabeth of Glamis (The Three Elizabeths, No 2)

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • Eric Coates: Orchestral Works, Vol. 3.
    • Chandos.
    • 20.

  • Emilie Mayer

    String Quartet in G Minor, Op. 14: II. Scherzo. Allegro assai

    Ensemble: Erato Quartett Basel.
    • Mendelssohn-Hensel, Mayer & Sirmen: String Quartets.
    • CPO.
    • 202.

  • William Bolcom

    Graceful Ghost

    Performer: Marc鈥怉ndr茅 Hamelin.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Dopo notte (Ariodante)

    Singer: Magdalena Ko啪en谩. Orchestra: Venice Baroque Orchestra. Conductor: Andrea Marcon.
    • ARCHIV.

  • Maurice Ravel

    Piano Concerto in G major

    Performer: Jean鈥怑fflam Bavouzet. Orchestra: 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Yan Pascal Tortelier.
    • Debussy/Ravel: Works For Piano And Orchestra.
    • chandos.

  • Luigi Boccherini

    String Quintet in E Major, Op. 11/5, G. 275: III. Minuetto and Trio

    Orchestra: London Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Ross Pople.
    • Favourite Classics for Small Orchestra.
    • Hyperion.
    • 3.

  • R. Nathaniel Dett

    Inspiration Waltzes

    Performer: Clare Hammond.

  • Alice Mary Smith

    Andante

    Performer: Angela Malsbury. Orchestra: London Mozart Players. Conductor: Howard Shelley.
    • Alice Mary Smith: Symphonies: Malsbury, LMP, Shelley.
    • Chandos.
    • 5.

  • Jarom铆r Weinberger

    Svanda the bagpiper [Svanda dudak] - suite: Polka

    Orchestra: Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland鈥怭falz. Conductor: Karl鈥怘einz Steffens.
    • CPO.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Wind Octet in E flat major, Op.103 (4th mvt)

    Ensemble: Bl盲serensemble Sabine Meyer.
    • Beethoven: Octet etc.: Sabine Meyer Wind Ensemble.
    • EMI.
    • 4.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Piano Concerto No.2 in B Flat Major (4th mvt)

    Performer: Francesco Piemontesi. Orchestra: Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. Conductor: Manfred Honeck.
    • Piano Concerto No. 2 & Three Intermezzi Op. 117.
    • Pentatone.

Broadcast

  • Thursday 09:30
    麻豆社 Radio 3