Main content

The ideal mix of classical 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 [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”

24 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Music Played

  • Gioachino Rossini

    The Barber of Seville (Overture)

    Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Conductor: Claudio Abbado.
    • Rossini Overtures - The Chamber Orchestra Of Europe.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 1.
  • Ruth Gipps

    Horn Concerto Op.58 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Ben Goldscheider. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Lee Reynolds.
    • Malcolm Arnold, Christoph Schönberger & Ruth Gipps: Horn Concertos.
    • Willowhayne Records.
    • 9.
  • Claudio Monteverdi

    Dixit Dominus (Vespro della Beata Vergine)

    Ensemble: L’Arpeggiata. Director: Christina Pluhar.
    • C. Monteverdi : Vespro della Beata Vergine - 1610: Christina Pluhar/L'Arpeggiata.
    • Virgin Classics.
    • 2.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Clarinet Quintet in A major, K 581 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Jörg Widmann. Ensemble: Arcanto Quartett.
    • Mozart Clarinet Quintet.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 003.
  • Elena Kats‐Chernin

    The Witching Hour - Concerto for Eight Double Basses 4. Vassilissa the beautiful

    Performer: Kees Boersma. Performer: Timothy Dunin. Performer: Alex Henery. Performer: Max McBride. Performer: Kirsty McCahon. Performer: Matthew McDonald. Performer: Robert Nairn. Performer: Caro Vigilante. Orchestra: Australian World Orchestra. Conductor: Alexander Briger.
    • Women of Note Volume 3.
    • Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC).
    • 8.
  • John Eccles

    Symphony for Mercury (The Judgment of Paris)

    Performer: David Hendrey. Orchestra: Early Opera Company. Conductor: Christian Curnyn.
    • Chandos.
  • Antonín Dvořák

    Slavonic Dance in F major, Op 46 No 4

    Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Antal Doráti.
    • Dvorak: Slavonic Dances etc.: RPO/Detroit SO/Dorati.
    • Decca.
    • 4.
  • Frédéric Chopin

    Polonaise in A flat major Op.53 'Eroica'

    Performer: Martha Argerich.
    • Chopin: 26 Preludes Scherzo NR. 2 - Martha Argerich.
    • Deutsche Grammaphon.
    • 28.
  • Benjamin Britten

    Paul Bunyan, Op. 17: Overture

    Orchestrator: Colin Matthews. Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
    • Overtures from the British Isles, Vol. 3.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 108.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No 6 in F major, Op 68, 'Pastoral' (5th mvmt)

    Orchestra: West–Eastern Divan Orchestra. Conductor: Daniel Barenboim.
    • Beethoven - L' Hymne à la Joie.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 4.
  • Kristina Arakelyan

    Dreamland

    Performer: Kristina Arakelyan. Singer: Ellie Blewitt. Ensemble: Choir of King’s College, London. Conductor: Joseph Fort.
    • Kristina Arakelyan: Dreamland.
    • Signum Records.
    • 1.
  • Marin Marais

    La Sonnerie de Sainte-Geneviève du Mont de Paris

    Performer: Fabio Biondi. Performer: Jordi Savall. Performer: Rolf Lislevand. Performer: Pierre Hantaï.
    • Auvidis.
  • Edvard Grieg

    Anitra's Dance (Peer Gynt Suite No.1, Op.46)

    Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Neville Marriner.
    • Grieg: Peer Gynt Suites 1 & 2: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/Berglund.
    • EMI.
    • 3.
  • Jacques Ibert

    Trois pièces brèves

    Performer: Philharmonisches Bläserquintett Berlin.
    • Francaix: Wind Quintet No. 1 / Milaud: La Cheminee du roi Rene.
    • Bis.
    • 1.
  • Granville Bantock

    Celtic Symphony (4th and 5th mvts)

    Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vernon Handley.
    • Bantock: Celtic & Hebridean Symphonies, The Witch of Atlas: RPO/Handley.
    • Hyperion.
    • 4-5.
  • Modest Mussorgsky

    Pictures from an Exhibition: Baba Yaga

    Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Kirill Karabits.
    • ONYX.
  • Heitor Villa‐Lobos

    Bachianas Brasileiras No.1, Introduction. Embolada

    Ensemble: Rondo Violoncello.
    • Rondo Violincello / Peter Buck.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 1.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Brandenburg Concerto no.3 in G major BWV.1048 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Dunedin Consort. Conductor: John Butt.
    • Six Brandenburg Concertos.
    • Linn.
    • 8.
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Valse-Scherzo, Op. 34

    Performer: Geneva Lewis. Performer: Ryan Corbett. Music Arranger: Ryan Corbett.
  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony No. 78 in C Minor, Hob.I:78; 4. Finale (Presto)

    Orchestra: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
    • Haydn - Summer Chill-out.
    • UME - Global Clearing House.
    • 52.
  • Cecilia McDowall

    O Lord, Make Thy Servant, Elizabeth

    Performer: Sioned Williams. Ensemble: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Coronation - Music for Royal Occasions.
    • CORO.
    • 9.
  • Manuel de Falla

    The Miller's Dance (The Three-Cornered Hat)

    Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos.
    • Falla: Spanish Songs etc.: De Los Angeles/Giulini/Fruhbeck de Burgos.
    • EMI.
    • 6.
  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Piano Concerto No. 4

    Performer: Louis Lortie. Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
    • CHANDOS.
  • Gerald Finzi

    It was a lover and his lass (Let us garlands bring, Op.18)

    Singer: Bryn Terfel. Performer: Malcolm Martineau.
    • Bryn Terfel - 'The Vagabond': English Songs by Vaughan Williams; Butterworth.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 14.
  • Henry Purcell

    Chacony in G Minor, Z. 730

    Ensemble: Les Violons du Roy. Conductor: Bernard Labadie.
    • Les Violons du Roy: Encore!.
    • Sono Luminus.
    • 1.
  • Henriëtte Bosmans

    Concerto for flute and chamber orchestra

    Performer: Jacques Zoon. Orchestra: Radio Kamerorkest. Conductor: Jac van Steen.
    • NM Special.
  • Louis Couperin

    Suite in D minor - Allemande Grave in F major

    Performer: Pavel Kolesnikov.
    • Couperin: Dances From The Bauyn Manuscript.
    • Hyperion.
    • 8.
  • Francis Poulenc

    Rondeau (Les Biches)

    Orchestra: RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jean-Luc Tingaud.
    • Poulenc: Les biches Suite, Les animaux modèles Suite & Sinfonietta.
    • Naxos.
    • 101.

Broadcast

  • Last Thursday09:30