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A feast of great 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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6 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Fri 1 May 202609:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Bedrich Smetana

    The Bartered Bride (Overture)

    Orchestra: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. Conductor: Darrell Ang.
    • Naxos.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano Sonata in F minor, Op 2 No 1 (4th mvt)

    Performer: Richard Goode.
    • NONESUCH.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Fra l'ombre e gl'orrori (Aci, Galatea e Polifemo)

    Singer: Christopher Purves. Orchestra: Arcangelo. Conductor: Jonathan Cohen.
    • Hyperion.

  • Emmanuel Chabrier

    Joyeuse marche

    Orchestra: Sinfonia of London. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Trad.

    Londonderry Air / Danny Boy

    Composer: Fritz Kreisler. Performer: Nicola Benedetti. Performer: Sheku Kanneh‐Mason. Performer: Benjamin Grosvenor.
    • Beethoven: Triple Concerto, Op. 56.
    • DECCA.
    • 12.

  • William Byrd

    This Sweet and Merry Month of May

    Choir: The King’s Singers.
    • Tom & Will – Weelkes & Byrd: 400 Years.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 117.

  • Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre

    Pièces de clavecin: Suite No 2 in G Minor: Gigue

    Performer: Violetta Khachikyan.
    • Wings of Renaissance.
    • Oehms Classics.
    • 104.

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Violin Concerto No 1 in D major (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Lisa Batiashvili. Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Conductor: Yannick Nézet‐Séguin.
    • DG.

  • Henry Purcell

    Hail, bright Cecilia Z.328 (Overture)

    Orchestra: Gabrieli Players. Conductor: Paul McCreesh.
    • Archiv.

  • Igor Stravinsky

    Danse russe (3 Movements from Petrushka)

    Performer: Yuja Wang.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • John Sheppard

    Libera nos, salva nos (1st setting)

    Choir: Meridian. Conductor: Irene Messoloras.
    • SIGNUM.

  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony No 5 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Andris Nelsons.
    • DG.

  • Anton Stepanovich Arensky

    Humoresque

    Performer: Leonid Gorokhov. Performer: Colin Stone.
    • OLYMPIA.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Clarinet Concerto in A major, K 622 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Sabine Meyer. Orchestra: Staatskapelle Dresden. Conductor: Hans Vonk.
    • Mozart: Clarinet concerto K.622: Meyer/Staatskapelle Dresden/Vonk.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 3.

  • Gwenllian Llŷr

    Strawberry Moon

    Performer: Gwenllian Llŷr.
    • SAIN.

  • Leó Weiner

    Serenade for small orchestra, Op 3 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Budapest Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Georg Solti.
    • Solti - Bartók.
    • DECCA.
    • 21.

  • Herbert Murrill

    Carillon

    Performer: Simon Preston.
    • Grandes Toccatas For Organ.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 15.

  • Thomas Morley

    Now is the Month of Maying

    Choir: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford. Director: Mark Williams.
    • Opus Arte.

  • Edward Elgar

    May Song

    Conductor: Neville Marriner. Orchestra: Royal Northern Sinfonia.
    • British Composers - Elgar, Stanford & Parry.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 10.

  • James MacMillan

    Ave maris stella

    Ensemble: The Marian Consort. Conductor: Rory McCleery.
    • Music for the Queen of Heaven: Contemporary Marian Motets.
    • Delphian Records.
    • 12.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Mandolin Concerto in C major, RV.425

    Performer: Avi Avital. Orchestra: Venice Baroque Orchestra.
    • Avi Avital Vivaldi.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 7.

  • Thea Musgrave

    Song of the Enchanter

    Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jac van Steen.

  • Francisco Garro

    In principio erat verbum

    Choir: Cupertinos. Conductor: Luís Toscano.
    • Garro: Missa O quam pulchra es & Cantate Domino.
    • Hyperion.
    • 10.

  • Jean‐Philippe Rameau

    Tambourin en rondeau

    Performer: Martin Fröst. Performer: Roland Pöntinen. Performer: Sebastien Dubé. Music Arranger: Roland Pöntinen.
    • SONY.

  • Pyotr Tchaikovsky

    Symphony No 4 in F Minor (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: George Szell.
    • ELOQUENCE.

  • Franz Schubert

    Fantasy in C major, D 760, 'Wanderer'

    Performer: Maurizio Pollini.
    • DG.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    The Wasps (Overture)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: André Previn.
    • RCA.

  • Richard Strauss

    Morgen, Op.27 no.4

    Singer: Camilla Tilling. Performer: Ulf Wallin. Performer: Paul Rivinius.
    • BIS.

  • Carlos Simon

    Wake Up! Concerto for Orchestra (conclusion)

    Orchestra: National Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Gianandrea Noseda.
    • Carlos Simon: Four Symphonic Works.
    • National Symphony Orchestra.
    • 110.

  • Billy Mayerl

    Wedding of an Ant

    Performer: Susan Tomes.
    • Loose Elbows - Susan Tomes plays the piano music of Billy Mayerl.
    • Virgin Classics.
    • 12.

  • Richard Wagner

    Dawn and Siegfried's Journey (Götterdämmerung)

    Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Fritz Reiner.
    • SONY CLASSICAL.

Broadcast

  • Fri 1 May 202609:30
    BBC Radio 3