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Celebrating classical greats

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.

To listen on most smart speakers say 'Ask 麻豆社 Sounds to play Essential Classics'.

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Thu 22 Jan 2026 09:30
麻豆社 Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Christoph Willibald Gluck

    Dance of the Blessed Spirits (Orfeo ed Euridice)

    Orchestra: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
    • Classical Hits: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 3.

  • Muzio Clementi

    Piano Sonata in D major, Op 40 No 3 (4th mvt. Allegro)

    Performer: John McCabe.
    • Scarlatti & Clementi Sonatas - John McCabe.
    • Divine Art.
    • 11.

  • Pyotr Tchaikovsky

    Meditation (Souvenir d'un lieu cher Op 42)

    Performer: Janine Jansen. Orchestra: Mahler Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Daniel Harding.
    • DECCA.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No 2 in D major, Op 36 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Orchestre R茅volutionnaire et Romantique. Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
    • Beethoven: The Symphonies, John Eliot Gardiner.
    • Archiv Produktion.
    • 8.

  • Dobrinka Tabakova

    Whispered lullaby

    Performer: Maxim Rysanov. Performer: Evelyn Chang.
    • AVIE.

  • Georg Philipp Telemann

    Concerto in D major TWV.54:D3

    Performer: Lorraine Wood. Performer: Paul Goodwin. Performer: Mark Bennett. Performer: Michael Harrison. Performer: Nicholas Thompson. Orchestra: The English Concert. Director: Trevor Pinnock.
    • Telemann: Suites, Concerto in D major: English Concert, Pinnock.
    • Archiv.
    • 1.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Khadra's Dance (Belshazzar's Feast)

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sakari Oramo.
    • Sibelius: Lemmink盲inen Suite, Spring Song & Suite from "Belshazzar's Feast".
    • Chandos.
    • 109.

  • Camille Saint鈥怱a毛ns

    Tarantelle, Op 6

    Ensemble: Nash Ensemble.
    • Saint-Saens: Chamber Music: The Nash Ensemble.
    • Hyperion.
    • 5.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Motezuma, RV 723, Act I Scene 1: Aria. S'impugni la spada

    Singer: Paul-Antoine B茅nos-Djian. Ensemble: Caf茅 Zimmermann. Conductor: Pablo Valetti.
    • Vivaldi: Masques.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 18.

  • Anton铆n Dvo艡谩k

    Scherzo capriccioso Op.66

    Orchestra: Oslo Philharmonic. Conductor: Mariss Jansons.
    • Dvorak: Symphony No. 5, Scherzo Capriccioso etc..
    • EMI.
    • 6.

  • Roxanna Panufnik

    Celestial Bird

    Choir: Ex Cathedra. Conductor: Jeffrey Skidmore.
    • Roxanna Panufnik: Celestial Bird.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 2.

  • Joaqu铆n Rodrigo

    Concierto de Aranjuez (1st mvt)

    Performer: Christoph Denoth. Conductor: Jes煤s L贸pez Cobos. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.
    • Signum Classics.

  • Alexander Borodin

    String Sextet

    Performer: Louise Williams. Performer: Raphael Wallfisch. Ensemble: Lindsay String Quartet.
    • ASV.

  • Benjamin Britten

    4 Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes (Moonlight)

    Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme J盲rvi.
    • Britten: Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra: Bergen P.O., Neeme Jarvi.
    • BIS.
    • 8.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Wiegenlied (5 Songs Op.49)

    Singer: Anne Sofie von Otter. Performer: Bengt Forsberg.
    • Brahms: Lieder: Anne-Sofie von Otter.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 22.

  • Anatoly Konstantinovich Lyadov

    The Enchanted Lake, Op.62

    Orchestra: The G眉rzenich Orchestra Cologne. Conductor: Dmitri Kitayenko.
    • Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov & Lyadov: Works.
    • Oehms Classics.

  • Bedrich Smetana

    The Bartered Bride (Overture)

    Orchestra: Pro Arte Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.
    • Janacek: Sinfonietta etc: Pro Arte Orchestra/Mackerras.
    • EMI.
    • 11.

  • Suor Leonora d'Este

    Vespere autem sabbati

    Ensemble: Musica Secreta. Director: Laurie Stras.
    • Lucky Music.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Divertimento in F major, K 138

    Orchestra: London Mozart Players. Conductor: Jane Glover.
    • Mozart The Collectors Edition 50 CDs The Masterpieces The Greatest Artists.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 14.

  • Thomas Wilbrandt

    Alone (Alone, for a second)

    Orchestra: Modern Sinfonietta. Conductor: Thomas Wilbrandt.
    • Erik Satie: Alone for a second: Thomas Wilbrandt.
    • Decca.
    • 6.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cello Suite No 1 in G major, BWV 1007 (Prelude)

    Performer: Alisa Weilerstein.
    • Bach: Cello Suites, BWVV 1007-1012.
    • PENTATONE.
    • 1.

  • Selim Palmgren

    Piano Concerto No 2 (The River)

    Performer: Juhani Lagerspetz. Orchestra: Turku Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Jacques Mercier.
    • Finlandia.

  • Orlando Gibbons

    Fantasia 脿 3 'for the great dooble base', MB.48.19

    Performer: Judy Tarling. Performer: Mark Caudle. Performer: Alison Crum. Performer: Peter Holman. Ensemble: Parley of Instruments. Director: Peter Holman.
    • Music for Prince Charles: The Parley of Instruments/Holman.
    • Hyperion.

  • Claude Debussy

    Jeux de vagues (La Mer)

    Orchestra: The Cleveland Orchestra. Conductor: Pierre Boulez.
    • Debussy: Nocturnes/La Mer/Jeux: Boulez.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 7.

  • Ina Boyle

    String Quartet in E Minor (1st mvt)

    Ensemble: Piatti Quartet.
    • Boyle, Vaughan Williams, Moeran & Ireland.
    • Rubicon.
    • 4.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cantata no. 133 BWV.133 (Ich freue mich in dir)

    Ensemble: Bach鈥怌ollegium Stuttgart. Conductor: Helmuth Rilling.
    • Gloria In Excelsis Deo.
    • Hanssler Classic.
    • 16.

  • Franz Schubert

    Symphony no.5 in B flat major, D.485 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
    • Schubert: Symphonies Nos. 3, 5 and 8.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 5.

Broadcast

  • Thu 22 Jan 2026 09:30
    麻豆社 Radio 3