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A classical soundtrack for your morning

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 a masterpiece.

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20 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Fri 18 Sep 202609:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Hubert Parry

    I Was Glad

    Choir: St Paul's Cathedral Choir. Performer: Andrew Lucas. Director: John Scott.
    • HYPERION.

  • Muzio Clementi

    Sonatina in G Major, Op 36 No 5 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Howard Shelley.
    • Clementi: Complete Piano Sonatas, Vol. 5.
    • Hyperion.

  • Michael Tippett

    Concerto for Double String Orchestra (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis.
    • Tippett: Concerto for Double String Orchestra, Fantasia Concertante & Ritual Dan.
    • Warner Classics International.
    • 1.

  • Jean‐Philippe Rameau

    Achante et Céphise: Ouverture

    Orchestra: Les Ambassadeurs ~ La Grande Écurie. Conductor: Alexis Kossenko.
    • Rameau: Achante et Céphise.
    • ERATO.
    • 1.

  • Pyotr Tchaikovsky

    Violin Concerto (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: The Philadelphia Orchestra. Conductor: Eugene Ormandy.
    • Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35 - Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 3.

  • Richard Rodney Bennett

    Waltz Theme (Murder on the Orient Express)

    Orchestra: Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. Conductor: John Mauceri.
    • PHILIPS.

  • George Walker

    Trombone Concerto (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Christian Lindberg. Orchestra: Malmö SymfoniOrkester. Conductor: James DePreist.
    • BIS.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Piano Concerto No 22 in E flat (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Marie-Ange Nguci. Orchestra: Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg. Conductor: Howard Griffiths.
    • ALPHA.

  • Giuseppe Verdi

    The Force of Destiny (Overture)

    Orchestra: La Scala Philharmonic. Conductor: Riccardo Chailly.
    • Decca.

  • William Grant Still

    Three Songs: Song for the Lonely

    Ensemble: Meraki Duo.
    • Tadić: Four Macedonian Pieces for Alto Flute and Guitar: No. 4, Gajdarsko oro (B.
    • DELPHIAN.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Concerto grosso in D major Op.3`6

    Ensemble: Academy for Ancient Music Berlin. Performer: Clemens Flick.
    • Handel: Concerti grossi, Op. 3.
    • PENTATONE.
    • 22-23.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Prelude in B flat major, Op.23 No.2

    Performer: Tom Borrow.

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Symphony no.1 in D major 'Classical'

    Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Conductor: Claudio Abbado.
    • DG.

  • Thomas Tallis

    Why fum'th in fight (Archbishop Parker's Psalter)

    Ensemble: Tallis Scholars. Director: Peter Phillips.
    • GIMELL.

  • Joseph Jongen

    Symphonie Concertante (4th mvt Toccata)

    Performer: Christian Schmitt. Orchestra: German Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Martin Haselböck.
    • CPO.

  • Christopher Gunning

    Agatha Christie's Poirot - Theme

    Ensemble: London Music Works.
    • SILVA SCREEN.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano Sonata No 17 in D Minor 'Tempest' (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Igor Levit.
    • Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 6.

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Danse macabre, Op. 40

    Orchestra: Sinfonia of London. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • French Orchestral Favourites.
    • Chandos.
    • 105.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony no. 40 in G minor K.550 (1st mvt)

    Ensemble: Ensemble Resonanz. Conductor: Riccardo Minasi.
    • Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 39, 40 & 41 "Jupiter".
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 105.

  • Ilse Weber

    Wiegala

    Performer: David Kadouch. Singer: Sandrine Piau.
    • ALPHA.

  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony No 2 'Resurrection' (conclusion)

    Performer: Lee Venora. Performer: Jennie Tourel. Ensemble: MasterVoices. Orchestra: New York Philharmonic. Conductor: Leonard Bernstein.

  • Maurice Ravel

    Concerto for piano and orchestra in G major, 2nd mvt; Adagio assai

    Performer: Krystian Zimerman. Orchestra: The Cleveland Orchestra. Conductor: Pierre Boulez.
    • Ravel: Piano Concertos; Valses nobles et sentimentales.
    • DG.
    • 2.

  • Franz Schubert

    Arpeggione Sonata in A minor, D.821

    Performer: Jean‐Guihen Queyras. Performer: Alexandre Tharaud.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

  • Jerome Moross

    The Big Country (main theme)

    Orchestra: The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Nic Raine.
    • The Big Country.
    • Silva Screen Records.
    • 1.

  • Heinrich Biber

    Violin Sonata No 3 in F major (4th mvt)

    Performer: Louise Ayrton. Performer: Sergio Bucheli. Performer: Lucie Chabard.
    • CHATEAU DE VERSAILLES SPECTACLES.

  • Hélène de Montgeroult

    Piano Etude No. 65 in E-Flat Minor

    Performer: Clare Hammond.
    • Helene de Montgeroult: Etudes.
    • BIS.
    • 15.

  • Giacomo Puccini

    La Boheme (Act I conclusion)

    Singer: Mirella Freni. Singer: Luciano Pavarotti. Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic. Conductor: Herbert von Karajan.
    • DECCA.

Broadcast

  • Fri 18 Sep 202609:30
    BBC Radio 3