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Refresh your morning with 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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25 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Friday09:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Richard Wagner

    Lohengrin (Act 3 Prelude)

    Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Daniel Barenboim.
    • Wagner: Overtures and Preludes: Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Barenboim.
    • Teldec.
    • 4.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Ballade No 3 in A flat major

    Performer: Seong‐Jin Cho.
    • Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1; Ballades (Deluxe).
    • DG.
    • 6.

  • John Stainer

    God so Loved the World

    Choir: Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge. Conductor: Andrew Nethsingha.
    • The Tree.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 1.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Symphony No 3 in A Minor 'Scottish' (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Gewandhaus Orchestra. Conductor: Andris Nelsons.
    • DG.

  • Henry Purcell

    Sound the trumpet (Come ye sons of art)

    Singer: Andreas Scholl. Singer: Christophe Dumaux. Orchestra: Accademia Bizantina. Conductor: Stefano Montanari.
    • Henry Purcell, O Solitude: Andreas Scholl/Accademia Bizantina.
    • Decca.
    • 2.

  • Józef Hofmann

    Kaleidoskop

    Performer: Marc‐André Hamelin.
    • Kaleidoscope – The Ultimate Virtuoso Encores for Piano.
    • Hyperion.
    • 4.

  • Dora Pejačević

    Trio in C major (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Neave Trio.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Edvard Grieg

    4 Symphonic Dances, Op 64 (No 3, Allegro giocoso)

    Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Giovanni Paisiello

    Mandolin Concerto in E Flat Major (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Avi Avital. Ensemble: Il Giardino Armonico. Conductor: Giovanni Antonini.
    • Concertos.
    • DG.
    • 12.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony no.8 in F major Op.93 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. Conductor: Riccardo Chailly.
    • Decca.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    St John Passion (conclusion)

    Ensemble: Pygmalion. Conductor: Raphaël Pichon.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

  • John Adams

    Violin Concerto (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Leila Josefowicz. Orchestra: Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: David Robertson.
    • III. Toccare.
    • Nonesuch.
    • 3.

  • Quincy Jones

    Soul Bossa Nova

    Performer: Astrig Siranossian. Performer: Nathanaël Gouin.
    • ALPHA.

  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony No 1 (1st mvt)

    Conductor: Ádám Fischer. Orchestra: Düsseldorfer Symphoniker.
    • Mahler: Symphony No. 1.
    • CAvi-music.
    • 101.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Myself I shall adore (Semele)

    Singer: Louise Alder. Orchestra: English Baroque Soloists. Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
    • Semele.
    • SDG.
    • 10.

  • Richard Wagner

    Entrance of the Gods into Valhalla (Das Rheingold)

    Orchestra: Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Gustavo Dudamel.
    • Wagner - Dudamel.
    • Gustavo Dudamel.
    • 2.

  • Sergei Rachmaninov

    Prelude in C sharp minor Op.3 no.2

    Performer: Nikolai Lugansky.
    • Rachmaninov: Preludes Moments musicaux: Nikolai Lugansky.
    • Erato.

  • Jehan Alain

    Litanies

    Performer: Marie‐Claire Alain.
    • J. Alain: Litanies: Marie-Claire Alain.
    • Erato.
    • 1.

  • Judith Weir

    Still, Glowing

    Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Dalia Stasevska.
    • Dalia's Mixtape.
    • Platoon.
    • 3.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Clarinet Trio in A Minor - version for viola, cello and piano (1st mvt)

    Performer: Tabea Zimmermann. Performer: Jean‐Guihen Queyras. Performer: Javier Perianes.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

  • Clair Omar Musser

    Etudes Op.6 (no.10 in C major)

    Performer: Evelyn Glennie. Orchestra: National Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Barry Wordsworth.
    • RCA.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Polonaise in A major, Op 40 No 1, 'Military'

    Performer: Vladimir Ashkenazy.
    • Chopin: Polonaises: Vladimir Ashkenazy.
    • Decca.
    • 3.

  • Hector Berlioz

    Les nuits d'été

    Singer: Karen Cargill. Orchestra: Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Robin Ticciati.
    • Berlioz: Les nuits d'été.
    • Linn Records.
    • 1.

  • Pablo de Sarasate

    Carmen Fantasy (5th mvt)

    Composer: Georges Bizet. Performer: Augustin Hadelich. Orchestra: WDR Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Cristian Măcelaru.
    • WARNER.

  • Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre

    Pièces de clavecin, Book 1, Suite No 1 in D Minor: Gigue

    Performer: Sarah Cahill.
    • The Future is Female, Vol. 2: The Dance.
    • First Hand Records.
    • 5.

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Symphony No 6 (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: Oslo Philharmonic. Conductor: Klaus Mäkelä.
    • Shostakovich: Symphonies 4, 5 & 6.
    • DECCA.
    • 12.

  • Sir John Goss

    O Saviour of the World

    Choir: Clare College Chapel Choir. Conductor: Timothy Brown.
    • Ave Verum - Favourite Parish Anthems.
    • Guild.
    • 18.

  • Maurice Ravel

    Alborada del gracioso (Miroirs)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Claudio Abbado.
    • DG.

Broadcast

  • Friday09:30
    BBC Radio 3