Main content

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 BBC Sounds to play Essential Classics”.

16 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Wed 18 Mar 202609:30
BBC Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

The very best of classical music

Next

Celebrating classical greats

See all episodes from Essential Classics

Music Played

  • Edward Elgar

    La capricieuse, Op.17

    Orchestrator: Søren Barfoed. Performer: Sol Gabetta. Orchestra: Danish National Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Mario Venzago.
    • Elgar: Cello Concerto: Sol Gambetta.
    • RCA.
    • 7.

  • Domenico Scarlatti

    Keyboard Sonata in B Minor, Kk. 87

    Performer: Julius Asal.
    • SCRIABIN – SCARLATTI.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 20.

  • Elfrida Andrée

    String Quartet in D minor (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: The Stockholm Quartet.
    • Caprice.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Giulio Cesare in Egitto - opera: Act 1; Va tacito (Go silently)

    Singer: Jennifer Larmore. Ensemble: Concerto Köln. Conductor: René Jacobs.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Alzira (Overture)

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Herbert von Karajan.
    • Verdi: Overtures and Preludes: Berliner Philharmoniker, Karajan.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 6.

  • Danit

    Guacamayo

    Performer: Misha Mullov-Abbado. Performer: Paul Clarvis. Performer: Nick Barbachano. Performer: Rainer Scheurenbrand. Singer: Danit.

  • Franz Schubert

    Rondo in A major, D.951

    Performer: Paul Lewis. Performer: Steven Osborne.
    • Franz Schubert Piano Duets; Steven Osborne / Paul Lewis.
    • Hyperion.
    • 4.

  • Arthur Bliss

    In green pastures (Meditations on a theme by John Blow)

    Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: David Lloyd‐Jones.
    • Bliss: Meditations on a Theme by John Blow.
    • Naxos.
    • 6.

  • Bob Marley

    Redemption Song

    Performer: Sheku Kanneh‐Mason. Performer: Isata Kanneh‐Mason. Performer: Aminata Kanneh‐Mason. Performer: Mariatu Kanneh‐Mason. Performer: Jeneba Kanneh‐Mason. Performer: Braimah Kanneh-Mason. Performer: Konya Kanneh‐Mason.
    • Carnival.
    • DECCA.
    • 45.

  • Gabriel Fauré

    Berceuse (Dolly Suite, Op.56)

    Performer: Katia Labèque. Performer: Marielle Labèque.
    • Bizet, Ravel, Faure: Katia & Marielle Labeque.
    • Philips.
    • 13.

  • Giacomo Puccini

    Manon Lescaut, SC 64: Intermezzo to Act III

    Conductor: John Wilson. Orchestra: Sinfonia of London.
    • Puccini: Orchestral Music.
    • Chandos.
    • 8.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Andante in F major, WoO 57, 'Andante favori'

    Performer: Gianluca Cascioli.
    • Beethoven: Variations: Gianluca Cascioli.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 5.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Exsultate, jubilate K.165

    Singer: Carolyn Sampson. Orchestra: Bach Collegium Japan. Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki.
    • Mozart: Great Mass in C Minor & Exsultate, Jubilate.
    • BIS.
    • 14-17.

  • Anton Webern

    Langsamer Satz

    Ensemble: Belcea Quartet.
    • ALPHA.

  • Traditional Paraguayan

    Pajaro Campana (The Bell Bird)

    Performer: Martín Portillo.
    • Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto for flute and orchestra (RV.428) (Op.10`3) in D major "Il Gardellino [The Goldfinch]": 1st movement; Allegro

    Performer: Lisa Beznosiuk. Orchestra: The English Concert. Director: Trevor Pinnock.
    • Vivaldi: 6 Flute Concertos Op.10: Beznosiuk, The English Concert, Pinnock.
    • Archiv Produktion.
    • 10.

  • Duke Ellington

    Sunset and the Mocking Bird (The Queen's Suite)

    Ensemble: Duke Ellington Orchestra.
    • Duke Ellington: The Ellington Suites.
    • PABLO.
    • 001.

  • Niccolò Paganini

    Caprice in A minor, Op 1 No 24

    Performer: Julia Fischer.
    • DECCA.

  • Luciano Berio

    Ritirata notturna di Madrid [after Boccherini]

    Composer: Luigi Boccherini. Orchestra: Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi. Conductor: Riccardo Chailly.
    • Berio: Orchestral transcriptions: Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Guiseppe Verdi.
    • Decca.
    • 3.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Concert rondo in A major K.386

    Performer: Jean‐Efflam Bavouzet. Orchestra: Manchester Camerata. Conductor: Gábor Takács‐Nagy.
    • Mozart: Piano Concertos, Vol. 12.
    • Chandos Records Ltd.
    • 2.

  • Hubert Parry

    I was glad

    Choir: The Sixteen. Performer: Robert Quinney. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • A New Heaven, The Sixteen.
    • UCJ.
    • 1.

  • Josef Suk

    Prague

    Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jiří Bělohlávek.
    • Suk: Prague/A Summer's Tale.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 6.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Song to the Moon (Rusalka)

    Singer: Kate Royal. Orchestra: English National Opera Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
    • Kate Royal: Midsummer Night.
    • EMI.
    • 5.

  • Louise Farrenc

    Trio in E minor Op.45 (4th mvt)

    Ensemble: Streicher Trio.
    • Music & Arts.

  • Cécile Chaminade

    Concertino for flute and orchestra

    Performer: Emmanuel Pahud. Orchestra: Paris Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: François Leleux.
    • Mozart & Flute in Paris.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 4.

  • Edvard Grieg

    Valse-Impromptu Op.47

    Performer: Tom Borrow.

  • Manuel de Falla

    Farruca (The Three-Cornered Hat Suite No 2)

    Performer: Miloš Karadaglić. Music Arranger: Michael Lewin.
    • Milos - Aranjuez.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 5.

Broadcast

  • Wed 18 Mar 202609:30
    BBC Radio 3