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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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21 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Tue 28 Apr 2026 09:30
麻豆社 Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Johannes Brahms

    Hungarian Dance no.1 in G minor

    Music Arranger: Miska Borz贸. Performer: Andreas Ottensamer. Performer: Leonidas Kavakos. Performer: Christoph Koncz. Performer: Antoine Tamestit. Performer: Oszk谩r 脰kr枚s. Performer: Stephan Koncz. Performer: 脰d枚n R谩cz.
    • DG.

  • Kod谩ly Zolt谩n

    Prelude (Hary Janos Suite Op.35a)

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

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cantata BWV.169 'Gott soll allein mein Herze haben' (Sinfonia)

    Ensemble: Arcangelo. Director: Jonathan Cohen.
    • Hyperion.

  • Pauline Viardot

    Sonatina for violin and piano (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Anna Agafia Egholm. Performer: Frank Braley.
    • Compositrices: New Light on French Romantic Women Composers.
    • Bru Zane.
    • 3.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    5 Mystical Songs: III 鈥� Love bade me welcome

    Singer: Roderick Williams. Ensemble: Sacconi Quartet.
    • ALBION.

  • Manuel de Falla

    Ritual Fire Dance (El amor brujo)

    Orchestra: Sim贸n Bol铆var Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Eduardo Mata.
    • Music of Manuel De Falla: Simon Bolivar Symophony Orchestra, Mata, Senn.
    • Dorian.
    • 1.

  • Richard Rodgers

    South Pacific: Bali Ha'i

    Composer: Oscar Hammerstein II. Singer: Muriel Smith. Conductor: Alfred Newman.
    • South Pacific Soundtrack.
    • Soundtrack Classics.
    • 8.

  • Fr茅d茅ric Chopin

    Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 21: II. Larghetto

    Performer: Elisabeth Leonskaja. Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Vladimir Ashkenazy.
    • Chopin: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2.
    • Warner Classics International.
    • 5.

  • Camille Saint鈥怱a毛ns

    Piano Trio No 2 in E minor, Op 92

    Performer: Bertrand Chamayou. Performer: Renaud Capu莽on. Performer: Edgar Moreau.
    • ERATO.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Giulio Cesare: Va tacito (go silently)

    Singer: Barnaby Smith. Ensemble: The Illyria Consort.
    • Voces8 Records.

  • Henryk Miko艂aj G贸recki

    Miserere, Op. 44: Miserere Nobis-Lento, Tranquillissimo

    Choir: Meridian. Conductor: Irene Messoloras.
    • Signum.

  • Dobrinka Tabakova

    The Quest: II. Horizons

    Performer: Ksenija Sidorova. Conductor: Normunds 艩n膿. Orchestra: Sinfonietta R墨ga.
    • ALPHA.

  • Franz Schubert

    Piano Sonata in A minor, D 784

    Performer: Eric Lu.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony No.41 in C major "Jupiter" (4th mvt)

    Ensemble: Ensemble Resonanz. Conductor: Riccardo Minasi.
    • Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 39, 40 & 41 "Jupiter".
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 204.

  • Erich Wolfgang Korngold

    Symphonic Serenade, Op. 39: II. Intermezzo

    Orchestra: Sinfonia of London. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • Metamorphosen.
    • Chandos.
    • 302.

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Piano Sonata no.6 in A Major (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Steven Osborne.
    • Prokofiev: Piano Sonatas Nos. 6, 7 & 8.
    • Hyperion.

  • Henri Duparc

    L'invitation au voyage

    Performer: Susan Manoff. Lyricist: Charles Baudelaire. Singer: V茅ronique Gens.
    • 狈茅猫谤别.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 15.

  • Adolphe Adam

    Giselle Act II: Finale

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Anatole Fistoulari.
    • Giselle.
    • Unchained Melod铆e.
    • 23.

