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The very best of classical music

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

Ian Skelly 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.

To listen on most smart speakers, say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Essential Classics”.

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Thu 3 Sep 202609:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No 1 in C major, Op 21 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Colin Davis.
    • Pentatone.

  • Elena Kats‐Chernin

    Blue Rose

    Performer: Nicola Sweeney. Performer: Sarah Nicolls.
    • Kats-Chernin: Ragtime and Blue.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 5.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Serenade in D major, K 239, 'Serenata notturna'

    Orchestra: Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra. Conductor: Ton Koopman.
    • Mozart: Serenata Notturna: Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Ton Koopman.
    • Apex.
    • 9.

  • Ottorino Respighi

    La primavera (Trittico botticelliano)

    Orchestra: Orchestra sinfonica di Roma. Conductor: Francesco La Vecchia.
    • Brilliant Classics.

  • Claude Debussy

    Syrinx

    Performer: Emmanuel Pahud.
    • Debussy Sonates & Trio.
    • Erato.
    • 4.

  • Giovanni Gabrieli

    Jubilate Deo

    Choir: The Cambridge Singers. Ensemble: Nuova Musica. Conductor: John Rutter.
    • Collegium.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Symphony no.1 in C minor 'The Bells of Zlonice' (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Jiří Bělohlávek.
    • Decca.

  • Pyotr Tchaikovsky

    The Sleeping Beauty (Rose Adagio)

    Orchestra: Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra. Conductor: Alexander Lazarev.
    • Tchaikovsky Essentials.
    • Warner Classics International.
    • 27.

  • Jean‐Philippe Rameau

    Suite in D Major, RCT 3: I. Les Tendres Plaintes

    Performer: Théotime Langlois de Swarte. Performer: William Christie.
    • Le Violon de Rameau.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 104.

  • Doreen Carwithen

    ODTAA (One Damn Thing After Another)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Richard Hickox.
    • Carwithen: Orchestral Works.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 001.

  • Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

    Harpsichord Concerto in G Major (3rd mvt) arr for oboe

    Performer: Albrecht Mayer. Music Arranger: Albrecht Mayer. Ensemble: Berlin Baroque.
    • Bach Generations.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Franz Schubert

    Piano Trio in E-Flat Major, Op. 100, D. 929: II. Andante con moto

    Ensemble: Trio Gaspard.
    • Trio Gaspard Live in Berlin.
    • CAvi-music.
    • 11.

  • Gustav Holst

    Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity (The Planets)

    Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • Rhythm and Colours.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 4.

  • Léo Delibes

    Sylvia (Act 3 Divertissement: Pizzicato)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Anatole Fistoulari.
    • MERCURY.

  • Henry Purcell

    Nymphs and shepherds (The Libertine)

    Singer: Judith Nelson. Orchestra: Academy of Ancient Music. Conductor: Christopher Hogwood.
    • DECCA.

  • Benjamin Britten

    Pan (6 Metamorphoses after Ovid Op.49)

    Performer: François Leleux.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Song to the Moon (Rusalka)

    Singer: Lucia Popp. Orchestra: Munich Radio Orchestra. Conductor: Stefan Soltész.
    • EMI.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Mandolin Concerto in C major, RV 425

    Performer: Giovanni Scaramuzzino. Orchestra: Europa Galante. Director: Fabio Biondi.
    • Vivaldi: Concerti per mandolini: Europa Galante/Biondi.
    • Virgin Veritas.
    • 16-18.

  • Anton Bruckner

    Symphony no.3 in D minor (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: Anima Eterna Brugge. Conductor: Pablo Heras‐Casado.
    • Bruckner: Symphony No. 3 \"Wagner Symphony\".
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • 11.

  • Hildegard of Bingen

    O felix anima

    Choir: Anonymous 4.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

  • Béla Bartók

    Romanian Folk Dances (Nos 2-6)

    Music Arranger: Jonas Dominique. Performer: Martin Frost. Orchestra: Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Martin Frost: Roots.
    • Sony.
    • 10-14.

  • Johannes Brahms

    String Quintet No 1 in F major, Op 88

    Ensemble: Nash Ensemble.
    • ONYX.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Giulio Cesare: Va tacito (go silently)

    Singer: Barnaby Smith. Ensemble: The Illyria Consort.
    • Voces8 Records.

  • Louise Farrenc

    Symphony no. 2 in D major (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: European Soloists, Luxembourg. Conductor: Christoph König.
    • Farrenc: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3.
    • Naxos.
    • 4.

  • John Ireland

    Bagatelle

    Performer: Lucy Gould. Performer: Benjamin Frith.
    • Ireland: Piano Trios.
    • Naxos.
    • 9.

  • Alexander Borodin

    In the Steppes of Central Asia

    Orchestra: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.
    • Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture, Rimsky-Korsakov, Borodin: Neeme Jarvi.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 3.

Broadcast

  • Thu 3 Sep 202609:30
    BBC Radio 3