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Celebrating classical greats

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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6 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Thu 30 Apr 202609:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Prelude and Fugue in C minor BWV.847 (Well-tempered Clavier, Bk 1)

    Performer: Víkingur Ólafsson.
    • DG.

  • Maurice Ravel

    Rapsodie espagnole: Feria

    Orchestra: Orchestre national de France. Conductor: Cristian Măcelaru.
    • NAIVE.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Violin Concerto in D major, Op 77 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Itzhak Perlman. Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic. Conductor: Daniel Barenboim.
    • Brahms: Violin Concerto: Perlman/Barenboim.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 2.

  • Derek Bourgeois

    Serenade Op.22

    Ensemble: Grimethorpe Colliery Band. Conductor: Frank Renton.
    • Classic Brass.
    • Parlophone UK.
    • 4.

  • Frederick Delius

    The Walk to the Paradise Garden (A Village Romeo and Juliet)

    Music Arranger: Thomas Beecham. Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Neville Marriner.
    • LONDON.

  • Madeleine Dring

    Festival Scherzo

    Performer: Martin Roscoe. Ensemble: Guildhall String Ensemble. Conductor: Robert Salter.
    • HYPERION.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Symphony No 1 in E minor, Op 39 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Storgårds.
    • Sibelius: Complete Symphonies/Three Late Fragments.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 1.

  • John Williams

    Hedwig's Theme (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone)

    Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic. Conductor: John Williams.
    • DG.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Oboe Quartet in F major, K 370 (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: The Gaudier Ensemble.
    • Mozart: Quintet for Piano and Wind, Horn Quintet, Oboe Quartet: The Gaudier Ense.
    • Hyperion.

  • Vytautas Miškinis

    Angelis suis deus

    Choir: Meridian. Director: Irene Messoloras.
    • Finding Light.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 102.

  • Isaac Albéniz

    El Puerto (Iberia Book 1)

    Performer: Lang Lang.
    • Lang Lang - Live in Vienna.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 2.

  • Fanny Mendelssohn

    String Quartet in E flat major (1st mvt)

    Ensemble: Consone Quartet.

  • George Gershwin

    Rhapsody in Blue

    Performer: Peter Donohoe. Orchestrator: Ferde Grofé. Orchestra: London Sinfonietta. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • EMI.

  • Joseph Canteloube

    La delaissado (Chants d'Auvergne)

    Singer: Renée Fleming. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Sebastian Lang-Lessing.
    • Guilty Pleasures.
    • DECCA.
    • 10.

  • Anthony Holborne

    The Fairie-Round Galliard

    Ensemble: Fretwork.
    • Music for Viols.
    • Virgin.
    • 14.

  • Germaine Tailleferre

    Valse des dépêches (Les Maries de la tour Eiffel)

    Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Geoffrey Simon.
    • Chandos.

  • William Walton

    Johannesburg Festival Overture

    Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Charles Groves.
    • EMI.

  • Benjamin Britten

    The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra (Fugue)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: André Previn.
    • Das Orchester for Kids. Prokofiev: Peter und der Wolf - Britten: Orchesterführer.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 160.

  • Vivien Ellis

    Coronation Scot (Paul Temple)

    Orchestra: The New London Orchestra. Conductor: Ronald Corp.
    • British Light Music Classics: The New London Orchestra/Ronald Corp.
    • Hyperion.

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Le rouet d'Omphale

    Performer: Maya Iwabuchi. Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.
    • Saint-Saens: Neeme Jarvi conducts.
    • Chandos.
    • 2.

  • Evan Call

    Frieren: Beyond Journey's End: Season 2 (Original Soundtrack): The Journey Continues

    Performer: Evan Call.
    • Frieren: Beyond Journey's End: Season 2 (Original Soundtrack).
    • Milan Records.
    • 1.

  • Evan Call

    Frieren: Beyond Journey's End: Season 2 (Original Soundtrack): The Winding Road

    Performer: Evan Call.
    • Frieren: Beyond Journey's End: Season 2 (Original Soundtrack).
    • Milan Records.
    • 3.

  • Evan Call

    Frieren: Beyond Journey's End: Season 2 (Original Soundtrack): The Golden Land

    • Frieren: Beyond Journey's End: Season 2 (Original Soundtrack).
    • Milan Records.
    • 22.

  • Thomas Tallis

    Spem in alium

    Ensemble: Taverner Consort. Choir: Taverner Choir. Conductor: Andrew Parrott.
    • VIRGIN CLASSICS.

  • Alexander Glazunov

    Piano Concerto No 2 in B major, Op 100

    Performer: Stephen Coombs. Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Martyn Brabbins.
    • Hyperion.

  • Patrick Hawes

    Fair Albion

    Orchestra: Prague Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Patrick Hawes.
    • Fair Albion: Visions Of England.
    • Signum Records.
    • 4.

  • Scott Joplin

    The Entertainer

    Performer: Joshua Rifkin.
    • Scott Joplin:Piano Rags.
    • Elektra Nonesuch.
    • 2.

  • Franz Schubert

    Heidenröslein, D 257

    Singer: Matthias Goerne. Performer: Eric Schneider.
    • Wanderers Nachtlied.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 3.

  • Edward Elgar

    Cockaigne (In London Town), Op. 40

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

Broadcast

  • Thu 30 Apr 202609:30
    BBC Radio 3