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A classical soundtrack for your morning

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

Mon 19 Jan 2026 09:30
麻豆社 Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Anton铆n Dvo艡谩k

    Symphony No 8 in G major, Op 88 (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jos茅 Serebrier.
    • Warner Classics.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Rondo in D major, K.485

    Performer: Francesco Piemontesi.
    • Naive.

  • Helena Munktell

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

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

  • Arcangelo Corelli

    Trio sonata in G major Op.2`12 (Ciacona)

    Ensemble: Musica Antiqua Latina. Director: Giordano Antonelli.
    • Deutsche Harmonia Mundi: 88875174822.
    • Deutsche Harmonia Mundi.
    • 5.

  • 脡douard Lalo

    Symphonie Espagnole (5th mvt)

    Performer: James Ehnes. Orchestra: 麻豆社 Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Juanjo Mena.
    • Lalo, Saint-Saens & Sarasate: Violin Concertos.
    • Chandos Records Limited.
    • 5.

  • Frank Bridge

    Norse Legend, H. 60

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Richard Hickox.
    • Bridge: Orchestral Works, The Collector's Edition.
    • Chandos.
    • 208.

  • Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

    Quintet in B flat major (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Eric Le Sage. Ensemble: Les Vents Fran莽ais.
    • Warner.

  • Morten Lauridsen

    Ave Maria

    Choir: Polyphony. Director: Stephen Layton.
    • Hyperion.

  • Edvard Grieg

    Holberg Suite, Op.40 (Praeludium)

    Orchestra: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme J盲rvi.
    • Grieg: Complete music with orchestra: Gothenburg SO/Jarvi.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 1.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Orlando Furioso, RV 819, Act II: Aria. Pianger貌 sin che l'onda del pianto

    Singer: Paul-Antoine B茅nos-Djian. Ensemble: Caf茅 Zimmermann. Conductor: Pablo Valetti.
    • Vivaldi: Masques.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 13.

  • Elfrida Andr茅e

    Prelude (Fritiof Suite)

    Orchestra: Stockholm Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Gustaf Sj枚kvist.
    • Sterling.

  • Erno Dohnanyi

    Sextet in C major Op.37 (4th mvt)

    Ensemble: Nash Ensemble.
    • Hyperion.

  • Edward Elgar

    Severn Suite Op.87 (Minuet)

    Ensemble: The Fairey Band. Conductor: James Gourlay.
    • Brass from the Masters, Vol. 1.
    • Chandos.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Symphony No 2 in D major, Op 73 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Los Angeles Philharmonic. Conductor: Carlo Maria Giulini.
    • Giulini in America: Los Angeles Philharmonic/Giulini.
    • Deutsche Grammaphon.
    • 4.

  • Astor Piazzolla

    Milonga del angel

    Performer: Kathryn Stott.
    • Dance.
    • Chandos.
    • 18.

  • Lars鈥怑rik Larsson

    En vintersaga, Op. 18: IV. Epilogue

    Orchestra: Helsingborgs Symfoniorkester. Conductor: Andrew Manze.
    • Larsson: Orchestral Works, Vol. 1.
    • jpc schallplatten Versandhandels GmbH.
    • 8.

  • Percy Grainger

    The Three Ravens

    Ensemble: Giovanni Gabrieli. Conductor: Paul McCreesh.
    • Silence & Music.
    • Signum Records.
    • 11.

  • Richard Wagner

    Entry of the Gods into Valhalla (Das Rheingold)

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Klaus Tennstedt.
    • Warner Classics.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Karelia Suite, Op. 11: I. Intermezzo

    Orchestra: Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Susanna M盲lkki.
    • Sibelius: Karelia Suite, Rakastava & Lemminkainen.
    • BIS.
    • 1.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Goldberg Variations, BWV.988: Variation 13

    Ensemble: Tacamis Trio.
    • LEAF.

  • Bill Evans

    Peace Piece

    Performer: Igor Levit.
    • Sony Classical.

  • Dobrinka Tabakova

    Riddle Of The Barrel-Organ Player - Postlude: Hunting (Suite in Old Style)

    Performer: Maxim Rysanov. Performer: Vaiva Eidukaityt臈-Storastien臈. Orchestra: Lietuvos kamerinis orkestras.
    • ECM.

  • Hector Berlioz

    Le Corsaire

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Colin Davis.
    • Berlioz: Overtures: London Symphony Orchestra/Davis.
    • Philips.
    • 5.

  • Camille Saint鈥怱a毛ns

    Cello Concerto No 1 in A minor, Op.33

    Performer: Sol Gabetta. Orchestra: Munich Radio Orchestra. Conductor: Ari Rasilainen.
    • Tchaikovsky, Saint Saens, Ginastera.
    • RCA Red Seal.
    • 13-15.

  • Frederick Delius

    La Calinda

    Music Arranger: Eric Fenby. Orchestra: Hall茅. Conductor: John Barbirolli.
    • EMI.

  • Felice Anerio

    Ave Regina caelorum

    Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Music from the Sistine Chapel.
    • Coro.
    • 1.

  • Madeleine Dring

    Trio for flute, oboe and piano; Ist mvt. Allegro con brio

    Performer: Nicholas Daniel. Performer: Adam Walker. Performer: Antonio Oyarzabal.
    • Madeleine Dring: Complete Works for Oboe.
    • Chandos.

  • Alexander Glazunov

    Mazurka in G major Op.18

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Tadaaki Otaka.
    • Glazunov: Symphony No.2 etc.
    • BIS.
    • 5.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano Sonata no.31 in A flat, Op.110 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Yevgeny Sudbin.
    • Beethoven: 6 Bagatelles & Piano Sonatas Nos. 31 & 32.
    • BIS.
    • 1.

  • Hugo Alfv茅n

    Shepherd Girl's dance (The Mountain king)

    Orchestra: Malm枚 SymfoniOrkester. Conductor: James DePreist.
    • Orchestral Works: Malmo Symphony Orchestra / DePriest.
    • BIS.
    • 20.

Broadcast

  • Mon 19 Jan 2026 09:30
    麻豆社 Radio 3