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Great classical music 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 an orchestral masterpiece.

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7 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Tue 5 May 202609:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony no.7 in A major Op.92 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt.
    • Teldec.

  • Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

    Regina caeli laetare à 8

    Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Coro.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Serenade in B flat major K.361; 1st movement; Largo - allegro molto

    Ensemble: Ensemble intercontemporain. Conductor: Pierre Boulez.
    • Decca.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Carnival Overture, Op 92

    Orchestra: Philharmonia. Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis.
    • Sony.

  • Florence Price

    Elfentanz

    Performer: Elena Urioste. Performer: Tom Poster.
    • From Brighton to Brooklyn.
    • Chandos.
    • 7.

  • William Byrd

    Bow thine ear O Lord

    Music Arranger: Nico Muhly. Orchestra: Aurora Orchestra. Conductor: Nicholas Collon.
    • Decca.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Furchte dich nicht, ich bin bei dir BWV 228

    Choir: VOCES8. Orchestra: The Senesino Players. Director: Barnaby Smith.
    • Bach Motets.
    • Signum Records.
    • 2.

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Samson et Dalila - opera in 3 acts: Act 3 sc.2; Bacchanale

    Orchestra: Utah Symphony. Conductor: Thierry Fischer.
    • Saint-Saens: Symphony No. 3 "Organ" and Other Works.
    • HYPERION.
    • 4.

  • Sharon Farber

    Echoes of Eternity (Love)

    Performer: Andreas Graf. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Ben Palmer.
    • Hope: 12 prayers for Cello & Orchesta.
    • Claves Records.
    • 4.

  • Hector Berlioz

    March to the Scaffold, from Symphonie fantastique

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Anja Bihlmaier.

  • Zoltán Kodály

    Dances of Marosszek

    Orchestra: Budapest Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Iván Fischer.
    • HUNGAROTON.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Vocalise

    Performer: Alban Gerhardt. Performer: Markus Becker.
    • Hyperion.

  • Johann Christian Bach

    Symphony no. 4 for wind instruments in B flat major T.285/3`4

    Ensemble: Consortium Classicum.
    • J.C. Bach: Wind Symphonies: Consortium Classicum.
    • MDG.
    • 11-13.

  • Franz Liszt

    2 Konzertetüden, S. 145: No. 2, Gnomenreigen

    • Liszt: Paganini Études (Original 1838 Version).
    • Dynamic.
    • 302.

  • Pyotr Tchaikovsky

    The Nutcracker Suite (Miniature Overture)

    Orchestra: Philadelphia Orchestra. Conductor: Eugene Ormandy.
    • Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker Suite; Eugene Ormandy, The Philadelphia Orchestra.
    • RCA.
    • 34.

  • David Popper

    Dance of the Elves

    Performer: Steven Isserlis. Performer: Thomas Adès.
    • RCA.

  • Frederick Delius

    On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring

    Orchestra: Manchester Camerata. Conductor: John Rutter.
    • Classical Tranquillity.
    • Collegium.
    • 3.

  • Barbara Strozzi

    Canto di bella bocca

    Ensemble: Orlando di Lasso Ensemble.
    • Thorofon.

  • Gabriel Fauré

    3 Songs, Op.18'1 - Nell (arr. viola and piano)

    Performer: Timothy Ridout. Performer: Jonathan Ware.
    • Alto appassionato.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 9.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony No 63 in C major (La Roxolana): 1st mvt

    Performer: Il Giardino Armonico. Conductor: Giovanni Antonini.
    • Haydn 2032 Volume 8: La Roxolana.
    • Alpha.
    • 1.

  • Giovanni Gabrieli

    Canzon duodecimi toni à 10, C.179

    Ensemble: Empire Brass Quintet and friends. Conductor: Rolf Smedvig.
    • Gabrieli: Empire brass quintet/Smedvig.
    • TELARC.
    • 001.

  • Claude Debussy

    Clair de lune (Suite bergamasque)

    Performer: Pascal Rogé.
    • Fur Elise, Piano Music by Beethoven, Chopin, etc.: Ashkenezy etc..
    • Decca.
    • 12.

  • Richard Strauss

    Horn Concerto No. 2 in E flat major

    Performer: Jörg Brückner. Orchestra: Munich Philharmonic. Conductor: Semyon Bychkov.
    • Richard Strauss: Horn Concerto No. 2.
    • MUNCHNER PHILHARMONIKER GBR.
    • 101.

  • George Enescu

    Cantabile and Presto

    Performer: Sharon Bezaly. Performer: Roland Pöntinen.
    • Café au lait: Music for Flute and Piano.
    • Bis.
    • 4-5.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Where e'er you walk (Semele)

    Singer: Mark Padmore. Orchestra: The English Concert. Conductor: Andrew Manze.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

  • Ester Mägi

    Bukoolika

    Orchestra: Estonian National Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Arvo Volmer.
    • Magi: Orchestral Music.
    • Toccata Classics.
    • 5.

  • William Lawes

    Royall Consort Suite no.1 in D minor (Aire; Alman; Corant)

    Ensemble: Phantasm.
    • William Lawes: The Royal Consort.
    • LINN.
    • 1.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Piano Concerto No 1 in E minor, Op 11 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Nikolai Lugansky. Orchestra: Sinfonia Varsovia. Conductor: Alexander Vedernikov.
    • Chopin.
    • Naive.
    • 5.

Broadcast

  • Tue 5 May 202609:30
    BBC Radio 3