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Relax into the day with classical

Georgia Mann plays the best in classical music for your morning, 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 Tuesday09:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Gioachino Rossini

    The Barber of Seville (Overture)

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Academy of Santa Cecilia, Rome. Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano.
    • Rossini: opera arie e sinfonie.
    • Naive.
    • 3.

  • Franz Liszt

    Grand galop chromatique

    Performer: Leslie Howard.
    • Liszt: Dances and Marches.
    • Hyperion.
    • 4.

  • George Fenton

    Seal Ballet / Arrival of the Humpbacks (Frozen Planet)

    Conductor: George Fenton. Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra.
    • Frozen Planet (Soundtrack from the TV Series).
    • Silva Screen Records Ltd.
    • 16.

  • Charles Avison

    Concerto Grosso in C major, Op 10 No 4 (5th mvt)

    Performer: Pavlo Beznosiuk. Ensemble: Avison Ensemble.
    • The Avison Ensemble: Avison: Concerti Grossi, op. 9 & op. 10.
    • Divine Art.
    • 28.

  • Claude Debussy

    Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune

    Orchestra: Orchestre de Paris – Philharmonie. Conductor: Klaus Mäkelä.
    • Stravinsky: Petrushka; Debussy: Jeux, Prélude.
    • Decca.
    • 17.

  • Paul Schoenfield

    Vaudeville: A Concerto for Piccolo Trumpet - 2. Bear dance

    Performer: Wolfgang Basch. Orchestra: New World Symphony. Conductor: John Nelson.
    • Schoenfield: 4 Parables; Vaudeville; Klezmer Rondos.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 6.

  • William Walton

    Set me as a seal upon thine heart

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

  • Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre

    Violin Sonata no.2 in D major

    Performer: Riccardo Minasi. Ensemble: Bizzarrie Armoniche.
    • NAÏVE.

  • John Williams

    Jurassic Park (main theme)

    Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: John Williams.
    • MCA Records.

  • Florence Price

    Violin Concerto no.1 in D Major (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Randall Goosby. Orchestra: The Philadelphia Orchestra. Conductor: Yannick Nézet‐Séguin.
    • Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1; Florence Price: Violin Concertos.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..

  • Alberto Ginastera

    Milonga (2 Songs)

    Performer: Daniil Trifonov.
    • Mi Historia Americana: Sur.
    • DG.

  • Edward Elgar

    Serenade for String Orchestra

    Director: Daniel Hope. Orchestra: Zürcher Kammerorchester.
    • Tchaikovsky / Elgar / Mozart: Serenades.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).

  • Franz Schubert

    Erlkönig, D328

    Performer: Malcolm Martineau. Librettist: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Singer: Bryn Terfel.
    • DG.

  • Aaron Copland

    Buckaroo Holiday (Rodeo - 4 dance episodes)

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • Chandos.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Clarinet Sonata in E flat major Op.120`2 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Michael Collins. Performer: Michael McHale.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Leroy Anderson

    Summer Skies

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Leonard Slatkin.
    • Anderson, L.: Orchestral Music, Vol. 4 - Irish Suite / Scottish Suite / Alma Mat.
    • Naxos.
    • 1.

  • Edward Elgar

    The Tame Bear and The Wild Bears (The Wand of Youth Suite No 2)

    Orchestra: Welsh National Opera Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.
    • Argo.

  • Béla Bartók

    10. Bear Dance (10 Easy Pieces)

    • Zoltán Kocsis plays Bartók.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..

  • Terry Gilkyson

    The Bare Necessities (The Jungle Book)

    Singer: Phil Harris. Singer: Bruce Reitherman.
    • Walt Disney Records.

  • Giovanni Lorenzo Gregori

    Concerto Grosso in A major Op.2`10

    Orchestra: Capriccio Barockorchester. Conductor: Alphons von Aarburg.
    • Pergolesi: Stabat Mater.
    • Tudor.
    • 14.

  • Richard Addinsell

    Warsaw Concerto

    Performer: Valentina Lisitsa. Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
    • Love Story - Piano Themes from Cinema's Golden Age.
    • Decca.
    • 001.

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Symphony No.6: 3rd mvt

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Louise Farrenc

    Piano Quintet in A minor Op.30 (4th mvt)

    Ensemble: The Schubert Ensemble.
    • ASV.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony No 40 in G minor, K 550 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Manchester Camerata. Conductor: Douglas Boyd.
    • Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 40 & 41: Manchester Camerata, Douglas Boyd.
    • Avie.
    • 1.

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Cello Concerto No 1

    Performer: Bruno Philippe. Orchestra: Frankfurt Radio Symphony. Conductor: Christoph Eschenbach.
    • Saint-Saëns: Cello Concerto No. 1 - Franck, Fauré & Poulenc.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 6.

  • George Lloyd

    HMS Trinidad March

    Performer: Black Dyke Band. Performer: George Lloyd. Performer: David King. Conductor: David King.
    • English Heritage.
    • Albany Records.
    • 006.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Symphony No 2 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Oslo Philharmonic. Conductor: Klaus Mäkelä.
    • Sibelius: Complete Symphonies.
    • Decca.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano Sonata in F major, Op 10 No 2 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: John Lill.
    • Beethoven: The Piano Sonatas Vol. 3.
    • ASV.
    • 6.

  • George Fenton

    Opening Titles (Frozen Planet)

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: George Fenton.
    • Frozen Planet (Soundtrack from the TV Series).
    • Silva Screen Records Ltd.
    • 1.

  • George Fenton

    Telle Bridge (Cry Freedom)

    Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: George Fenton.
    • Cry Freedom.
    • Geffen.
    • 16.

  • George Fenton

    Coral Wonder (Blue Planet)

    Choir: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford. Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: George Fenton.
    • The Blue Planet (Original Television Soundtrack).
    • Silva Screen Records Ltd.
    • 15.

  • Eric Whitacre

    The Seal Lullaby

    Performer: Lavinia Meijer. Choir: VOCES8.
    • Eventide.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 5.

Broadcast

  • Last Tuesday09:30
    BBC Radio 3