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 an orchestral masterpiece.
To listen on most smart speakers, say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Essential Classics”.
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Music Played
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George Frideric Handel
Zadok the priest HWV.258
Ensemble: Apollo’s Singers. Orchestra: Apollo’s Fire. Director: Jeannette Sorrell.- Handel: Dixit Dominus, Zadok the Priest, Ode for Queen Anne: Apollo's Fire, Sorr.
- Avie.
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Sergey Rachmaninov
10 Preludes Op.23 (no.5 in G minor)
Performer: Nikolai Lugansky.- The Rachmaninov Experience.
- Warner Classics and Jazz.
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Joseph Haydn
Symphony No 97 in C major (2nd mvt)
Orchestra: Les Musiciens du Louvre. Conductor: Marc Minkowski.- Haydn, 12 London Symphonies: Marc Minkowski, Les Musiciens du Louvre-Grenobles.
- Naive.
- 10.
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Felix Mendelssohn
Violin Concerto in E minor, Op 64 (1st mvt)
Performer: James Ehnes. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Vladimir Ashkenazy.- Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto/Octet: James Ehnes.
- Onyx.
- 1.
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James McMillan
The Gallant Weaver
Choir: Gabrieli Consort. Conductor: Paul McCreesh.- SIGNUM.
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Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
Harp sonata in G major, Wq.139 (3rd mvt)
Performer: Anaïs Gaudemard.- Anaïs Gaudemard: Solo - harmonia nova #6.
- harmonia mundi.
- 5.
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Maurice Ravel
String Quartet in F major; 2. Assez vif - tres rythme
Ensemble: Leonkoro Quartet.- Mirare.
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Jean‐Philippe Rameau
Naïs (Overture)
Orchestra: Les Talens Lyriques. Conductor: Christophe Rousset.- Rameau: Ouvertures: Les Talens Lyriques, Rousset.
- Decca.
- 5.
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Grace Williams
Sea Sketches for String Orchestra: V. Calm Sea in Summer
Conductor: John Andrews. Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.- Grace Williams: Orchestral Works.
- Resonus Classics.
- 14.
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Gabriel Fauré
Dolly - suite for piano duet, Op. 56, no. 3 Le Jardin de Dolly
Performer: Pascal Rogé. Performer: Elena Font.- DECCA.
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John Williams
Jurassic Park (main theme)
Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: John Williams.- MCA Records.
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Franz Krommer
Concerto for Two Clarinets Op. 35 (3rd mvt)
Performer: Paolo Beltramini. Performer: Corrado Giuffredi. Orchestra: Orchestra della Svizzera italiana. Conductor: Howard Griffiths.- Clarinet Concerto op.35 · Concertino op. 38.
- CPO.
- 103.
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Luise Adolpha Le Beau
Cello Sonata Op.17 (3rd mvt)
Performer: Steven Isserlis. Performer: Connie Shih.- HYPERION.
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Tarik O’Regan
Gratias tibi
Choir: Choir of Clare College, Cambridge. Director: Timothy Brown.- Tarik O'Regan - Voices.
- Collegium Records.
- 10.
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Franz Schubert
Symphony No 8 in B Minor, D 759 'Unfinished' (1st mvt)
Orchestra: Pygmalion. Conductor: Raphaël Pichon.- HARMONIA MUNDI.
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Benjamin Britten
The foggy, foggy dew (Folk Song Arrangements, Vol. 3)
Performer: Steuart Bedford. Singer: Philip Langridge.- English Song.
- Naxos.
- 1.
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Aoife Ní Bhriain
Woven
Composer: Catrin Finch. Performer: Aoife Ní Bhriain. Performer: Catrin Finch.- Double You.
- ARC Music Productions International Ltd.
- 7.
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Joseph Canteloube
Lo fiolair (Songs of the Auvergne)
Singer: Carolyn Sampson. Orchestra: Tapiola Sinfonietta. Conductor: Pascal Rophé.- Canteloube: Chants d'Auvergne.
- BIS.
- 301.
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Giuseppe Torelli
Concerto Grosso in G Minor, Op.8 No.6
Orchestra: Arte dei Suonatori. Director: Martin Gester.- BIS.
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Niccolò Paganini
Moto perpetuo in C major, Op.11
Performer: Gil Shaham. Performer: Göran Söllscher.- Paganini for Two: Gil Shaham/Goran Sollscher.
- Deutsche Grammophon.
- 22.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Piano Concerto No.18 in B flat (3rd mvt)
Performer: Jean‐Efflam Bavouzet. Orchestra: Manchester Camerata. Conductor: Gábor Takács‐Nagy.- Chandos.
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Anonymous
Por coi me bait me maris?
Ensemble: Duo Trobairitz.- The Language of Love – Troubadours & Trouvères of the 12th & 13th Centur.
- Hyperion.
- 1.
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Antonio Vivaldi
Concerto for 6 Instruments RV.569
Orchestra: Les Ambassadeurs. Conductor: Alexis Kossenko.- Vivaldi: Per l'orchestra di Dresda.
- Alpha Classics.
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Ralph Vaughan Williams
The Lark Ascending
Performer: Nigel Kennedy. Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.- Nigel Kennedy's Greatest Hits.
- EMI Classics.
- 4.
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Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Deep river (24 Folk melodies Op.59)
Performer: Isata Kanneh‐Mason.- Summertime.
- Decca.
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Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Serenade for Strings, Op 48 (Finale - Tema Russo)
Ensemble: Scottish Ensemble. Director: Jonathan Morton.- Linn.
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Alamiro Giampieri
Carnival of Venice
Performer: Michael Collins. Performer: Michael McHale.- CHANDOS.
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Johann Sebastian Bach
Brandenburg Concerto No 1 in F major, BWV 1046 (4th mvt)
Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Neville Marriner.- J.S.Bach: The Brandenburg Concertos: Marriner.
- Philips.
- 4.
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Camille Saint‐Saëns
Concerto no. 2 in G minor Op.22 for piano and orch; 3. Presto (finale)
Performer: Vadym Kholodenko. Orchestra: Norwegian Radio Orchestra. Conductor: Miguel Harth-Bedoya.- HARMONIA MUNDI.
Broadcast
- Friday09:30BBC Radio 3

