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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 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

Thu 26 Feb 202609:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Ottorino Respighi

    Bergamasca (Ancient Airs and Dances - suite no. 2)

    Orchestra: Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège. Conductor: John Neschling.
    • BIS.

  • Franz Schubert

    Piano Trio No. 1 in B-Flat Major, Op. 99, D. 898: IV. Rondo. Allegro vivace

    Performer: Christian Tetzlaff. Performer: Tanja Tetzlaff. Performer: Lars Vogt.
    • Schubert: Chamber Works.
    • Ondine.
    • 4.

  • Ola Gjeilo

    Northern Lights

    Choir: VOCES8.
    • Decca.

  • Dobrinka Tabakova

    Suite in Old Style (1st mvt)

    Performer: Maxim Rysanov. Performer: Vaiva Eidukaitytė-Storastienė. Orchestra: Lietuvos kamerinis orkestras.
    • ECM New Series.

  • Robert Schumann

    Arabesque in C major Op.18

    Performer: Leon McCawley.
    • AVIE.

  • Henry Purcell

    Timon of Athens: Curtain Tune

    Performer: Arcangelo. Performer: Jonathan Cohen.
    • Enchanted Forest.
    • Archiv Produktion.
    • 007.

  • Scott Joplin

    Elite Syncopations

    Music Arranger: Itzhak Perlman. Performer: Matthew Trusler. Performer: Wayne Marshall.
    • Blues: Matthew Trusler, Wayne Marshall.
    • Orchid Classics.

  • Edward Elgar

    Serenade for strings in E minor, Op.20

    Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vasily Petrenko.
    • Elgar: Enigma Variations.
    • ONYX.
    • 2-4.

  • Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

    Quintet in B flat major (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Eric Le Sage. Ensemble: Les Vents Français.
    • Warner.

  • Mel Bonis

    Pavane Op 81/3

    Orchestra: WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne. Conductor: Joseph Bastian.
    • CPO.

  • Hélène de Montgeroult

    Piano concerto No 1 in E flat major

    Performer: Élisabeth Pion. Orchestra: Arion Orchestre Baroque. Conductor: Mathieu Lussier.
    • Amadeus et l'Impératrice: Mozart - Montgeroult.
    • Les Disques ATMA Inc..
    • 1.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Atalanta (Overture)

    Performer: John Wallace. Performer: Michael Bochmann. Ensemble: Wallace Collection. Ensemble: English Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: William Boughton.
    • Rule Britanna.
    • Nimbus.
    • 21.

  • Karl Jenkins

    Cantate Domino

    Choir: Polyphony. Conductor: Stephen Layton.
    • Karl Jenkins: Motets.
    • DG.
    • 2.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92: I. Poco sostenuto - Vivace

    Conductor: Antonello Manacorda. Orchestra: Potsdam Chamber Academy.
    • Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 1.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Humoresque No.5 in E flat major

    Performer: Vilde Frang. Orchestra: WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne. Conductor: Thomas Søndergård.
    • Prokofiev & Sibelius - Violin Concertos.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 9.

  • Matthew Locke

    The Tempest (Curtain Tune)

    Orchestra: Vox Orchester. Conductor: Lorenzo Ghirlanda.
    • Purcell & Locke: Orchestral Works.
    • deutsche harmonia mundi.
    • 16.

  • Henry Purcell

    There's Not a Swain

    Music Arranger: Anthony Henley. Singer: Olivia Chaney.
    • Nonesuch.

  • Michael Nyman

    Chasing Sheep is Best Left to Shepherds (The Draughtman's Contract)

    Ensemble: Michael Nyman Band. Director: Michael Nyman.
    • CHARISMA.

  • Emmanuel Chabrier

    España

    Orchestra: The Philadelphia Orchestra. Conductor: Riccardo Muti.
    • EMI Classic.

  • Eric Coates

    Saxo-Rhapsody

    Performer: Jack Brymer. Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Charles Groves.
    • CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE.

  • John Williams

    With Malice Toward None (from "Lincoln") [Version for String Quartet]

    • American Tapestry.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 107.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Oboe Concerto in C minor, BWV 1060 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Heinz Holliger. Performer: Gidon Kremer. Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Heinz Holliger.
    • J.S.Bach: The Brandenburg Concertos: Marriner.
    • Philips.
    • 11.

  • Emil von Sauer

    Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor

    • Sauer & Scharwenka: Piano Concertos (Hyperion Romantic Piano Concerto 11).
    • Hyperion.

  • Jonny Greenwood

    Trio for Willa (One Battle After Another OST)

    Orchestra: London Contemporary Orchestra. Conductor: Hugh Tieppo‐Brunt.
    • One Battle After Another (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).
    • Nonesuch.
    • 18.

  • Franz Lehár

    Gold And Silver Waltz, Op. 79

    Orchestra: Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Ola Rudner.
    • A New Year's Eve Celebration: Waltzes And Other Viennese Favourites.
    • ABC CLASSICS.
    • 8.

  • Francisco Guerrero

    O sacrum convivium

    Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Paul Brough.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Symphony No 4 in A major 'Italian' (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Litton.
    • Mendelssohn: Symphonies nos 1 & 4: Bergen Philharmonic Orch/Litton.
    • BIS.
    • 6.

Broadcast

  • Thu 26 Feb 202609:30
    BBC Radio 3