A classical soundtrack for your morning
Georgia Mann plays the best classical music for your morning, 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”.
Last on
Music Played
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George Frideric Handel
Air and variations, 'The Harmonious Blacksmith' (Suite in E major, HWV 430)
Performer: Murray Perahia.- Sony.
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Joaquín Rodrigo
Sarao (Concierto serenata)
Performer: Isabelle Moretti. Orchestra: Real Orquesta Sinfónica de Sevilla. Conductor: Edmon Colomer.- Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez; Concierto Serenata.
- Auvdis Valois.
- 8.
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Anton Stepanovich Arensky
Piano Trio no.1 in D minor Op.31 (2nd mvt)
Ensemble: Beaux Arts Trio.- Arensky: The Piano Trios.
- Philips Classics.
- 2.
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Francesco Manfredini
Concerto Grosso in C major, Op 3 No 12, 'per il santissimo natale'
Performer: Thorsten Rosenbusch. Performer: Karl-Heinz Schröter. Performer: Harald Winkler. Performer: Raphael Alpermann. Performer: Christian Trompler. Orchestra: Kammerorchester Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. Conductor: Hartmut Haenchen.- Christmas Concertos - Kammerochestrer Carl Phillip Emanuel Bach.
- Sony Classical.
- 17.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony No 41, 'Jupiter' (1st mvt)
Orchestra: Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Symphonies 38 - 41 Scottish Chamber Orchestra Sir Charle.
- Linn.
- 5.
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Kim André Arnesen
Even When He Is Silent
Choir: Kantorei. Conductor: Joel Rinsema.- Kim André Arnesen: Infinity.
- Naxos.
- 1.
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Francis Poulenc
Piano Concerto in C sharp minor (2nd mvt)
Performer: Alexandre Tharaud. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Yannick Nézet‐Séguin.- Poulenc: Piano Concerto, Organ Concerto & Stabat Mater.
- LPO.
- 2.
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Johann Adolf Hasse
Mandolin Concerto in G major, Op 3 No 11
Performer: Theodoros Kitsos. Ensemble: Armonia Atenea. Director: George Petrou.- Decca.
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Gustav Mahler
Symphony No.1 (2nd mvt)
Orchestra: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Yannick Nézet‐Séguin.- BR Klassik.
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Christopher Churcher
Echo
Singer: Steph Garrett. Conductor: Will Dawes. Ensemble: Somerville College Choir, Oxford.- Churcher: Moonrise.
- Resonus Classics.
- 12.
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Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Nonet in F minor Op.2 (3rd mvt)
Ensemble: Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective.- Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Nonet, Piano Trio, Piano Quintet.
- Chandos.
- 3.
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Johann Friedrich Fasch
Concerto in F major for Recorder, Strings and Continuo FaWV LF6 [complete]
Performer: Thomas Triesschijn. Ensemble: The Counterpoints.- Thomascantors in Dialogue.
- Challenge Classics.
- 14-16.
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Lili Boulanger
D'un matin de printemps
Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Yan Pascal Tortelier.- Boulanger: Faust Et Helene Etc. - Soloists/CBSC/BBC Phil./Tortelier.
- Chandos.
- 4.
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Leó Weiner
Romanze
Performer: Ditta Rohmann. Performer: Melinda Felletár. Orchestra: MÁV Szimfonikus zenekar. Conductor: Valéria Csányi.- Weiner: Complete Orchestral Works, Vol. 3.
- Naxos.
- 1.
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Paul Simon
The Sound Of Silence
Music Arranger: Geoff Lawson. Music Arranger: Chris Trueman. Performer: Miloš Karadaglić. Ensemble: 12 Ensemble.- The Sound of Silence.
- Decca.
- 1.
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Christopher Tin
Hope is the thing with feathers
Choir: VOCES8. Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Barnaby Smith.- Universal Music Classics.
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Johann Sebastian Bach
English Suite No. 5 in E Minor, BWV 810: IV. Sarabande
Performer: Zuzana Růžičková.- Bach: The Complete Keyboard Works.
- Warner Classics.
- 238.
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Sergey Prokofiev
Symphony no.1 in D major Op 25 'Classical' (4th mvt)
Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Kirill Karabits.- Onyx.
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George Enescu
Concertstück
Performer: Timothy Ridout. Performer: Jonathan Ware.- Alto appassionato.
- harmonia mundi.
- 7.
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Cristóbal de Morales
Missa L'homme armé a5 : II. Gloria
Conductor: Robert Hollingworth. Ensemble: De Profundis.- Morales: L'homme armé Masses & Magnificat secundi toni.
- CORO.
- 11.
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John Ireland
In a May Morning (Sarnia)
Orchestrator: Graham Parlett. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Swan. Conductor: David Curtis.- Ireland: Music for String Orchestra.
- Naxos.
- 301.
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Emmanuel Chabrier
Habanera
Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.- Chabrier: Espana: Wiener Philharmoniker, John Eliot Gardiner.
- Deutsche Grammophon.
- 5.
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Maurice Ravel
Gaspard de la nuit
Performer: Martha Argerich.- 111 Years Of Deutsche Grammophon The Collector's Edition Vol.2.
- Deutsche Grammophon.
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Leokadiya Kashperova
Symphony in B minor (2nd mvt)
Orchestra: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. Conductor: Anna Skryleva.- Kashperova: Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 2 & Symphony in B Minor, Op. 4.
- CapriccioNR.
- 105.
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Frederick Delius
Romance
Performer: Sterling Elliott. Performer: Richard Uttley.![]()
Georg Philipp Telemann
Quartet TWV 43:g1 in G minor (Paris Quartet No.4) - II. Allegro
Ensemble: Verita Baroque Ensemble.- The German Album.
- Evil Penguin.
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Jean Sibelius
Symphony No 5 in E flat major, Op 82 (1st mvt)
Orchestra: Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jukka‐Pekka Saraste.- Sibelius : Symphonies 1 & 5 - Live in St. Petersburg.
- Fazer.
Broadcast
- Monday09:30BBC Radio 3

