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Relax into the day with classical

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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24 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Last Tuesday09:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • George Butterworth

    The Banks of Green Willow "Idyll"

    Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Manze.
    • The Banks of Green Willow "Idyll".
    • Onyx Classics.
    • 1.

  • Alexander Borodin

    String Quartet No 2 (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Dragon Quartet.
    • Dragon Quartet: Borodin - Shostakovich - Weinberg.
    • Channel Classics Records.
    • 2.

  • William Bolcom

    3 Ghost Rags: No. 1, Graceful Ghost Rag

    Performer: Marc‐André Hamelin.
    • Bolcom: The Complete Rags.
    • Hyperion.
    • 1.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Symphony No 1 in C Minor (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Gewandhausorchester Leipzig.
    • Brahms: The Symphonies.
    • DECCA.
    • 4.

  • Matthew Locke

    The Tempest (Curtain Tune)

    Orchestra: Vox Orchester. Conductor: Lorenzo Ghirlanda.
    • Purcell & Locke: Orchestral Works.
    • Deutsche Harmonia Mundi.
    • 16.

  • Cecilia McDowall

    The Lord is good for 2 sopranos and chorus

    Singer: Susanna Fairbairn. Singer: Miranda Laurence. Choir: Sospiri Ardenti. Conductor: Christopher Watson.
    • NAXOS.

  • Edward Elgar

    The Dream of Gerontius (Prelude)

    Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Emmanuel Chabrier

    España

    Orchestra: The Philadelphia Orchestra. Conductor: Riccardo Muti.
    • EMI Classic.

  • Richard Strauss

    Wiegenlied (Lullaby)

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

  • Jean Sibelius

    Symphony No 1 (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Jukka‐Pekka Saraste.
    • Sibelius & Saraste: The 7 Symphonies.
    • Ondine.
    • 103.

  • Chiara Margarita Cozzolani

    Nisi Dominus (Vespers)

    Ensemble: I Gemelli. Conductor: Emiliano Gonzalez‐Toro.
    • NAIVE.

  • Henryk Wieniawski

    Caprice in E flat major [Alla saltarella]

    Music Arranger: Fritz Kreisler. Performer: Vilde Frang. Performer: José Gallardo.
    • Homage.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 8.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Brandenburg Concerto No 4 in G major, BWV 1049

    Orchestra: Freiburg Baroque Orchestra.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

  • David Briggs

    Toccata on Te Deum laudamus (organ improvisation)

    Performer: David Briggs.
    • David Briggs, Messe pour Notre-Dame; Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge.
    • Hyperion.
    • 15.

  • Thomas Linley (the younger)

    Arise! Ye spirits of the storm (The Tempest)

    Choir: The Parley of Instruments. Orchestra: The Parley of Instruments. Conductor: Paul Nicholson.
    • Helios.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    The Cloud Capp'd Towers (Three Shakespeare Songs)

    Choir: Tenebrae. Performer: Nigel Short.
    • Music of the Spheres.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 7.

  • Thomas Adès

    The Tempest (conclusion)

    Singer: Cyndia Sieden. Singer: Ian Bostridge. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Conductor: Thomas Adès.
    • Thomas Ades: The Tempest.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 12.

  • Benjamin Britten

    Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes, Op. 33a: No. 2, Sunday Morning

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: André Previn.
    • London Symphony Orchestra - British Composers. Holst, Elgar, Delius....
    • Warner Classics.
    • 22.

  • Pauline Viardot

    Havanaise

    Singer: Cecilia Bartoli. Performer: Jean‐Yves Thibaudet.
    • Decca.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Klavierstucke, Op 118: No 3 Ballade in G minor

    Performer: Francesco Piemontesi.
    • Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 & Six Piano Pieces Op. 118.
    • Pentatone.
    • 106.

  • Joseph Martin Kraus

    Symphony in C Minor, VB 142: III. Finale. Allegro assai

    Orchestra: The Mozartists. Conductor: Ian Page.
    • Sturm und Drang, Vol. 4.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 103.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Piano Concerto no.1 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Benjamin Grosvenor. Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Elim Chan.
    • DECCA.

  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony No.10: I. Adagio

    Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • EMI.

  • Franz Schubert

    Impromptu in A flat major, D 935 No 2

    Performer: Mitsuko Uchida.
    • Schubert: Impromptus.
    • Philips.
    • 6.

  • Charles Avison

    Concerto Grosso in E flat major Op.9'7

    Performer: Pavlo Beznosiuk. Ensemble: Avison Ensemble.
    • The Avison Ensemble: Avison: Concerti Grossi, op. 9 & op. 10.
    • Divine Art.
    • 25.

  • Gustav Holst

    Ave Maria

    Choir: Westminster Cathedral Choir. Conductor: James O’Donnell.
    • HYPERION.

  • Cécile Chaminade

    Flute Concertino

    Performer: Emmanuel Pahud. Orchestra: Paris Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: François Leleux.
    • Mozart & Flute in Paris.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 4.

Broadcast

  • Last Tuesday09:30
    BBC Radio 3