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The ideal mix of classical music

Hannah French plays the best in classical music, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites.

Hannah French 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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11 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Fri 19 Jun 202609:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • George Gershwin

    Girl Crazy (Overture)

    Orchestra: Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas.
    • Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue & Popular Orchestral Works.
    • Sony Classical.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Violin concerto No 3 in G major, K 216 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Ning Feng. Orchestra: Potsdam Chamber Academy.
    • CHANNEL.

  • Domenico Scarlatti

    Keyboard Sonata in A major, K 212

    Performer: Murray Perahia.
    • Sony Classical.

  • Edward Elgar

    Introduction & Allegro

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

  • Thomas Tomkins

    Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom

    Choir: Tallis Scholars. Conductor: Peter Phillips.
    • GIMELL.

  • Mel Bonis

    Suite en forme de valses: III. Scherzo-valse

    Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
    • Mel Bonis: Orchestral Works.
    • Chandos.
    • 107.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Alcina (Verdi prati)

    Singer: Dame Sarah Connolly. Orchestra: Symphony of Harmony and Invention. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • CORO.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Carnival Overture

    Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Karel Ančerl.
    • SUPRAPHON.

  • Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

    Symphony in F Major, Wq 175 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Arte dei Suonatori. Conductor: Marcin Świątkiewicz.
    • C.P.E. Bach: Berlin Symphonies I.
    • BIS.
    • 110.

  • Benjamin Britten

    Spring Symphony, Part I (excerpt)

    Singer: Elizabeth Watts. Singer: Alice Coote. Singer: Allan Clayton. Choir: London Symphony Chorus. Choir: Tiffin Children's Choir. Choir: Tiffin Boys’ Choir. Choir: Tiffin Girls’ Choir. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • LSO LIVE.

  • Gabriela Montero

    'Continuum'

    Performer: Gabriela Montero.
    • EMI.

  • David Popper

    Elfentanz Op.39 for cello and piano

    Performer: Edgar Moreau. Performer: Pierre-Yves Hodique.
    • Play - Works for Cello and Piano.
    • ERATO.
    • 13.

  • Emmanuel Chabrier

    Le roi malgré lui: Danse slave

    Orchestra: Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Hervé Niquet.
    • 2xHD.

  • Franz Schubert

    Quintet in C major D.956 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Gautier Capuçon. Ensemble: Quatuor Ébène.
    • Erato.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Wie Melodien zieht es mir (5 Songs Op.105)

    Singer: Katharina Konradi. Performer: Eric Schneider.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Bless the Lord, O my soul (Vespers)

    Conductor: Nigel Short. Choir: Tenebrae.
    • Rachmaninov, S.: Vespers, Op. 37.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 102.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Heart, the Seat of Soft Delight (Acis and Galatea)

    Singer: Lucy Crowe. Orchestra: Early Opera Company. Conductor: Christian Curnyn.
    • Handel: Acis and Galatea.
    • Chandos.
    • 216.

  • Hildegard von Bingen

    O Virtus Sapiente

    Music Arranger: Marianne Pfau. Ensemble: Kronos Quartet.
    • NONESUCH.

  • Gerald Finzi

    Lo, the Full, Final Sacrifice (conclusion)

    Performer: Daniel Cook. Choir: Choir of Westminster Abbey. Conductor: James O’Donnell.
    • Hyperion.

  • Max Reger

    Scherzo Op.65 No.10

    Performer: Gillian Weir.
    • Koss Classics.

  • William Walton

    Crown Imperial

    Performer: Orchestra of Opera North. Conductor: Paul Daniel.
    • Belshazzar's Feast/Crown Imperial.
    • Naxos.
    • 10.

  • Amy Beach

    Fairy Lullaby (3 Shakespeare Songs)

    Performer: James Lisney. Singer: Emma Kirkby.
    • Beach: Chanson D'Amour.
    • BIS.
    • 703.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Piano Sonata No 46 in E major, Hob.XVI:31 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Denis Kozhukhin.
    • PENTATONE.

  • Franz Liszt

    The Dance in the Village Inn (Mephisto Waltz No 1)

    Orchestra: Orchestre de Paris – Philharmonie. Conductor: Georg Solti.
    • Deutsche Grammophone.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cantata 120a 'Herr Gott, Beherrscher aller Dinge'

    Singer: Hana Blažíková. Singer: Damien Guillon. Singer: Christoph Genz. Singer: Peter Kooij. Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan. Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki.
    • Bach: Cantatas, Vol. 51.
    • BIS.
    • 104.

  • Gioachino Rossini

    "La Danza" (Soirees musicales)

    Performer: Black Dyke Band. Music Arranger: Gordon Langford. Conductor: Major Peter Parkes.
    • Black Dyke Mills Band play Rossini.
    • Chandos.
    • 103.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Symphony No 1 (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Jukka‐Pekka Saraste.
    • Sibelius & Saraste: The 7 Symphonies.
    • Ondine.
    • 103.

  • Elfrida Andrée

    Piano Trio in C Minor (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Nordica Trio.
    • Andree: Piano Trios - Piano Quartet in A minor.
    • Intim Musik.
    • 06.

  • Franz Schubert

    Ganymed, D.544

    Music Arranger: Alexander Schmalcz. Singer: Matthias Goerne. Director: Florian Donderer. Orchestra: The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen.
    • Schubert Revisited: Lieder Arranged for Baritone and Orchestra.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 3.

  • Gustav Holst

    The Planets: Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: André Previn.
    • Holst: The Planets, Op. 32.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 4.

Broadcast

  • Fri 19 Jun 202609:30
    BBC Radio 3