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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.

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

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Wed 4 Feb 2026 09:30
麻豆社 Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Emmanuel Chabrier

    Habanera

    Orchestra: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. Conductor: Neeme J盲rvi.
    • Chabrier: Orchestral works: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande/Jarvi.
    • Chandos.
    • 3.

  • Cecilia McDowall

    Adoro Te Devote

    Choir: Pembroke College Chapel Choir. Conductor: Anna Lapwood.
    • Adoro Te Devote & Miserere.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 1.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Piano Trio No 1 in D minor, Op 49 (4th mvt)

    Performer: Emanuel Ax. Performer: Itzhak Perlman. Performer: Yo鈥怸o Ma.
    • Mendelssohn: Piano Trios, Opp. 49 & 66: Perlman : Ma : Ax.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 4.

  • Jean鈥怋aptiste Lully

    Le bourgeois gentilhomme (Excerpt)

    Orchestra: Le Concert des Nations. Conductor: Jordi Savall.
    • ALIA VOX.

  • Leonard Bernstein

    Wonderful Town (Overture)

    Music Arranger: Charlie Harmon. Orchestra: S茫o Paulo Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Marin Alsop.
    • Bernstein: Marin Alsop's Complete Naxos Recordings.
    • Naxos.
    • 22.

  • Amy Beach

    By the still waters, Op 114

    Performer: Isata Kanneh鈥怣ason.
    • Decca.

  • B茅la Bart贸k

    Hungarian Sketches

    Orchestra: Budapest Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Iv谩n Fischer.
    • Bartok: Orchestral Works Vol.1: Budapest Festival Orchestra/Fischer.
    • Philips.
    • 3.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Dopo notte atra e funesta (Ariodante, act 3)

    Singer: Emily D鈥橝ngelo. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Conductor: Stefano Montanari.

  • Eric Coates

    By the sleepy lagoon

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • Chandos.

  • Mel Bonis

    Soir - Matin, Op. 76

    Ensemble: Trio Wanderer.
    • Art nouveau: French chamber music around 1900.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 9-10.

  • Emilie Mayer

    Symphony No. 4 in B Minor

    Conductor: Stefan Malzew. Orchestra: Neubrandenburger Philharmonie.
    • Mayer: Symphony No. 4, Piano Concerto, String Quartet & Piano Sonata.
    • CapriccioNR.
    • 1.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Brandenburg concerto no.3 in G major BWV.1048

    Orchestra: Concerto Italiano. Conductor: Rinaldo Alessandrini.
    • J. S. Bach: Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto Italiano.
    • Naive.
    • 8.

  • James McMillan

    Ave maris stella

    Choir: ORA. Conductor: Suzi Digby.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

  • King Henry VIII of England

    Tandernaken

    Ensemble: QuintEssential Sackbut and Cornett Ensemble.
    • Henry's Music - Motets from a Royal Choirbook - Songs by Henry VIII.
    • Obsidian.
    • 6.

  • Trad.

    Deep River

    Music Arranger: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Music Arranger: Kanneh-Mason Trio. Performer: Sheku Kanneh鈥怣ason. Performer: Isata Kanneh鈥怣ason. Performer: Braimah Kanneh-Mason.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..

  • Florence Price

    Placid Lake

    Performer: Kirsten Johnson.
    • Florence Price Piano Music.
    • Guild Music.
    • 32.

  • Trad.

    脝 R酶meser

    Music Arranger: Danish String Quartet. Ensemble: Danish String Quartet.
    • ECM.

  • Fr茅d茅ric Chopin

    Berceuse in D flat major, Op.57

    Performer: Maria Jo茫o Pires.
    • DG.

  • Robert Schumann

    Symphony No.1 in B flat "Spring" (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt.
    • Schumann : Symphonies 1-4 & Violin & Piano Concertos.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 4.

  • Gregorio Allegri

    Miserere mei, Deus

    Performer: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Coro.

  • Anne Dudley

    Jeeves and Wooster (Theme)

    Ensemble: Dover Street Jazzomaniacs.
    • The World of Jeeves and Wooster.
    • EMI.
    • 001.

  • Joseph Bologne

    Sinfonie Concertante, Op 6 No 2

    Performer: Midori Sugiyama. Performer: Lisa Obert. Orchestra: 麻豆社 Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Jack Sheen.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Fantasia (Capriccio) in C major

    Performer: Jean鈥怑fflam Bavouzet.
    • Haydn: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 11.
    • Chandos.
    • 7.

  • Samuel Barber

    Adagio

    Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Litton.
    • BIS.

  • 脡lisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre

    Trio sonata no. 3 in D major

    Ensemble: The Bach Players.
    • Coviello.

  • Claude Debussy

    Ballade slave

    Performer: Jean鈥怑fflam Bavouzet.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Hungarian Dance no.21 in E minor

    Orchestra: Budapest Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Iv谩n Fischer.
    • DECCA.

Broadcast

  • Wed 4 Feb 2026 09:30
    麻豆社 Radio 3