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 [email protected].
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.
To listen on most smart speakers say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Essential Classics'.
Last on
More episodes
Music Played
![]()
Christoph Willibald Gluck
Dance of the Blessed Spirits (Orfeo ed Euridice)
Orchestra: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.- Classical Hits: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
- Deutsche Grammophon.
- 3.
![]()
Muzio Clementi
Piano Sonata in D major, Op 40 No 3 (4th mvt. Allegro)
Performer: John McCabe.- Scarlatti & Clementi Sonatas - John McCabe.
- Divine Art.
- 11.
![]()
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Meditation (Souvenir d'un lieu cher Op.42)
Performer: Janine Jansen. Orchestra: Mahler Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Daniel Harding.- DECCA.
![]()
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No 2 in D major, Op 36 (4th mvt)
Orchestra: Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique. Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.- Beethoven: The Symphonies, John Eliot Gardiner.
- Archiv Produktion.
- 8.
![]()
Dobrinka Tabakova
Whispered lullaby
Performer: Maxim Rysanov. Performer: Evelyn Chang.- AVIE.
![]()
Georg Philipp Telemann
Concerto in D major TWV.54:D3
Performer: Lorraine Wood. Performer: Paul Goodwin. Performer: Mark Bennett. Performer: Michael Harrison. Performer: Nicholas Thompson. Orchestra: The English Concert. Director: Trevor Pinnock.- Telemann: Suites, Concerto in D major: English Concert, Pinnock.
- Archiv.
- 1.
![]()
Jean Sibelius
Khadra's Dance (Belshazzar's Feast)
Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sakari Oramo.- Sibelius: Lemminkäinen Suite, Spring Song & Suite from "Belshazzar's Feast".
- Chandos.
- 109.
![]()
Camille Saint‐Saëns
Tarantelle, Op 6
Ensemble: Nash Ensemble.- Saint-Saens: Chamber Music: The Nash Ensemble.
- Hyperion.
- 5.
![]()
Antonio Vivaldi
Motezuma, RV 723, Act I Scene 1: Aria. S'impugni la spada
Singer: Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian. Ensemble: Café Zimmermann. Conductor: Pablo Valetti.- Vivaldi: Masques.
- Alpha Classics.
- 18.
![]()
Antonín Dvořák
Scherzo capriccioso Op.66
Orchestra: Oslo Philharmonic. Conductor: Mariss Jansons.- Dvorak: Symphony No. 5, Scherzo Capriccioso etc..
- EMI.
- 6.
![]()
Roxanna Panufnik
Celestial Bird
Choir: Ex Cathedra. Conductor: Jeffrey Skidmore.- Roxanna Panufnik: Celestial Bird.
- Signum Classics.
- 2.
![]()
Joaquín Rodrigo
Concierto de Aranjuez (1st mvt)
Performer: Christoph Denoth. Conductor: Jesús López Cobos. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.- Signum Classics.
![]()
Alexander Borodin
String Sextet
Performer: Louise Williams. Performer: Raphael Wallfisch. Ensemble: Lindsay String Quartet.- ASV.
![]()
Benjamin Britten
4 Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes (Moonlight)
Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.- Britten: Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra: Bergen P.O., Neeme Jarvi.
- BIS.
- 8.
![]()
Johannes Brahms
Wiegenlied (5 Songs Op.49)
Singer: Anne Sofie von Otter. Performer: Bengt Forsberg.- Brahms: Lieder: Anne-Sofie von Otter.
- Deutsche Grammophon.
- 22.
![]()
Anatoly Konstantinovich Lyadov
The Enchanted Lake, Op.62
Orchestra: The Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne. Conductor: Dmitri Kitayenko.- Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov & Lyadov: Works.
- Oehms Classics.
![]()
Bedrich Smetana
The Bartered Bride (Overture)
Orchestra: Pro Arte Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.- Janacek: Sinfonietta etc: Pro Arte Orchestra/Mackerras.
- EMI.
- 11.
![]()
Suor Leonora d'Este
Vespere autem sabbati
Ensemble: Musica Secreta. Director: Laurie Stras.- Lucky Music.
![]()
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Divertimento in F major, K 138
Orchestra: London Mozart Players. Conductor: Jane Glover.- Mozart The Collectors Edition 50 CDs The Masterpieces The Greatest Artists.
- EMI Classics.
- 14.
![]()
Thomas Wilbrandt
Alone (Alone, for a second)
Orchestra: Modern Sinfonietta. Conductor: Thomas Wilbrandt.- Erik Satie: Alone for a second: Thomas Wilbrandt.
- Decca.
- 6.
![]()
Johann Sebastian Bach
Cello Suite No 1 in G major, BWV 1007 (Prelude)
Performer: Alisa Weilerstein.- Bach: Cello Suites, BWVV 1007-1012.
- PENTATONE.
- 1.
![]()
Selim Palmgren
Piano Concerto No 2 (The River)
Performer: Juhani Lagerspetz. Orchestra: Turku Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Jacques Mercier.- Finlandia.
![]()
Orlando Gibbons
Fantasia à 3 'for the great dooble base', MB.48.19
Performer: Judy Tarling. Performer: Mark Caudle. Performer: Alison Crum. Performer: Peter Holman. Ensemble: Parley of Instruments. Director: Peter Holman.- Music for Prince Charles: The Parley of Instruments/Holman.
- Hyperion.
![]()
Claude Debussy
Jeux de vagues (La Mer)
Orchestra: The Cleveland Orchestra. Conductor: Pierre Boulez.- Debussy: Nocturnes/La Mer/Jeux: Boulez.
- Deutsche Grammophon.
- 7.
![]()
Ina Boyle
String Quartet in E Minor (1st mvt)
Ensemble: Piatti Quartet.- Boyle, Vaughan Williams, Moeran & Ireland.
- Rubicon.
- 4.
![]()
Johann Sebastian Bach
Cantata no. 133 BWV.133 (Ich freue mich in dir)
Ensemble: Bach‐Collegium Stuttgart. Conductor: Helmuth Rilling.- Gloria In Excelsis Deo.
- Hanssler Classic.
- 16.
![]()
Franz Schubert
Symphony no.5 in B flat major, D.485 (1st mvt)
Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner.- Schubert: Symphonies Nos. 3, 5 and 8.
- CHANDOS.
- 5.
Broadcast
- Last Thursday09:30BBC Radio 3

