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A feast of great 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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18 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Fri 20 Mar 202609:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Modest Mussorgsky

    Pictures from an Exhibition (The Great Gate of Kiev)

    Orchestrator: Maurice Ravel. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jacek Kaspszyk.
    • COLLINS CLASSICS.

  • Amy Beach

    From Blackbird Hills Op.83

    Performer: Kirsten Johnson.
    • Amy Beach: Piano Music Volume 3.
    • GUILD.
    • 11.

  • Johann Friedrich Fasch

    Concerto in D major for trumpet and two oboes

    Performer: Maurice André. Performer: Pierre Pierlot. Performer: Jacques Chambon. Orchestra: Jean-François Paillard Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Jean‐François Paillard.
    • Erato.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op 92 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Le Concert des Nations. Conductor: Jordi Savall.
    • Beethoven: Symphonies 6-9.
    • Alia Vox.
    • 9.

  • Lucy Walker

    There will come soft rains

    Ensemble: St Martin's Voices. Director: Andrew Earis.
    • Lucy Walker: Choral Works.
    • Resonus Classics.
    • 11.

  • Josef Suk

    Serenade for Strings in E flat major, Op 6 (1st mvmt, Andante con moto)

    Orchestra: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
    • Kodály: Hungarian Rondo, Summer Evening; Suk: Serenade for Strings in E-Flat Maj.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 8.

  • Dani Howard

    Argentum

    Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Michael Seal.
    • Rubicon.

  • Franz Liszt

    Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C Sharp Minor

    Performer: Lang Lang. Music Arranger: Vladimir Horowitz.
    • Memory.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 1.

  • Giacomo Puccini

    Scherzo-Trio in C, SC 34a; Adagetto, SC 51

    Ensemble: Sinfonia of London. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Lili Boulanger

    Reflets / Clair de Lune Op.46/2

    Composer: Gabriel Fauré. Performer: Laura van der Heijden. Performer: Jâms Coleman.

  • Johannes Brahms

    String Sextet No. 1 in B-Flat Major, Op. 18: IV. Poco allegretto e grazioso

    Performer: Renaud Capuçon. Performer: Christoph Koncz. Performer: Gérard Caussé. Performer: Marie Chilemme. Performer: Gautier Capuçon. Performer: Clemens Hagen.
    • Brahms: String Sextets Nos. 1 & 2 (Live from Aix Easter Festival 2016).
    • Erato/Warner Classics.
    • 4.

  • Eric Whitacre

    The Seal Lullaby

    Performer: Lavinia Meijer. Choir: VOCES8.
    • Eventide.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 5.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Orchestral Suite no.3 in D major BWV.1068 (Overture)

    Ensemble: Ensemble Zefiro. Conductor: Alfredo Bernardini.
    • ARCANA.

  • Reynaldo Hahn

    Venezia: 1. Sopra l'acqua indormenzada

    Performer: Graham Johnson. Singer: Anthony Rolfe Johnson.
    • Souvenirs de Venise - Songs of Venice.
    • Helios.
    • 13.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Karelia Suite Op.11 (Intermezzo)

    Orchestra: Lahti Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Osmo Vänskä.
    • Sounds of Sibelius: Lahti Symphony Orchestra/Vanska.
    • BIS.
    • 1.

  • Benjamin Britten

    Lord Jesus, think on me (Noye's Fludde, Op 59)

    Conductor: Richard Hickox. Ensemble: Endymion.
    • Britten: Les Illuminations, Serenade, Nocturne, Noye's Fludde.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 11.

  • Joseph Haydn

    String Quartet in D major, Op.50`6 'The Frog' (1st mvt)

    Ensemble: London Haydn Quartet.
    • Hyperion.

  • Frank Churchill

    Little April Shower (From "Bambi"/Soundtrack Version)

    Composer: Larry Morey. Lyricist: Frank Churchill. Lyricist: Larry Morey. Conductor: Charles N. Henderson. Choir: Disney Studio Chorus.
    • Bambi (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack/Japan Release Version).
    • Walt Disney Records.
    • 4.

  • Charles Avison

    Concerto Grosso in C minor, Op 9 No 9

    Performer: Pavlo Beznosiuk. Ensemble: Avison Ensemble.
    • The Avison Ensemble: Avison: Concerti Grossi, op. 9 & op. 10.
    • Divine Art.
    • 33.

  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Il trovatore, Act II: Anvil Chorus

    Choir: Chorus of La Scala, Milan. Orchestra: Orchestra of La Scala, Milan. Conductor: Riccardo Chailly.
    • Verdi Choruses.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 12.

  • Luise Adolpha Le Beau

    Cello Sonata (1st mvt)

    Performer: Steven Isserlis. Performer: Connie Shih.
    • HYPERION.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony no.82 in C major H.1.82 'The Bear' (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Orchestre de chambre de Paris. Conductor: Douglas Boyd.
    • Haydn: Complete Paris Symphonies Nos. 82-87.
    • NoMadMusic.
    • 209.

  • Gerald Finzi

    Clarinet Concerto in C minor, Op 31

    Performer: Michael Collins. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra.
    • BIS.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Waltz in C sharp minor, Op.64 no.2

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough.
    • Chopin: The Complete Walzes: Stephen Hough.
    • Hyperion.
    • 7.

  • Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

    Legend (Concertstuck) Op 14

    Performer: Lorraine McAslan. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Nicholas Braithwaite.
    • Coleridge-Taylor: Violin Concertos.
    • LYRITA.
    • 1.

  • Philip Wilby

    A Breathless Alleluia

    Performer: Black Dyke Band. Performer: Philip Wilby. Conductor: Nicholas Childs.
    • A Breathless Alleluia.
    • NAXOS.
    • 1.

  • William Byrd

    Domine, secundum actum meum

    Choir: Alamire. Director: David Skinner.
    • Tallis & Byrd: Cantiones Sacrae 1575: Alamire, David Skinner.
    • Obsidian.
    • 5.

  • Percy Grainger

    Handel in the Strand

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Richard Hickox.
    • The Grainger Edition, Vol.2 - Orchestral Works.
    • Chandos.
    • 11.

Broadcast

  • Fri 20 Mar 202609:30
    BBC Radio 3