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The best classical morning 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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23 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Last Wednesday09:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Robert Schumann

    Arabeske in C major Op.18

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough.
    • Hyperion.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Slavonic Dance in A major Op.46 no.5

    Orchestra: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Conductor: Bernard Haitink.
    • Brahms: Hungarian Dances &Dvorak: Slavonic Dances: Haitink.
    • Philips.
    • 15.

  • Dobrinka Tabakova

    Arise Lord into Thy rest

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

  • Hugo Wolf

    Italian Serenade

    Performer: Nardo Poy. Orchestra: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Gioachino Rossini

    La danza (Soirées musicales)

    Singer: Roberto Alagna. Orchestra: The London Orchestra. Conductor: Yvan Cassar.
    • Roberto Alagna: My Life is an Opera.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 6.

  • Mel Bonis

    Narcisse

    Performer: Claudine Simon.
    • Ligia.

  • Franz Schubert

    String Quintet in C Major, D. 956: (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Truls Mørk. Ensemble: Artemis Quartet.
    • Schubert: String Quintet in C Major, String Quartet No. 12 "Quartettsatz".
    • Warner Classics.
    • 4.

  • Alfredo Casella

    Symphony No 2 in C minor, Op 12 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Sun Hee You. Orchestra: Orchestra sinfonica di Roma. Conductor: Francesco La Vecchia.
    • Alfredo Casella, Symphony no. 2: Sun Hee You / Rome SO / La Vecchia.
    • Naxos.
    • 2.

  • Erik Satie

    Gnossienne no.1 in F minor

    Performer: Alexandre Tharaud.
    • Satie - Avant-Dernieres Pensees.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 1.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Johannes-Passion, BWV 245, Prima parte: No. 20, Aria. Erwäge, wie sein blutgefär

    Conductor: Raphaël Pichon. Singer: Laurence Kilsby. Ensemble: Pygmalion.
    • J.S. Bach: Johannes-Passion, BWV 245.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 20.

  • Amy Beach

    Romance Op.23

    Performer: Sterling Elliott. Performer: Richard Uttley.

  • Maurice Ravel

    Bolero

    Orchestra: Les Siècles. Conductor: François‐Xavier Roth.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

  • François Couperin

    Trio Sonata 'La Superbe'

    Performer: Amandine Beyer. Ensemble: Gli Incogniti.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

  • Benjamin Britten

    To Daffodils (5 Flower Songs)

    Choir: Polyphony. Conductor: Stephen Layton.
    • HYPERION.

  • Ethelbert Nevin

    Narcissus

    Singer: Joyce Grenfell. Singer: Norman Wisdom.
    • Up in the World, Vol. 1.
    • Top Tracks.
    • 3.

  • Konstantin Vassiliev

    Three Forest Paintings: 2. Snowdrop

    • Koyunbaba.
    • A.K. Muzik.
    • 11.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Fantasia on Greensleeves

    Orchestra: Britten Sinfonia. Conductor: Nicholas Cleobury.
    • Conifer.

  • Robert de Visée

    Suite in D minor: Courante, Sarabande, Gavotte & Mascarade-Rondeau

    Performer: Thomas Dunford. Performer: Jean Rondeau.
    • Erato.

  • Charles‐Valentin Alkan

    11 Grand Preludes and Transcription of Handel's Messiah, Op. 66: X. Scherzando

    Composer: George Frideric Handel. Performer: Joseph Nolan.
    • The Complete Alkan Organ Works: Vol. 1.
    • Signum Records.
    • 10.

  • Georges Bizet

    Carmen Suite No 2 (Danse bohème)

    Conductor: Jesús López Cobos. Orchestra: Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
    • Bizet: Carmen Suite, Symphony No. 1: Jesus Lopez-Cobos.
    • Telarc.
    • 6.

  • Domenico Scarlatti

    Sonata in B flat major, K 545

    Performer: Yevgeny Sudbin.
    • BIS.

  • John Stanley

    Suite [from 10 Voluntaries Op.6, nos.5 & 6]..., Allegro [mvt.2 from Op.6 no.5]

    Performer: Peter Hurford. Music Arranger: Peter Hurford. Ensemble: Michael Laird Brass Ensemble.
    • Trumpet Voluntary: Hurford, Brass Ensemble.
    • Argo.
    • 20.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony No 36 in C major, K 425, 'Linz'

    Orchestra: Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Michael Gielen.
    • SWR MUSIC.

  • Johann Strauss II

    Perpetuum mobile, Op 257

    Orchestra: Budapest Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Iván Fischer.
    • Johann & Josef Strauss: Polkas.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 18.

  • Elfrida Andrée

    Fritiof's Sea Journey (Fritiof Suite)

    Orchestra: Stockholm Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Gustaf Sjökvist.
    • Sterling.

  • Richard Strauss

    Wasserrose, Op.22 no.4

    Performer: Carolyn Sampson. Performer: Joseph Middleton.
    • Fleurs.
    • BIS.
    • 12.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto in A minor RV.522, Op.3`8

    Performer: Rachel Podger. Ensemble: Brecon Baroque.
    • L'Estro Armonico.
    • CHANNEL CLASSICS.
    • 4-6.

Broadcast

  • Last Wednesday09:30
    BBC Radio 3