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The very best 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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26 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Tuesday 09:30
麻豆社 Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony No 104 in D major "London" (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Australian Chamber Orchestra. Director: Richard Tognetti.
    • Haydn 鈥� Mozart.
    • Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC).
    • 12.

  • William Byrd

    O God that guides the cheerful sun

    Singer: Robin Blaze. Ensemble: Concordia.
    • Consort Songs.
    • Hyperion.
    • 11.

  • Jean Sibelius

    The Bard, Op 64

    Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Paavo Berglund.
    • EMI.

  • Amilcare Ponchielli

    La Gioconda - Dance of the Hours (extract)

    Orchestra: Sinfonia of London. Conductor: Robert Irving.
    • The Classic Experience - 135 of the greatest classical tracks.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 9.

  • Grace Williams

    Penillion (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Performer: Ray Allan. Conductor: Sir Charles Groves.
    • Grace Williams: Sea Sketches; Fantasia; Carillons; Penillion.
    • Lyrita.
    • 6.

  • Domenico Scarlatti

    Keyboard Sonata in C Minor, Kk. 56

    Performer: Scott Ross.
    • Scarlatti: The Complete Keyboard Works, Vol. 3: Sonatas, Kk. 51 - 70.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 6.

  • Samuel Barber

    Essay for orchestra No 1, Op 12

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Marin Alsop.
    • Barber: Symphonies nos. 1 & 2: Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Alsop.
    • Naxos.
    • 5.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Brandenburg concerto no.4 in G major BWV.1049 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Giuliano Carmignola. Performer: Michala Petri. Performer: Nikola Tarasov. Orchestra: Orchestra Mozart. Conductor: Claudio Abbado.
    • J.S. Bach: The Brandenburg Concertos; Orchestra Mozart, Abbado.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 4.

  • 脡douard Lalo

    Piano Trio No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 26: IV. Allegro molto

    Ensemble: Trio Wanderer.
    • Art nouveau: French chamber music around 1900.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 104.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No.4 in B Flat Op.60 Slow Movt

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sakari Oramo.

  • Galina Grigorjeva

    In Paradisum for Male-Voice Choir

    Choir: Estonia poistekoor. Conductor: Mikk 脺leoja.
    • Galina Grigorjeva: Music for Male-Voice Choir.
    • Toccata Classics.
    • 111.

  • Anton铆n Dvo艡谩k

    Rondo in G Minor, Op.94

    Performer: Sol Gabetta. Orchestra: Danish National Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Mario Venzago.
    • Sony.

  • Claude Debussy

    搁锚惫别谤颈别

    Performer: Fran莽ois鈥怞o毛l Thiollier.
    • Debussy: Complete works for piano vol.3: Bavouzet.
    • Naxos.
    • 017.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Violin Concerto in G Op.3`3

    Performer: Rachel Podger. Ensemble: Brecon Baroque.
    • CHANNEL CLASSICS.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    3 Preludes Founded on Welsh Hymn Tunes: No. 2, Rhosymedre (Orch. Foster)

    Conductor: Neville Marriner. Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields.
    • 100 Best British Classics.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 13.

  • Trad.

    Suo Gan

    Performer: Alis Huws. Music Arranger: Haldon Evans.
    • Long Nights and Starry Skies.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 1.

  • Osian Ellis

    A Sunset Poem (from "Under Milk Wood")

    Singer: Osian Ellis.
    • Songs With Harp.
    • Eloquence.
    • 25.

  • Alun Hoddinott

    Investiture Dances, op.66: 3rd mvt Presto

    Orchestra: National Youth Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Owain Arwel Hughes.
    • Elgar Symphony No.2: Hoddinott Investiture Dances.
    • Divine Art.
    • 7.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Symphony no.3 in A minor Op.56 'Scottish' (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt.
    • Mendelssohn: Symphonies Nos.3 & 4: Chamber Orchestra of Europe/Harnoncourt.
    • Teldec.
    • 2.

  • George Enescu

    2 Romanian Rhapsodies, Op. 11: No. 1 in A Major

    Orchestra: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Mariss Jansons.
    • Rhapsody (Live).
    • BR-Klassik.
    • 3.

  • Francesca Caccini

    Lasciatemi qui solo (Il primo libro delle musiche)

    Ensemble: La Villanella Basel.
    • O Dulcis Amor.
    • Ramee.
    • 10.

  • Franz Liszt

    La Campanella

    Performer: Daniil Trifonov.
    • Transcendental.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 8.

  • Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

    The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh (Suite)

    Orchestra: The G眉rzenich Orchestra Cologne. Conductor: Dmitri Kitayenko.
    • Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov & Lyadov: Works.
    • Oehms Classics.
    • 201-204.

  • Peter Maxwell Davies

    Farewell to Stromness

    Music Arranger: Timothy Walker. Performer: Sean Shibe.
    • An Orkney Wedding.
    • LINN.
    • 8.

  • Clara Schumann

    Piano Concerto in A minor - 3rd movement, Allegro non troppo

    Performer: Lucy Parham. Orchestra: 麻豆社 Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Barry Wordsworth.
    • Robert and Clara Schumann: Piano Concertos.
    • Sanctuary.
    • 6.

  • Gabriel Faur茅

    La chanson d'Eve, Op. 95: No. 8, Dans un parfum de roses blanches ...

    Performer: Malcolm Martineau. Singer: Dame Sarah Connolly.
    • The Complete Songs of Faure, Vol. 2.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 1908.

  • Johann Strauss II

    Roses from the South (Das Spitzentuch der K枚nigin)

    Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Willi Boskovsky.
    • Johann Strauss: Famous Waltzes: Boskovsky.
    • Decca.
    • 2.

Broadcast

  • Tuesday 09:30
    麻豆社 Radio 3