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The very best of classical music

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.

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26 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Tuesday09:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Tarantelle Op.6

    Performer: Clara Novakova. Performer: Richard Vieille. Orchestra: Ensemble orchestral de Paris. Conductor: Jean‐Jacques Kantorow.
    • Saint-Saens: La Muse et le Poete etc: Kantorow.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 3.

  • Jean‐Philippe Rameau

    Chaconne (Dardanus - suite)

    Ensemble: Les Musiciens du Louvre. Conductor: Marc Minkowski.
    • ARCHIV.

  • Bedrich Smetana

    Sarka (Má vlast)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Colin Davis.
    • LSO LIVE.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No 8 in F major, Op 93 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century. Conductor: Frans Brüggen.
    • Philips.

  • Dobrinka Tabakova

    Spinning a Yarn

    Performer: Roman Mints.
    • Quartz.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Concerto Grosso in A Minor, Op. 6 No. 4, HWV 322

    Ensemble: London Early Opera. Conductor: Bridget Cunningham.
    • SIGNUM.

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Piano Concerto no.2 in F major Op.102 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Boris Giltburg. Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vasily Petrenko.
    • Shostakovich: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 and String Quartet No. 8.
    • Naxos.
    • 7.

  • Christopher Churcher

    O nata lux

    Singer: Daniel Marles. Ensemble: Somerville College Choir, Oxford. Conductor: Will Dawes.
    • Churcher: Moonrise.
    • Resonus Classics.
    • 11.

  • Niccolò Paganini

    Variations on one string on a theme by Rossini

    Music Arranger: Pierre Fournier. Performer: Gautier Capuçon. Performer: Jérôme Ducros.
    • Intuition.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 109.

  • Aaron Copland

    El salon Mexico

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • Chandos.

  • Scott Joplin

    Solace - A Mexican serenade

    Music Arranger: Jacqueline Thomas. Ensemble: Brodsky Quartet.
    • Golden Oldies - More Favourite Encores.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 15.

  • Carl Maria von Weber

    Oberon (Overture)

    Orchestra: Tapiola Sinfonietta. Conductor: Jean‐Jacques Kantorow.
    • Weber: Overtures: Tapiola Sinfonietta, Kantorow.
    • BIS.

  • Sir James MacMillan

    The Gallant Weaver

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

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Partita No 3 in E, BWV 1006: Gavotte en Rondeau

    Music Arranger: Tobie Miller.
    • BACH: Solo.
    • Raumklang.
    • 3.

  • Franz Schubert

    Der Leiermann (Winterreise)

    Performer: Graham Johnson. Singer: Matthias Goerne.
    • HYPERION.

  • Pyotr Tchaikovsky

    The Nutcracker (Suite) Op. 71a: VIII. Waltz of the Flowers

    Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Santtu‐Matias Rouvali.
    • Santtu Conducts The Nutcracker Suite.
    • Philharmonia Records Ltd.
    • 108.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Cello Sonata No. 1 in F Major, Op. 5, No. 1: II. Rondo. Allegro vivace

    Performer: Paul Watkins. Performer: Alessio Bax.
    • Beethoven: The Sonatas for Piano and Cello.
    • Signum Records.
    • 3.

  • Einojuhani Rautavaara

    Adagio celeste

    Orchestra: Belgian National Orchestra. Conductor: Mikko Franck.
    • Einojuhani Rautavaara 90th Anniversary Edition.
    • Ondine.
    • 1001.

  • Robert Schumann

    Arabeske in C major, Op 18

    Performer: Sir András Schiff.
    • Schumann - Papillons/Arabeske/Humoreske.
    • Dal Segno.
    • 2.

  • Alice Mary Smith

    Symphony in A minor

    Orchestra: London Mozart Players. Conductor: Howard Shelley.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Édouard Lalo

    Symphonie espagnole, Op 21 (5th mvt)

    Performer: Jean‐Jacques Kantorow. Orchestra: Orquesta Ciudad de Granada. Conductor: Kees Bakels.
    • Lalo: Symphonie Espagnole: Granada City Orchestra, Kees Bakels.
    • BIS.
    • 11.

  • Claudio Monteverdi

    Dixit Dominus

    Choir: I Fagiolini. Ensemble: The English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble. Choir: The 24. Director: Robert Hollingworth.
    • Decca : 00289 483 1654.
    • Decca.
    • 3.

  • William Walton

    'Spitfire' prelude and fugue for orchestra - concert version

    Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Neville Marriner.
    • Walton: Sir William Walton's film music Vol.2: Academy of St. Martin in the Fiel.
    • Chandos.
    • 1-2.

Broadcast

  • Tuesday09:30
    BBC Radio 3