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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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27 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Thursday09:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Gioachino Rossini

    The Barber of Seville (Overture)

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Academy of Santa Cecilia, Rome. Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano.
    • Rossini Overtures.
    • WARNER.
    • 3.

  • Alexander Borodin

    Piano Trio (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Brahms Trio.
    • History of the Russian Piano Trio, Vol. 3.
    • Naxos.
    • 302.

  • Edward Elgar

    Romance, Op 62

    Performer: Laurence Perkins. Orchestra: The New London Orchestra. Conductor: Ronald Corp.
    • The Playful Pachyderm.
    • Hyperion.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Brandenburg Concerto No 3 in G major, BWV 1048 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Tafelmusik. Director: Jeanne Lamon.
    • J.S. Bach: Six Brandenburg Concertos; Tafelmusik, Lamon.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 8.

  • William Grant Still

    7 Traceries (Out of the silence)

    Performer: Monica Gaylord.
    • Black Piano, A Treasury of Works for Solo Piano by Black Composers.
    • MUSIC & ARTS.
    • 17.

  • Samuel Scheidt

    Galliarda battaglia à 5

    Ensemble: Hespèrion XXI. Director: Jordi Savall.
    • Battaglie & Lamenti: Montserrat Figueras, Hesperion XXI, Jordi Savall.
    • Alia Vox.
    • 1.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Scherzo capriccioso Op.66

    Orchestra: Oslo Philharmonic. Conductor: Mariss Jansons.
    • Dvorak: Symphony No. 5, Scherzo Capriccioso etc..
    • EMI.
    • 6.

  • Eric Whitacre

    Go, lovely rose (3 Flower Songs)

    Choir: Polyphony. Conductor: Stephen Layton.
    • Cloudburst and other choral works.
    • HYPERION.
    • 5.

  • Robert Schumann

    3 Romances, Op. 94: III. Nicht schnell

    Performer: Midori. Performer: Özgür Aydin.
    • Schumann: Violin Concerto & Works for Violin and Piano by Clara and Robert Schum.
    • Pentatone.
    • 111.

  • Harold Arlen

    Suite from 'The Wizard of Oz'

    Music Arranger: Herbert Stothart. Ensemble: Sinfonia of London. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Marin Marais

    Chaconne (Pieces en trio - suite no.1 in C major)

    Performer: William Hunt. Ensemble: The Purcell Quartet.
    • Marin Marais 'La folia' & other music for viols and violins The Purcell Quartet.
    • Hyperion.
    • 8.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 "Pastoral": I. Angenehme, heitere Empfindungen

    • Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1 - 9.
    • Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • 5.

  • John Playford

    A New Scotch Jig (The English Dancing Master)

    Ensemble: The Harp Consort. Director: Andrew Lawrence‐King.
    • BMG.

  • Paul Simon

    The Sound Of Silence

    Music Arranger: Geoff Lawson. Music Arranger: Chris Trueman. Performer: Miloš Karadaglić. Ensemble: 12 Ensemble.
    • The Sound of Silence.
    • Decca.
    • 1.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Silence and Music

    Choir: Choir of Royal Holloway. Conductor: Rupert Gough.
    • Hyperion.

  • Bill Evans

    Peace Piece

    Performer: Bill Evans.
    • Everybody Digs Bill Evans.
    • Riverside.
    • 7.

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Symphony no.1 in D major Op.25 'Classical' (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Seiji Ozawa.
    • Prokofiev: 7 Symphonies: Berliner Philharmoniker/Ozawa.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 1.

  • Jennifer Higdon

    Piano Trio (1st mvmt, Pale Yellow)

    Performer: Anne Akiko Meyers. Performer: Alisa Weilerstein. Performer: Adam Neiman.
    • NAXOS.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-Flat Major, K. 271 "Jeunehomme": I. Allegro

    Performer: Martin James Bartlett. Conductor: Howard Griffiths. Orchestra: Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg.
    • Bach: Piano Concerto, BWV 1052 - Mozart: Piano Concerto, K. 271 "Jeunehomme" - B.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 4.

  • Léo Delibes

    Pizzicato (Sylvia)

    Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.
    • Myleene's Music for Mothers.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 18.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Symphony no.3 in C major Op.52 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Oslo Philharmonic. Conductor: Klaus Mäkelä.
    • Sibelius: Symphonies 1-7; Tapiola; 3 Late Fragments.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..

  • Louise Farrenc

    Clarinet Trio in E flat major, Op 44 (3rd mvmt, Minuetto)

    Performer: Daniel Ottensamer. Performer: Stephan Koncz. Performer: Christoph Traxler.
    • A Trip To France.
    • UME - Global Clearing House.
    • 3.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony no.101 in D major 'Clock' (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Les Musiciens du Louvre. Conductor: Marc Minkowski.
    • Haydn, 12 London Symphonies: Marc Minkowski, Les Musiciens du Louvre-Grenobles.
    • Naive.
    • 10.

  • Claudio Monteverdi

    Laudate pueri

    Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Monteverdi: Messa a quattro voci - Vol I.
    • Coro.
    • 7.

  • Emil Nikolaus von Reznicek

    Donna Diana (Overture)

    Orchestra: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.
    • Panorama: Famous Overtures.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 7.

Broadcast

  • Thursday09:30
    BBC Radio 3