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Your perfect classical playlist

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 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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3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Mon 23 Feb 202609:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Carl Orff

    Ecce gratum (Carmina burana)

    Choir: London Symphony Chorus. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Richard Hickox.
    • Orff: Carmina Burana.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 5.

  • Robert Schumann

    Quintet for piano and strings (Op.44)in E flat major; 1st mvt; Allegro brillante

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

  • Giovanni Gabrieli

    Canzon noni toni à 12, C183

    Music Arranger: Eric Crees. Performer: London Symphony Brass. Conductor: Eric Crees.
    • Cathedral Brass: London Symphony Brass/Crees.
    • Collins Classics.
    • 9.

  • Duke Ellington

    Black, Brown and Beige: Part V (Come Sunday Interlude)

    Performer: Ray Nance. Orchestra: Duke Ellington and His Orchestra.
    • COLUMBIA.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Serenade in G major, K 525, 'Eine kleine Nachtmusik' (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Concentus Musicus Wien. Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt.
    • Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik: Concentus Musicus Wien/Harnoncourt.
    • Teldec.
    • 1.

  • Gustav Holst

    Mercury, the Winged Messenger (The Planets, Op 32)

    Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vladimir Jurowski.
    • London Philharmonic Orchestra - Holst The Planets - Vladimir Jurowski Conductor.
    • LPO.
    • 3.

  • Francis Poulenc

    Elegie [en accords alternes]

    Performer: Louis Lortie. Performer: Hélène Mercier.
    • Chandos.

  • Georg Philipp Telemann

    Triple Concerto in E major for flute, oboe d'amore and viola, TWV 53 E1

    Performer: Stephen Preston. Performer: Clare Shanks. Performer: Monica Huggett. Orchestra: Academy of Ancient Music. Director: Christopher Hogwood.
    • L’OISEAU-LYRE.

  • Karl Jenkins

    Agnus Dei (The Armed Man - A Mass For Peace)

    Conductor: Karl Jenkins. Ensemble: Cory Band. Choir: Only Men Aloud.
    • This Land Of Ours.
    • Decca (UMO) (Classics).
    • 14.

  • Mel Bonis

    Sarabande, Op. 82/2

    Conductor: Joseph Bastian.
    • Bonis: Orchestral Works.
    • CPO.
    • 112.

  • Alexandre Desplat

    The Shape of Water

    Performer: Renaud Capuçon. Ensemble: Les Siècles. Conductor: Duncan Ward.
    • Les choses de la vie - Cinema 2.
    • ERATO.
    • 17.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Easter Oratorio BWV.249 (opening)

    Ensemble: Taverner Consort. Ensemble: Taverner Players. Conductor: Andrew Parrott.
    • Bach: Magnificat / Cantatas 4, 11 & 50 / Easter Oratorio.
    • Erato.

  • Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

    Capriccio espagnol, Op 34

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.
    • Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade, Capricco Espagnol: Mackerras.
    • Telarc.
    • 5.

  • Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

    Clarinet Quintet in F sharp minor (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Anthony McGill. Ensemble: Catalyst Quartet.
    • Uncovered.
    • Azica Records.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Sull' aria... Che soave zeffiretto (The Marriage of Figaro)

    Singer: Patrizia Ciofi. Singer: Véronique Gens. Orchestra: Concerto Köln. Conductor: René Jacobs.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

  • Franz Schubert

    Die Taubenpost, D.965a (Schwanengesang, D.957)

    Singer: Dietrich Fischer‐Dieskau. Performer: Gerald Moore.
    • DG.

  • John Williams

    Hedwig's Theme (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone)

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: John Williams.
    • DG.

  • Arthur Sullivan

    The Pirates of Penzance (Overture)

    Orchestra: D’Oyly Carte Opera Orchestra. Conductor: John Pryce‐Jones.
    • Gilbert and Sullivan Overtures: Various performers.
    • TER.
    • 2.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano Sonata No. 25 in G Major, Op. 79: I. Presto alla tedesca

    Performer: Igor Levit.
    • Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 3.

  • Ina Boyle

    Still Falls the Rain

    Ensemble: Piatti Quartet. Singer: Sharon Carty.
    • Phantasy.
    • Rubicon.
    • 6.

  • William Walton

    Battle in the Air (Battle of Britain Suite)

    Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Neville Marriner.
    • Walton: Battle of Britain Suite etc.: ASMF/Marriner.
    • Chandos.
    • 17.

  • Dora Bright

    Piano Concerto No 1 in A minor

    Performer: Samantha Ward. Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Peebles.
    • Bright & Gipps: Works for Piano & Orchestra.
    • SOMM Recordings.
    • 1-3.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Ave verum corpus, K 618

    Choir: Tenebrae. Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Conductor: Nigel Short.
    • Mozart: Requiem.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 15.

  • Claude Debussy

    Ondine (Preludes - Book 2)

    Performer: Tom Borrow.

  • Claude Debussy

    Feux d'artifice (Preludes - Book 2)

    Performer: Tom Borrow.

  • Thomas Arne

    Rise, Glory, rise (Rosamond)

    Singer: Emma Kirkby. Orchestra: Academy of Ancient Music. Conductor: Christopher Hogwood.
    • DECCA.

  • Max Richter

    On the Nature of Daylight

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Swan. Conductor: Daniele Rosina.
    • Labyrinths.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 101.

Broadcast

  • Mon 23 Feb 202609:30
    BBC Radio 3