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The ideal mix of 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.

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29 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Today09:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Vladimir Valivov

    Ave Maria

    Composer: Giulio Caccini. Music Arranger: Maria Leszczynska-Thieu. Ensemble: SCS Cello Ensemble. Conductor: Jacob Shaw.
    • The Road to Vienna.
    • Evidence Classics.
    • 1.

  • Frank Bridge

    Seascape (The Sea)

    Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Richard Hickox.
    • Chandos.

  • William Grant Still

    Lyric Quartet (The Jovial One)

    Ensemble: Catalyst Quartet.
    • Uncovered, Vol 3.
    • Azica.
    • 6.

  • Arthur Sullivan

    The sun, whose rays are all ablaze (The Mikado)

    Singer: Lesley Garrett. Orchestra: English National Opera Orchestra. Conductor: Peter Robinson.
    • The Mikado (Highlights).
    • That's Entertainment.
    • 13.

  • Joaquín Rodrigo

    Concierto de Aranjuez (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Miloš Karadaglić. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Yannick Nézet‐Séguin.
    • Milos Aranjuez.
    • DG.
    • 2.

  • John Barry

    Capsule in Space (from You Only Live Twice)

    Orchestra: John Barry. Conductor: John Barry.
    • Columbia.

  • Joaquín Turina

    Piano Trio No 1 in D minor, Op 35 (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Nash Ensemble.
    • Turina Chamber Music The Nash Ensemble.
    • Hyperion.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Organ Concerto in B flat major, Op.4`2

    Performer: Bob van Asperen. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.
    • Virgin.

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    The wedding of Kije; Troika (Lieutenant Kije Suite)

    Orchestra: Los Angeles Philharmonic. Conductor: André Previn.
    • TELARC.

  • Gabriel Fauré

    Barcarolle No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 26

    Performer: Pascal Rogé.
    • Fauré: Barcarolles; Dolly Suite.
    • Decca.
    • 1.

  • Grace Williams

    Roundelay (The Dancers)

    Singer: Eiddwen Harrhy. Choir: The Richard Hickox Singers. Orchestra: City of London Sinfonia. Conductor: Richard Hickox.
    • Grace Williams: The Dancers etc.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 3.

  • John Philip Sousa

    The Liberty bell - march

    Ensemble: The Band of the Coldstream Guards. Conductor: Major Roger G. Swift.
    • DENON.

  • Claude Debussy

    String Quartet in G minor, Op.10 (1st mvt)

    Ensemble: Belcea Quartet.
    • String Quartets: Belcea Quartet.
    • EMI Classics.

  • Dmitri Kabalevsky

    Colas Breugnon Op.24 (Overture)

    Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Director: Vasily Petrenko.
    • Khachaturian, Mussorgsky, Shchedrin etc..
    • Onyx.
    • 01.

  • Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni

    Double Oboe Concerto in F major, Op 9 No 3

    Performer: Frank de Bruine. Performer: Alfredo Bernadini. Orchestra: Academy of Ancient Music. Conductor: Christopher Hogwood.
    • Decca.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Mazurka in C sharp minor, Op 63 No 3

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough.
    • Chopin: Late Masterpieces, Stephen Hough.
    • Hyperion.
    • 4.

  • Richard Strauss

    Also Sprach Zarathustra Op.30 (Introduction)

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andris Nelsons.
    • Orfeo.

  • Leoš Janáček

    Moon Waltz (The Excursions of Mr Broucek - Suite)

    Music Arranger: Jaroslav Smolka. Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Ilan Volkov.
    • Janacek: The Eternal Gospel; The Excursions of Mr Broucek.
    • Hyperion.
    • 8.

  • Hans Zimmer

    Interstellar (2014) "Cornfield Chase"

    Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.
    • Interstellar (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) [Expanded Edition].
    • WaterTower Music.
    • 2.

  • Charles Wood

    O thou the central orb

    Performer: Robert Quinney. Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • A New Heaven, The Sixteen.
    • UCJ.
    • 2.

  • Stanley Myers

    Cavatina (The Deer Hunter)

    Performer: John Williams.
    • Sony.

  • Alexander Glazunov

    Concert waltz no.1 in D major Op.47

    Orchestra: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. Conductor: Kazuki Yamada.
    • PENTATONE.

  • Elena Kats‐Chernin

    One Table, One Chair

    Performer: Tamara Anna Cislowska.
    • ABC CLASSICS.

  • Taylor Scott Davis

    i carry your heart with me

    Choir: VOCES8 Foundation Choir. Orchestra: VOCES8 Foundation Orchestra. Conductor: Barnaby Smith. Ensemble: VOCES8.
    • i carry your heart.
    • Decca.
    • 1.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Symphony no. 7 (Op.70) in D minor, 3rd movement; Scherzo

    Conductor: Edward Gardner. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Edward Gardner conducts Dvořák & Schumann.
    • London Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • 103.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Piano Concerto no.21 in C Major K.467 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Jean‐Efflam Bavouzet. Orchestra: Manchester Camerata. Conductor: Gábor Takács‐Nagy.
    • Mozart: Piano Concertos, Vol. 4.
    • Chandos.
    • 101.

  • 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.

  • Robert Ramsey

    Sleep fleshly birth

    Ensemble: Gallicantus. Conductor: Gabriel Crouch.
    • Dialogues of Sorrow: Passions on the Death of Prince Henry, 1612.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 1201.

  • Margaret Bonds

    Troubled Water

    Performer: Martin James Bartlett.
    • Till I Wake.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 2.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony No 31 in D major 'Hornsignal'; 1st mvt

    Ensemble: Academy of Ancient Music. Conductor: Christopher Hogwood.
    • Haydn: Symphonies Vol.4.
    • Decca.

  • Carl Davis

    Pride and Prejudice: Main Title

    Performer: Melvyn Tan. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: Carl Davis.
    • Pride and Prejudice.
    • EMI.
    • 1.

Broadcast

  • Today09:30
    BBC Radio 3