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The ideal mix 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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24 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Thursday09:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Franz Lehár

    Gold and Silver Waltz

    Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Barry Wordsworth.
    • Here Come the Classics, Vol. 12: The Glory of Vienna.
    • RPO.
    • 11.

  • Jean‐Baptiste Lully

    Amadis (Chaconne)

    Orchestra: Capriccio Stravagante. Director: Skip Sempé.
    • Deutsche Harmonia Mundi.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Nocturne in D flat major, Op 27 No 2

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough.
    • In the Night.
    • Hyperion.
    • 6.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Trumpet Concerto in E flat major, H.7e.1 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Alison Balsom. Orchestra: The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen.
    • Haydn, Hummel etc: Trumpet Concertos: Alison Balsom.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 4.

  • Bohuslav Martinů

    Charleston (Kitchen review - suire)

    Orchestra: Holst-Sinfonietta. Conductor: Klaus Simon.
    • Martinu: Revue de cuisine etc: Holst Sinfonietta/Simon.
    • Naxos.
    • 18.

  • Francesca Caccini

    Dov'io credea le mie speranze vere

    Performer: Sylvain Bergeron. Singer: Shannon Mercer.
    • Francesca Caccini: O Viva Rosa.
    • Analekta.
    • 10.

  • Wilhelm Stenhammar

    Symphony no.2 in G minor Op.34 (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: Antwerp Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Christian Lindberg.
    • Stenhammar: Symphony No. 2; Ett Drompsel.
    • BIS.
    • 3.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Carnival Overture, Op 92

    Orchestra: Philharmonia. Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis.
    • Sony.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    St John Passion, BWV 245:No. 32, Aria & Choral. Mein teurer Heiland

    Singer: Christian Immler. Ensemble: Pygmalion. Conductor: Raphaël Pichon.
    • J.S. Bach: Johannes-Passion, BWV 245.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 212.

  • Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

    Scheherazade, Op 35 (The Sea and Sinbad's Ship)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.
    • Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade, Capricco Espagnol: Mackerras.
    • Telarc.
    • 1.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    String Quartet no.23 in F Major K.590 'Prussian' (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Doric String Quartet.
    • Mozart: String Quartets, Vol. 1 – The Prussian Quartets.
    • Chandos.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Symphony No 4 in E minor, Op 98 (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Daniel Barenboim.
    • Daniel Barenboim - Brahms.
    • Teldec.
    • 7.

  • Teresa Carreño

    Ballade, Op 15

    Performer: Clara Rodriguez.
    • Teresa Carreno: Clara Rodriguez.
    • Nimbus.
    • 3.

  • Vincent Youmans

    Tahiti Trot (Tea for Two)

    Composer: Dmitry Shostakovich. Orchestra: The Philadelphia Orchestra. Conductor: Mariss Jansons.
    • Shostakovich: Symphony No 11 etc..
    • Warner Classics.
    • 109.

  • James Davies

    Sosban Fach (Little Saucepan)

    Singer: Bryn Terfel. Choir: The Black Mountain Male Chorus. Choir: Risca Male Choir. Orchestra: Welsh National Opera Orchestra. Conductor: Gareth Jones.
    • Bryn Terfel - We'll Keep A Welcome.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 8.

  • Darius Milhaud

    Tango des Fratellini (Le Bœuf sur le Toit)

    Performer: Alexandre Tharaud.
    • Le Boeuf sur le toit.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 119.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    March Past of the Kitchen Utensils (The Wasps)

    Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: James Judd.
    • Vaughan Williams: Piano Concerto.
    • Naxos.
    • 3.

  • Claude Debussy

    Jeux de vagues (La mer)

    Music Arranger: Sally Beamish. Ensemble: Trio Apaches.
    • The Seafarer.
    • Orchid Classics.
    • 2.

  • Marianna Martines

    Harpsichord Concerto in E major (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Nicoleta Paraschivescu. Ensemble: La Floridiana.
    • deutsche harmonia mundi.

  • Peteris Vasks

    The Fruit of Silence (Arr. for Accordion, Vibraphone and String Orchestra)

    Performer: Ksenija Sidorova. Music Arranger: George Morton. Orchestra: Estonian Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Paavo Järvi.
    • Prophecy.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 6.

  • Giovanni Gabrieli

    Canzon noni toni à 12

    Ensemble: His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts.
    • HYPERION.

  • Gabriel Fauré

    Après un rêve Op.7`1

    Performer: Janine Jansen. Performer: Itamar Golan.
    • Beau Soir: Janine Jansen/Itamar Golan.
    • Decca.
    • 10.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Symphony No 5 in D major, Op 107, 'Reformation'

    Orchestra: Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. Conductor: Kurt Masur.
    • Mendelssohn: Symphonies 1 & 5: Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Masur.
    • Teldec.

  • Percy Grainger

    Molly on the Shore

    Performer: A4 Brass Quartet.
    • Mosaic.
    • SOMM Recordings.
    • 8.

  • Augusta Holmès

    Andromeda

    Orchestra: Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland‐Pfalz. Conductor: Michael Francis.
    • Augusta Holmès: Symphonic Poems.
    • CPO.
    • 401.

  • Carl Maria von Weber

    Invitation to the dance - rondo brillant

    Orchestrator: Hector Berlioz. Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Neville Marriner.
    • With Love from Vienna.
    • Philips.
    • 3.

Broadcast

  • Thursday09:30
    BBC Radio 3