  • Eric Coates

    By the Sleepy Lagoon

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough.
    • Stephen Hough's Dream Album: Piano Bonbons.
    • Hyperion.
    • 18.

  • Hector Berlioz

    Symphonie fantastique (March to the Scaffold)

    Ensemble: Les Si猫cles. Director: Fran莽ois鈥怷avier Roth.
    • Symphonie Fantastique.
    • Musicales Actes Sud.
    • 4.

  • Cristoforo Caresana

    La Tarantella

    Music Arranger: Christina Pluhar. Singer: C茅line Scheen. Singer: Luciana Mancini. Singer: Valer Barna-Sabadus. Singer: Vincenzo Capezzuto. Singer: Zachary Wilder. Singer: Jo茫o Fernandes. Ensemble: L鈥橝rpeggiata. Conductor: Christina Pluhar.
    • Alla Napoletana - Caresana / Arr. Pluhar: La Tarantella.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 1.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Symphony No. 5 in D Major: II. Scherzo. Presto misterioso

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano.
    • Vaughan Williams: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 9.
    • LSO Live.
    • 102.

  • Nadia Boulanger

    3 Pieces for Cello and Piano: No. 1, Moderato

    Performer: Richard Harwood. Performer: Alexandra Dariescu.
    • A Child鈥檚 Dream.
    • Signum Records.
    • 6.

  • Johann Strauss II

    An der sch枚nen, blauen Donau, Op 314

    Choir: Vienna State Opera Choir. Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Willi Boskovsky.
    • Strauss: The Blue Danube.
    • Decca.
    • 1.

  • Maurice Durufl茅

    3 Dances Op.6 : I Divertissement

    Performer: Marie鈥怌laire Alain. Orchestra: Bamberg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jean鈥怞acques Kantorow.
    • Poulenc, Alain & Durufl茅 : Organ Works.
    • Warner Classics International.
    • 5.

  • Maurice Durufl茅

    3 Dances Op.6: II Danse lente

    Performer: Marie鈥怌laire Alain. Orchestra: Bamberg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jean鈥怞acques Kantorow.
    • Poulenc, Alain & Durufl茅 : Organ Works.
    • Warner Classics International.
    • 6.

  • Maurice Durufl茅

    3 Dances Op.6 : III Tambourin

    Performer: Marie鈥怌laire Alain. Orchestra: Bamberg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jean鈥怞acques Kantorow.
    • Poulenc, Alain & Durufl茅 : Organ Works.
    • Warner Classics International.
    • 7.

  • Carl Nielsen

    Serenata in vano

    Ensemble: Athena Ensemble.
    • Nielsen: Wind Music.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 4.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    10 Preludes, Op. 23: No. 2 in B-Flat Major. Maestoso

    Ensemble: Boris Giltburg.
    • Rachmaninoff: 24 Pr茅ludes.
    • Naxos.
    • 3.

  • Augusta Holm猫s

    Ne nous oubliez pas

    Lyricist: Augusta Holm猫s. Singer: Cyrille Dubois. Orchestra: Brussels Philharmonic. Conductor: Pierre Dumoussaud.
    • So Po茅tique !.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 12.

  • Fr茅d茅ric Duvernoy

    Trio for Horn, violin and piano no. 2 in F major: III - Adagio-allegro

    Performer: Felix Klieser. Performer: Andrej Bielow. Performer: Herbert Schuch.
    • Berlin Classics.

  • Karl Jenkins

    Adiemus

    Singer: Miriam Stockley. Singer: Mary Carewe. Performer: Pamela Thorby. Performer: Mike Ratledge. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Karl Jenkins.
    • Songs Of Sanctuary.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 101.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Finlandia, Op 26

    Choir: The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. Orchestra: Philadelphia Orchestra. Conductor: Eugene Ormandy.
    • RCA RED SEAL.

Broadcast

  • Tue 28 Apr 2026 09:30
    麻豆社 Radio 3