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The very best of 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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23 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Last Monday09:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Symphony no.4 in A major 'Italian' (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Bernard Haitink.
    • Phillips.

  • Francesca Caccini

    Ciaccona

    Performer: Luigi Cozzolino. Ensemble: Cappella di Santa Maria degli Angiolini. Director: Gian Luca Lastraioli.
    • Maria, dolce Maria.
    • Brilliant Classics.
    • 3.

  • Toivo Kuula

    Prelude and Fugue Op.10

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Martyn Brabbins.
    • Dutton.

  • Max Bruch

    Kol nidrei Op.47

    Performer: Tim Posner. Orchestra: Bern Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Katharina Müllner.
    • Claves.

  • Elena Kats‐Chernin

    Wild Swans - Concert Suite - 5. Magic Spell Tango

    Singer: Jane Sheldon. Orchestra: Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Ola Rudner.
    • Elena Kats-Chernin: Wild Swans.
    • Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC).
    • 5.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Concerto in A minor BWV.1044 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: English Baroque Soloists. Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
    • Bach Cantatas: Gardiner.
    • Soli Deo Gloria.
    • 18.

  • Nico Muhly

    Quiet Music

    Performer: William Howard.
    • ORCHID CLASSICS.

  • Gioachino Rossini

    The Thieving Magpie (Overture)

    Orchestra: Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna. Conductor: Michele Mariotti.
    • Rossini: Overtures.
    • PENTATONE.
    • 501.

  • Jeanne Bernard

    Trois chansons de Bilitis

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

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Serenade for Strings in E major, Op 22 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.
    • Dvorak: String Serenade in E major: English Chamber Orchestra/Mackerras.
    • EMI.
    • 1.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Symphonic Dance no. 2: Andante con moto (tempo di Valse)

    Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic. Conductor: Kirill Petrenko.
    • Rachmanonoff: Symphonic Dances.
    • Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings.
    • 102.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Clarinet Quintet in A major, K 581 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Andrew Marriner. Ensemble: Chilingirian Quartet.
    • Mozart The Collectors Edition 50 CDs The Masterpieces The Greatest Artists.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 6.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Norfolk Rhapsody No.1

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Norman Del Mar.
    • EMI.

  • Richard Wagner

    Lohengrin (Act 3 Prelude)

    Orchestra: WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne. Conductor: Semyon Bychkov.
    • PROFIL.

  • Scott Joplin

    Silver Swan Rag

    Performer: Phillip Dyson.
    • Scott Joplin – The King of Ragtime: Complete Piano Works.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 50.

  • Astor Piazzolla

    Libertango

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Swan. Conductor: David Le Page.
    • Light and Shadow.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 7.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony no.2 in D major Op.36 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: West–Eastern Divan Orchestra. Conductor: Daniel Barenboim.
    • Beethoven for all.
    • Decca.
    • 004.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto in C major for flautino and orchestra, RV.443 - 2nd movt Largo

    Performer: Justus Eichhorn. Music Arranger: Justus Eichhorn.
    • The Source.
    • Universal Music Operations Limited.
    • 2.

  • Charlotte Sohy

    Histoire sentimentale, Op.34

    Orchestra: Avignon-Provence National Orchestra. Conductor: Debora Waldman.
    • La boite a pepites.

  • Max Richter

    On the Nature of Daylight

    Orchestra: Max Richter Orchestra. Conductor: Lorenz Dangel.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Piano Concerto No.5 in F major, Op.103 ("Egyptian")

    Performer: Louis Schwizgebel. Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Martyn Brabbins.
    • Saint-Saens: Piano Concertos 2 & 5.
    • APARTE.
    • 04.

  • Henry Purcell

    Chacony in G Minor, Z. 730

    Ensemble: Les Violons du Roy. Conductor: Bernard Labadie.
    • Les Violons du Roy: Encore!.
    • Sono Luminus.
    • 1.

  • Grażyna Bacewicz

    Violin Concerto No 3 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Joanna Kurkowicz. Conductor: Łukasz Borowicz. Orchestra: Orkiestra Polskiego Radia w Krakowie.
    • Chandos.

  • Thomas Tallis

    O Salutaris hostia (Proms 2015)

    Orchestra: The Cardinall’s Musick. Director: Andrew Carwood.
    • Tallis: Ave, Rosa Sine Spinis.
    • Hyperion.
    • 1.

  • Bedrich Smetana

    Vltava (Ma Vlast)

    Orchestra: Symfonický orchestr hlavního města Prahy FOK. Conductor: Libor Pešek.
    • Dvorak: New World Symphony: Prague Symphony Orchestra/Pesek.
    • Sony.

Broadcast

  • Last Monday09:30
    BBC Radio 3