Main content

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.

To listen on most smart speakers say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Essential Classics”

1 day left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Tue 3 Mar 202609:30
BBC Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

A classical soundtrack for your morning

Next

Relax into the day with classical

See all episodes from Essential Classics

Music Played

  • Joseph Haydn

    Cello Concerto no. 2 in D major H.7b.2 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Natalie Clein. Orchestra: recreation – Grosses Orchester Graz. Conductor: Michael Hofstetter.
    • Haydn: Cello Concertos Nos. 1-2 & Symphony No. 13 in D Major, Hob. I:13 (Live).
    • Oehms Classics.
    • 3.

  • Claude Debussy

    De l'aube à midi sur la mer (La Mer)

    Performer: Alexander Melnikov. Performer: Olga Pashchenko.
    • Debussy: Préludes du 2e Livre, La Mer.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 113.

  • Jean Cras

    Quintette: I. Assez anime

    Ensemble: Linos Ensemble.
    • French Music for Flute, Harp And String Trio.
    • SWR Classic.
    • 1.

  • Max Bruch

    Violin Concerto no.1 in G minor, Op.26 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Jack Liebeck. Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Martyn Brabbins.
    • Hyperion.

  • Gustav Holst

    Dance of Spirits of Fire (The Perfect Fool)

    Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Richard Hickox.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Claudio Monteverdi

    Madrigals, Book 8: Lamento della ninfa - IV. Amor

    Singer: Núria Rial. Singer: Cyril Auvity. Singer: Jan Van Elsacker. Singer: Nicolas Achten. Ensemble: L’Arpeggiata. Director: Christina Pluhar.
    • ERATO.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Concerto in A minor BWV.1044 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: English Baroque Soloists. Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
    • Bach Cantatas: Gardiner.
    • Soli Deo Gloria.
    • 18.

  • William Grant Still

    American Suite: I. Indian Love Song

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Avlana Eisenberg.
    • Still: Orchestral Works.
    • Naxos.
    • 501.

  • Anton Stepanovich Arensky

    Piano Trio No.1 in D minor, Op.32: I. Allegro moderato

    Ensemble: The Rembrandt Trio.
    • SONO LUMINUS.

  • Peter Philips

    Galiarda Dolorosa

    Performer: Pierre Gallon.
    • After Dark: A Midnight Fantasia.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 3.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Triple Concerto in C Major, Op. 56 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Nicola Benedetti. Performer: Sheku Kanneh‐Mason. Performer: Benjamin Grosvenor. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Santtu-Matias Rouvali.
    • Beethoven: Triple Concerto, Op. 56.
    • DECCA.
    • 3.

  • Gioachino Rossini

    The Silken Ladder (Overture)

    Orchestra: Budapest Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Iván Fischer.
    • Rossini: Instrumental Music: Budapest Festival Orchestra/Fischer.
    • Channel Classics.

  • Leó Weiner

    Romanze

    Performer: Ditta Rohmann. Performer: Melinda Felletár. Orchestra: MÁV Szimfonikus zenekar. Conductor: Valéria Csányi.
    • Weiner: Complete Orchestral Works, Vol. 3.
    • Naxos.
    • 1.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Serenade No.1 in D, Op.11 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Conductor: Bernard Haitink.
    • Brahms: Serenades Op. 11 & Op. 16.
    • Philips.
    • 1.

  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Rigoletto: Act 2 - Cortigiani, vil razza dannata

    Lyricist: Francesco Maria Piave. Lyricist: Victor Hugo. Singer: Vladimir Chernov. Orchestra: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Conductor: James Levine.
    • Verdi: Rigoletto.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).

  • Richard Wagner

    Magic Fire Music (Die Walküre)

    Singer: Tomasz Konieczny. Orchestra: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. Conductor: Marek Janowski.
    • Wagner: Die Walkure.
    • Pentatone Classics.

  • Igor Stravinsky

    The Firebird, K10, 1945 Suite: X. Finale

    Conductor: Riccardo Chailly. Orchestra: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.
    • 50 Reasons To Love Classical (Digital Only).
    • Universal Music Group International.
    • 16.

  • César Franck

    Violin sonata in A major (4th mvt)

    Performer: Renaud Capuçon. Performer: Martha Argerich.
    • Beethoven, Schumann, Franck.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 10.

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Symphony No 5 in E Minor (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Kirill Petrenko.
    • Beethoven · Tchaikovsky · Schmidt · Stephan.
    • Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • 2.

  • Elsa Barraine

    Les tziganes

    Orchestra: Orchestre national de France. Conductor: Cristian Măcelaru.
    • Barraine: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2 "Voïna", Song-Koï & Les Tziganes.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 15.

  • Edvard Grieg

    Klokkeklang [Bell-ringing] (Lyric Pieces Bk.5)

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough.
    • Hyperion.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Symphony No 3 in A minor, Op 56, 'Scottish' (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
    • Mendelssohn: Symphony no.3 & The Hebrides Overture/Schumann; Piano Concerto.
    • LSO LIVE.
    • 6.

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Concerto No.2 in F major, Op.102 for piano and orchestra

    Performer: Yuja Wang. Orchestra: Boston Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andris Nelsons.

  • Modest Mussorgsky

    Khovanshchina (Prelude [Dawn over the Moscow River])

    Orchestra: Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. Conductor: Andris Nelsons.
    • Accentus Music.

  • Benjamin Britten

    Playful Pizzicato (Simple Symphony)

    Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Benjamin Britten.
    • Britten: The Young Person's Guide etc: LSO/ECO/Britten.
    • Decca.

  • Jonathan Dove

    Into thy hands

    Choir: Gabrieli Consort. Conductor: Paul McCreesh.
    • SIGNUM.

  • Eric Coates

    Covent Garden (London (London every day) suite)

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Performer: Rumon Gamba.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Sergei Rachmaninov

    Lilacs Op.21`5

    Performer: Sergei Babayan.
    • DG.

  • Gustav Mahler

    Blumine (Symphony No 1 in D major)

    Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vladimir Jurowski.
    • LPO.

Broadcast

  • Tue 3 Mar 202609:30
    BBC Radio 3