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Relax into the day with classical

Ian Skelly plays the best in classical music, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites.

Ian Skelly 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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25 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Friday09:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Hugo Alfvén

    Shepherd Girl's Dance (The Mountain King)

    Orchestra: Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Esa‐Pekka Salonen.
    • Sibelius: Finlandia; Valse Triste; Grieg: Sigurd Jorsalfar; Salonen.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 6.

  • Luise Adolpha Le Beau

    Cello Sonata Op.17 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Steven Isserlis. Performer: Connie Shih.
    • HYPERION.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Schaffe in mir, Gott, ein rein Herz, Op. 29, No. 2

    Choir: Windsbacher Boys Choir. Conductor: Martin Lehmann.
    • Water & Spirit.
    • Sony Classical/Sony Music.
    • 6.

  • John Field

    Nocturne no.18 in E major 'Le Midi'

    Performer: Finghin Collins.
    • The bright day is done.
    • Claves Records.
    • 5.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony no.8 in F major, Op.93 (4th movement)

    Orchestra: Malmö SymfoniOrkester. Conductor: Robert Treviño.
    • Ondine.

  • Ruaidri Dáll Ó Catháin

    Tabhair dom do Lámh

    Performer: Jess Gillam. Performer: Max Baillie. Performer: Alistair Vennart. Performer: Hadewych van Gent. Performer: Sam Becker. Performer: Leif Kaner‐Lidström. Music Arranger: Sam Becker.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..

  • Robert Schumann

    Adagio and Allegro, Op. 70 (orch. E. Ansermet)

    Performer: Markus Maskuniitty. Orchestra: Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Sakari Oramo.
    • Schumann, Saint-Saëns & Glière: Works for Horn & Orchestra.
    • Ondine.

  • Monsieur de Sainte-Colombe (le fils)

    Pieces in D Minor: Sarabande - Double

    Ensemble: La Rêveuse.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Dopo notte (Ariodante)

    Singer: Magdalena Kožená. Orchestra: Venice Baroque Orchestra. Conductor: Andrea Marcon.
    • ARCHIV.

  • Louise Farrenc

    Nocturne in E-Flat Major, Op. 49

    Performer: Maria Stratigou.
    • Farrenc: Complete Piano Works, Vol. 5.
    • Grand Piano.
    • 106.

  • Marie Jaëll

    Cello Concerto in F major

    Performer: Xavier Phillips. Orchestra: Brussels Philharmonic. Director: Hervé Niquet.
    • Ediciones Singulares ES1022.
    • Ediciones Singulares.
    • 07.

  • Gerald Finzi

    Eclogue in F major Op.10

    Performer: Tom Poster. Orchestra: Aurora Orchestra. Conductor: Nicholas Collon.
    • Introit: The Music of Gerald Finzi.
    • Decca.
    • 17.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    String Quintet in C major, K.515 (4th mvt)

    Performer: Adrien La Marca. Ensemble: Van Kuijk Quartet.
    • ALPHA.

  • Herbert Hughes

    She moved thro' the fair

    Singer: Ailish Tynan. Performer: Iain Burnside.
    • A Purse of Gold - Irish Songs by Herbert Hughes.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 15.

  • Peter Maxwell Davies

    Farewell to Stromness

    Ensemble: The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet.
    • LAGQ.
    • Sony.
    • 16.

  • Turlough O'Carolan

    Carolan's Concerto

    Performer: Daniel Hope.
    • DG.

  • Gabriel Fauré

    Aurore, Op. 39 No. 1

    Performer: Geoffrey Parsons. Singer: Janet Baker.
    • Fauré: La chanson d'Ève & Other Songs (Hyperion French Song Edition).
    • Hyperion.
    • 11.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Octet in E flat major Op.20 (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Nash Ensemble.
    • Beethoven/Mendelssohn: Nash Ensemble.
    • Wigmore Hall Live.
    • 6.

  • Elena Roussanova

    Mujer Fatal

    Performer: Sir Antonio Pappano. Singer: Aigul Akhmetshina.
    • Roussanova: Mujer Fatal.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 1.

  • Edward Elgar

    Symphony no.1 in A flat major Op.55 (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Staatskapelle Berlin. Conductor: Daniel Barenboim.
    • Decca.

  • Johann Friedrich Fasch

    Overture in G minor (Minuet)

    Performer: Paul Goodwin. Performer: Lorraine Wood. Performer: Sophia McKenna. Performer: Alberto Grazzi. Ensemble: The English Concert. Conductor: Trevor Pinnock.
    • Fasch: Concertos/Orchestral suite: The English Concert/Pinnock.
    • Archiv Produktion.

  • Hector Berlioz

    Le Corsaire

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Colin Davis.
    • Berlioz: Overtures: London Symphony Orchestra/Davis.
    • Philips.
    • 5.

  • Richard Strauss

    Oboe Concerto in D Major, TrV 292

    Performer: Alexei Ogrintchouk. Orchestra: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Conductor: Andris Nelsons.
    • R. Strauss: Oboe Concerto, Serenade & Sonatina No. 2.
    • BIS.

  • Edvard Grieg

    Lyric Pieces, Book VI, Op. 57: No. 3, Illusion

    • Grieg: Lyric Pieces, Vol. 2.
    • Chandos.
    • 113.

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Tahiti Trot (Tea for Two)

    Orchestra: Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Litton.
    • Shostakovich: Jazz & Variety Suites.
    • BIS.
    • 501.

  • Orlando Gibbons

    O Lord, in thy wrath rebuke me not

    Ensemble: The Gesualdo Six. Director: Owain Park.
    • English Motets: From Dunstaple to Gibbons.
    • Hyperion.
    • 13.

  • Joseph Haydn

    String Quartet in D major Op.20`4 (4th mvt)

    Ensemble: Hagen Quartett.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Arturo Márquez

    Danzón no.2

    Orchestra: Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Gustavo Dudamel.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

Broadcast

  • Friday09:30
    BBC Radio 3