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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 a masterpiece.

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19 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Thu 17 Sep 202609:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Arthur Sullivan

    The Gondoliers (Overture)

    Orchestra: D’Oyly Carte Opera Orchestra. Conductor: John Pryce‐Jones.
    • Gilbert and Sullivan Overtures: Various performers.
    • TER.
    • 9.

  • Alexander Borodin

    Piano Trio (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Brahms Trio.
    • History of the Russian Piano Trio, Vol. 3.
    • Naxos.
    • 302.

  • Hugo Wolf

    Italian Serenade

    Orchestra: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Domenico Zipoli

    Elevazione

    Performer: Caroline Dale. Performer: John Anderson. Orchestra: London Metropolitan Orchestra.
    • Such Sweet Thunder.
    • Dharma Records.
    • 11.

  • Mel Bonis

    Femmes de légende - Desdémona

    Performer: Élisabeth Pion.
    • Femmes de légende.
    • Les Disques ATMA Inc..

  • Jean Sibelius

    Tapiola, Op. 112

    Conductor: Hannu Lintu. Orchestra: Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra.
    • Sibelius: Tapiola, En saga & Songs.
    • Ondine.
    • 101.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Nocturne in E flat major, Op 9 No 2

    Performer: Jean‐Yves Thibaudet.
    • Chopin: Preludes/Nocturnes/Waltzes: Thibaudet.
    • Dal Segno.
    • 26.

  • Olivier Messiaen

    Cinq leçons de solfège - No. 2 Tres Lent

    Ensemble: Meraki Duo.
    • Notes from the Living Room.
    • Delphian Records.
    • 9.

  • Wynton Marsalis

    Blues Symphony - V. Big City Breaks

    Orchestra: Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jader Bignamini.
    • Pentatone.

  • Ermanno Wolf‐Ferrari

    Idillo-concertino in A major, Op.15 (4th mvt)

    Performer: Andrea Tenaglia. Orchestra: Orchestra sinfonica di Roma. Conductor: Francesco La Vecchia.
    • Complete Wind Concertos.
    • Naxos.
    • 4.

  • Eleanor Daley

    Upon Your Heart

    Choir: Pembroke College Girls' Choir. Choir: Pembroke College Chapel Choir. Conductor: Anna Lapwood.
    • All Things are Quite Silent.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 13.

  • Aram Khachaturian

    Spartacus - Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia

    Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Kirill Karabits.
    • ONYX.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Rondo in G minor op 94

    Performer: Mattia Zappa. Performer: Massimiliano Mainolfi.
    • Silent Woods.
    • Universal Music Italia srL..
    • 4.

  • Jacob Gade

    Jealousy

    • Yehudi Menuhin, The Absolute Violin.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 14.

  • Gioachino Rossini

    Otello, ossia Il moro di Venezia (Assisa appie d'un salice 'Willow song')

    Singer: Joyce DiDonato. Singer: Roberta De Nicola. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Academy of Santa Cecilia, Rome. Conductor: Edoardo Müller.
    • Colbran, The Muse.
    • VIRGIN CLASSICS.
    • 12.

  • Jocelyn Pook

    The Merchant of Venice (Her Gentle Spirit)

    Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.
    • The Merchant of Venice.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 2.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony No. 36 in C major, K. 425 "Linz" - 4th mvt Presto

    Orchestra: Ensemble Resonanz. Conductor: Riccardo Minasi.
    • Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 36 \"Linz\" & 38 \"Prague\".
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 4.

  • Orlande de Lassus

    Missa pro defunctis quinque vocum, LV 963: II. Kyrie eleison

    • Roland de Lassus: Requiem.
    • Outhere Music.
    • 2.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Piano Sonata No. 30 in D major H.16.19 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Jean‐Efflam Bavouzet.
    • Haydn: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 4.
    • Chandos.
    • 8.

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Tarantelle, Op 6

    Ensemble: Nash Ensemble.
    • Saint-Saens: Chamber Music: The Nash Ensemble.
    • Hyperion.
    • 5.

  • Mieczyslaw Karlowicz

    Violin Concerto in A Major, Op. 8

    Performer: Tasmin Little. Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra.
    • Szymanowski & Karlowicz: Violin Concertos.
    • Chandos.
    • 110.

  • Georges Bizet

    L'Arlésienne Suite no.1 (Carillon)

    Orchestra: Les Musiciens du Louvre. Director: Marc Minkowski.
    • Bizet: L'arlesienne, Carmen suites: Minkowski.
    • Naive.
    • 8.

  • Roger Quilter

    Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal

    • A Most Marvellous Party: Noel Coward and Friends.
    • Signum Records.
    • 15.

  • Ethel Smyth

    Suite for Strings, Op. 1a - V. Allegro con moto

    • British Music for Strings Vol. 3.
    • CPO.
    • 5.

  • Leonard Bernstein

    America (West Side Story)

    Performer: Gwendolyn Masin. Ensemble: Melisma Saxophone Quartet.
    • Bernstein: West Side Story (Arr. H. Huizinga for Violin & Saxophone Quartet) [Li.
    • Orchid Classics.
    • 1201.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto in C major for 2 trumpets, RV.537

    Performer: Crispian Steele‐Perkins. Performer: John Thiessen. Orchestra: Tafelmusik. Conductor: Jeanne Lamon.
    • Trumpet Music: Steele-Perkins, Taflemusik, Lamon.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 9-11.

Broadcast

  • Thu 17 Sep 202609:30
    BBC Radio 3