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A classical soundtrack for your morning

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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23 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Last Wednesday09:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Maria Theresia von Paradis

    Sicilienne

    Music Arranger: Chris Hazell. Performer: Sheku Kanneh‐Mason. Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Christopher Warren‐Green.
    • Decca.

  • Bernhard Crusell

    Introduction and Variations on a Swedish Song

    Performer: Martin Fröst. Orchestra: Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Roots.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 5.

  • Domenico Scarlatti

    Keyboard Sonata in F Minor, Kk. 466

    Performer: Julius Asal.
    • SCRIABIN – SCARLATTI.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 2.

  • Édouard Lalo

    Symphonie espagnole, Op. 21: V. Rondo. Allegro

    Performer: Maxim Vengerov. Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra.
    • Phénoménal Vengerov.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 5.

  • Ola Gjeilo

    Sunrise Mass: Identity

    • GIA ChoralWorks.

  • Doreen Carwithen

    Suffolk Morris: Ritmico (Suffolk Suite)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Richard Hickox.
    • Carwithen: Orchestral Music.
    • Chandos.
    • 008.

  • Josef Suk

    Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 8: II. Adagio: Religioso

    Ensemble: Nash Ensemble.
    • Helios.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Brandenburg concerto no. 6 (BWV.1051) in B flat major

    Performer: Pavlo Beznosiuk. Performer: Sarah Cunningham. Performer: Richard Campbell. Performer: Richard Tunnicliffe. Performer: William Hunt. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Director: Monica Huggett.
    • J.S. Bach: The Brandenburg Concertos; Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 7.

  • Louise Farrenc

    Impromptu in B Minor

    • Farrenc: Complete Piano Works, Vol. 5.
    • Grand Piano.
    • 115.

  • Pablo de Sarasate

    Carmen Fantasy

    Composer: Georges Bizet. Performer: Augustin Hadelich. Orchestra: WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne. Conductor: Cristian Măcelaru.
    • WARNER.

  • Richard Strauss

    Horn Concerto No 1 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: David Pyatt. Orchestra: Britten Sinfonia. Conductor: Nicholas Cleobury.
    • Richard Strauss: Horn Concertos.
    • EMI Eminence.
    • 3.

  • Pyotr Tchaikovsky

    Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 74, 'Pathetique': IV. Adagio lamentoso

    Conductor: Domingo Hindoyan. Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Tchaikovsky: Souvenir de Florence & Symphony No. 6 ‘Pathetique’.
    • Onyx Classics.
    • 8.

  • Enrique Granados

    El fandango de candil (Goyescas)

    Performer: Garrick Ohlsson.
    • Granados: Goyescas: Ohlsson.
    • Hyperion.

  • Anon.

    Missa Luba An African Mass: 4. Sanctus

    Performer: Peter Kamau. Performer: Thomas Ogutu. Performer: Nancy Kamau. Performer: Paul Kanyanja. Performer: Peter Kiarie. Choir: Muungano National Choir, Kenya. Director: Boniface Mganga.
    • DECCA.

  • Bernard Herrmann

    North by Northwest (main title)

    Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Bernard Herrmann.
    • DECCA.

  • Franz Schubert

    An Sylvia, D 891

    Performer: Gerald Moore. Singer: Dietrich Fischer‐Dieskau.
    • DG.

  • Johann Strauss II

    Die Fledermaus (Ouverture)

    Conductor: Daniel Barenboim. Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic.
    • Neujahrskonzert 2022 / New Year's Concert 2022 / Concert du Nouvel An 2022.
    • Sony Music Entertainment UK Ltd.
    • 07.

  • Arcangelo Corelli

    Violin Sonata in B flat major, Op 5 No 2

    Performer: Elizabeth Wallfisch. Performer: Richard Tunnicliffe. Performer: Paul Nicholson. Ensemble: Locatelli Trio.
    • Corelli: Violin Sonatas: The Locatelli Trio.
    • Hyperion.
    • 6.

  • Moritz Moszkowski

    Symphony in D Minor: II. Vivo

    • Moritz Moszkowski: Orchestral Music, Vol. 4.
    • Toccata Classics.
    • 2.

  • Claude Debussy

    Reverie for piano

    Performer: Jean‐Efflam Bavouzet.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Étienne Méhul

    Symphony No.1 in G minor : I Allegro

    Conductor: Marc Minkowski. Orchestra: Les Musiciens du Louvre.
    • Méhul : Symphonies Nos 1 & 2 - Apex.
    • Warner Classics International.
    • 1.

  • Fritz Kreisler

    Schön Rosmarin - Old Viennese Dance no.3

    Orchestrator: Clark McAlister. Performer: Gil Shaham. Orchestra: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Naoko Tanaka.
    • Romances: Gil Shaham/Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 2.

  • Fanny Mendelssohn

    Piano Quartet in A flat major (1st mvt: Allegro moderato)

    Ensemble: Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective.
    • Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn: Piano Sextet; Piano Quartet; Piano Trio.
    • Chandos.
    • 9.

  • Claudio Monteverdi

    Laetatus sum

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

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    5 Variants of 'Dives and Lazarus'

    Orchestra: Hallé. Conductor: Sir Mark Elder.
    • HALLE.

Broadcast

  • Last Wednesday09:30
    BBC Radio 3