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”
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Music Played
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Clarinet Quintet in A major, K 581 (3rd mvt)
Performer: Jörg Widmann. Ensemble: Arcanto Quartett.- Mozart Clarinet Quintet.
- Harmonia Mundi.
- 003.
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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.
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John Eccles
Symphony for Mercury (The Judgment of Paris)
Performer: David Hendrey. Orchestra: Early Opera Company. Conductor: Christian Curnyn.- Chandos.
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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.
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Frédéric Chopin
Polonaise in A flat major Op.53 'Eroica'
Performer: Martha Argerich.- Chopin: 26 Preludes Scherzo NR. 2 - Martha Argerich.
- Deutsche Grammaphon.
- 28.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Marin Marais
La Sonnerie de Sainte-Geneviève du Mont de Paris
Performer: Fabio Biondi. Performer: Jordi Savall. Performer: Rolf Lislevand. Performer: Pierre Hantaï.- Auvidis.
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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.
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Jacques Ibert
Trois pièces brèves
Performer: Philharmonisches Bläserquintett Berlin.- Francaix: Wind Quintet No. 1 / Milaud: La Cheminee du roi Rene.
- Bis.
- 1.
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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.
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Modest Mussorgsky
Pictures from an Exhibition: Baba Yaga
Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Kirill Karabits.- ONYX.
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Heitor Villa‐Lobos
Bachianas Brasileiras No.1, Introduction. Embolada
Ensemble: Rondo Violoncello.- Rondo Violincello / Peter Buck.
- Harmonia Mundi.
- 1.
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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.
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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.
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Cecilia McDowall
O Lord, Make Thy Servant, Elizabeth
Performer: Sioned Williams. Ensemble: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.- Coronation - Music for Royal Occasions.
- CORO.
- 9.
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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.
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Camille Saint‐Saëns
Piano Concerto No. 4
Performer: Louis Lortie. Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner.- CHANDOS.
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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.
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Henry Purcell
Chacony in G Minor, Z. 730
Ensemble: Les Violons du Roy. Conductor: Bernard Labadie.- Les Violons du Roy: Encore!.
- Sono Luminus.
- 1.
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Henriëtte Bosmans
Concerto for flute and chamber orchestra
Performer: Jacques Zoon. Orchestra: Radio Kamerorkest. Conductor: Jac van Steen.- NM Special.
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Louis Couperin
Suite in D minor - Allemande Grave in F major
Performer: Pavel Kolesnikov.- Couperin: Dances From The Bauyn Manuscript.
- Hyperion.
- 8.
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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 Thursday09:30BBC Radio 3

