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The best classical morning 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 an orchestral masterpiece.

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17 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Wed 11 Feb 202609:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Dmitri Kabalevsky

    Colas Breugnon (Overture)

    Orchestra: Malmö SymfoniOrkester. Conductor: Darrell Ang.
    • Kabalevsky: Works for Orchestra.
    • NAXOS.
    • 1.

  • Clara Schumann

    Nocturne (Soirées musicales)

    Performer: Lucy Parham.
    • CIRRUS CLASSICS.

  • Claude Debussy

    L'isle joyeuse

    Orchestrator: Bernardino Molinari. Orchestra: Orchestre national de Lyon. Conductor: Jun Märkl.
    • Debussy: Orchestral Works, Vol. 5: Markl.
    • Naxos.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Coriolan Overture

    Conductor: Pablo Heras‐Casado. Orchestra: Freiburg Baroque Orchestra.
    • Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 1.

  • César Franck

    Panis angelicus (Mass Op.12)

    Music Arranger: Wolfgang Hochstein. Singer: Pablo Strong. Choir: Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge. Performer: Timothy Ravalde. Performer: Graham Walker. Director: Andrew Nethsingha.
    • Hear My Words: Choral Classics from St John's: Choir of St John's College, Cambr.
    • Chandos.
    • 9.

  • Joby Talbot

    The Queen Of Hearts' Tango (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - suite)

    Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Christopher Austin.
    • Alice's Adventures In Wonderland.
    • SIGNUM CLASSICS.
    • 6.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Piano Quintet in F Minor Op.34 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Till Fellner. Ensemble: Belcea Quartet.
    • ALPHA : 248.
    • ALPHA.
    • 7.

  • Friedrich der Große

    Sinfonia in D major

    Performer: Manfred Friedrich. Orchestra: Kammerorchester Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. Conductor: Hartmut Haenchen.
    • CAPRICCIO.

  • Lili Boulanger

    Nocturne

    Performer: Johan Dalene. Performer: Christian Ihle Hadland.
    • Stained Glass.
    • BIS.
    • 5.

  • Gerald Finzi

    Eclogue in F major for piano and strings, Op.10

    Performer: Piers Lane. Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Nicholas Daniel.
    • DECCA.

  • Hans Zender

    Winterreise: No. 11, Frühlingstraum

    Composer: Franz Schubert. Lyricist: Wilhelm Müller. Singer: Allan Clayton. Orchestra: Aurora Orchestra. Conductor: Nicholas Collon.
    • Schubert's Winterreise: A Composed Interpretation.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 11.

  • Leokadiya Kashperova

    Cello Sonata No 2

    Performer: Anastasia Kobekina. Performer: Luka Okros.

  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony no.7 (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • Mahler: Symphony No. 7.
    • Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • 2.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Piano Sonata No 15 in F major, K 533/494 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Mitsuko Uchida.
    • Mozart: Complete Piano Sonatas: Mitsuko Uchida.
    • Philips.
    • 12.

  • Vincent Youmans

    Tea for Two

    Music Arranger: Art Tatum. Performer: Art Tatum.
    • Black Lion Records.

  • Arthur Bliss

    Checkmate Suite: III. Entry of the Black Queen

    Orchestra: Ulster Orchestra. Conductor: Vernon Handley.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Joby Talbot

    Journey of the Sorcerer

    Composer: Eagles. Performer: Joby Talbot. Performer: Paddy Kingsland. Performer: The BBC Radiophonic Workshop.
    • EMI.

  • George Gershwin

    Walking the Dog (Shall we Dance)

    Orchestra: Los Angeles Philharmonic. Performer: Michael Tilson Thomas.
    • Gershwin: The 1920s & 1930s: Tilson Thomas.
    • CBS Masterworks.
    • 8.

  • Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre

    Gigue and Double in D minor (Pièces de clavecin, 1707)

    Performer: Karen Flint.
    • Jacquet de la Guerre: Complete Works for Harpsichord.
    • Plectra.
    • 4.

  • Heinrich Schütz

    Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen, SWV 29

    Choir: The Choir Of Trinity College, Cambridge. Ensemble: His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts. Director: Richard Marlow.
    • Schutz: Psalmen Davids: Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge.
    • Conifer.
    • 4.

  • Gustav Holst

    First Dance (Beni Mora)

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Davis.
    • Holst: Orchestral Works, Volume 2.
    • Chandos.
    • 1.

  • Elena Kats‐Chernin

    Eliza Aria (Arr. for Violin and String Ensemble)

    Performer: Angèle Dubeau. Music Arranger: François Vallières. Music Arranger: Angèle Dubeau. Ensemble: La Pietà.
    • Elle.
    • Groupe Analekta, Inc.
    • 1.

  • Franz Schubert

    Symphony No. 8 'Unfinished'

    Orchestra: London Classical Players. Conductor: Sir Roger Norrington.
    • VIRGIN.

  • Benjamin Britten

    Jubilate Deo in E flat major

    Performer: Andrew Bryden. Choir: Ripon Cathedral Choir. Conductor: Kerry Beaumont.
    • Te Deum and Jubilate Vol. 4.
    • Priory.
    • 4.

  • Marianna Martines

    Perché, se tanti siete (Berenice, ah che fai?)

    Singer: Núria Rial. Orchestra: La Floridiana. Conductor: Nicoleta Paraschivescu.
    • Martines: Il Primo amore.
    • DHM.
    • 17.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Piano Quintet No. 2 in A major Op.81 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Jonathan Biss. Ensemble: Elias String Quartet.
    • ONYX.

  • Sven-David Sandström

    Hear my prayer

    Choir: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. Conductor: Paul Hillier.
    • Baltic Voices 1.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • 4.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Prelude & Fugue in G major, BWV.860 (Well-tempered Klavier, Bk 1)

    Performer: Sir András Schiff.
    • Bach: Das Wholtemperierte Clavier.
    • ECM.
    • 05.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony No 94 in G major, H.1.94 (Surprise): 2nd movement (Andante)

    Orchestra: Cappella Coloniensis. Conductor: Bruno Weil.
    • ARS PRODUKTION.

Broadcast

  • Wed 11 Feb 202609:30
    BBC Radio 3