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The very best of classical 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 a masterpiece.

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20 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Thu 6 Aug 2026 09:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Zoltán Kodály

    Intermezzo (Hary Janos Suite Op.35a)

    Performer: Laurence Kaptain. Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.
    • Kodaly: Hary Janos Suite: Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Jarvi.
    • Chandos.

  • Francis Poulenc

    Trio for oboe, bassoon and piano (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Alexandre Tharaud. Performer: Laurent Lefèvre. Performer: Olivier Doise.
    • Poulenc: Complete Chamber Music Vol. 1.
    • Naxos.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Orchestral Suite No 1 in C major, BWV 1066 (Overture)

    Ensemble: The English Concert. Conductor: Trevor Pinnock.
    • Bach: Works for Orchestra: The English Concert/Pinnock.
    • Archiv Produktion.
    • 1.

  • William Grant Still

    Summerland (3 Visions)

    Performer: Zina Schiff. Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Avlana Eisenberg.
    • Still: Orchestral Works.
    • Naxos.
    • 2.

  • Edvard Grieg

    Piano Concerto in A minor Op.16 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Leif Ove Andsnes. Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic. Conductor: Mariss Jansons.
    • Grieg, Schumann: Piano Concertos: Andsnes, Jansons.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 3.

  • Dave Brubeck

    Unsquare Dance

    Ensemble: The Dave Brubeck Quartet.
    • Columbia.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Divertimento in F major K.138

    Orchestra: Manchester Camerata. Conductor: Gábor Takács‐Nagy.
    • Chandos.

  • Ottorino Respighi

    Leggenda

    Performer: Francesco de Angelis. Orchestra: La Scala Philharmonic. Conductor: Riccardo Chailly.
    • Decca.

  • Charles Gounod

    Je veux vivre (Roméo et Juliette)

    Singer: Fatma Said. Conductor: Sascha Goetzel. Orchestra: Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Kaleidoscope.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 8.

  • Christoph Graupner

    Concerto for Recorder, Strings and Basso Continuo in F Major, GWV 323

    Conductor: Reinhard Goebel. Ensemble: Neues Bachisches Collegium Musicum.
    • The Leipzig Collegium Musicum Vol. 1: Music before Bach.
    • Pentatone.

  • Rita Strohl

    Quatuor pour violon, alto, violoncelle et piano: IV. Thème et variations

    Performer: Héloïse Luzzati. Performer: Alexandre Pascal. Performer: Léa Hennino. Performer: Célia Oneto Bensaid.
    • Rita Strohl: Volume 2, Musique de chambre.
    • La Boîte à Pépites.
    • 204.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Symphony No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 82: 3rd mvt

    Conductor: Sakari Oramo. Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
    • Sibelius : Symphony No.5 & Orchestral Works.
    • Warner Classics International.
    • 3.

  • Hélène de Montgeroult

    Piano Étude No 62 in E flat major

    Performer: Clare Hammond.
    • Hélène de Montgeroult: Études.
    • BIS.
    • 14.

  • Georg Philipp Telemann

    Oboe d'amore concerto in E minor TWV.51:e2

    Performer: Albrecht Mayer. Ensemble: Berlin Baroque Soloists. Director: Rainer Kussmaul.
    • Telemann: Concertos: Berlin Baroque Soloists/Kussmaul.
    • EMI.
    • 1-3.

  • Béla Bartók

    Mikrokosmos Book 6: Six Dances in Bulgarian rhythm

    Performer: Cédric Tiberghien.
    • Bartok: Mikrokosmos 6 etc..
    • Hyperion.
    • 38-43.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony No. 65 in A Major, Hob. 1/65: III. Menuetto & Trio

    Orchestra: Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra. Conductor: Ádám Fischer.
    • Haydn: The Complete Symphonies.
    • Nimbus Records.
    • 247.

  • Steve Reich

    Clapping Music

    Performer: Steve Reich. Performer: Colin Currie.
    • COLIN CURRIE RECORDS.

  • Niccolò Paganini

    Violin Concerto No. 2 in B Minor, Op. 7: III. Rondo "La Campanella"

    Performer: Chloë Hanslip. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Paul Mann.
    • Chloë.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 1.

  • Carl Maria von Weber

    Clarinet Quintet in in B flat major,Op.34 (4th mvt)

    Performer: Jörg Widmann. Orchestra: Irish Chamber Orchestra.
    • ALPHA.

  • William Walton

    Symphony no.1 in B flat minor (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Sinfonia of London. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • Walton: Cello Concerto, Symphony No. 1 & Scapino.
    • Chandos.
    • 106.

  • Alexander Scriabin

    Piano Sonata No 3 in F sharp minor, Op 23: 1st mvt

    Performer: Alexander Melnikov.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Rinaldo, HWV 7a / Act 2: "Lascia ch'io pianga"

    Lyricist: Giacomo Rossi. Lyricist: Aaron Hill. Lyricist: Torquato Tasso. Singer: Elin Manahan Thomas. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Eternal Light.
    • Decca (UMO).
    • 11.

  • Alexander Glazunov

    Concerto ballata in C Major, Op. 108

    Performer: Li-Wei Qin. Conductor: Michael Halász. Orchestra: Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice.
    • Russian Cello Concertos.
    • Naxos.
    • 5.

  • Georges Bizet

    L'Arlésienne Suite No 1 (Carillon)

    Orchestra: Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jesús López Cobos.
    • Bizet: Carmen Suite, Symphony No. 1: Jesus Lopez-Cobos.
    • Telarc.
    • 10.

  • Benny Goodman

    Slipped Disc

    Ensemble: The Julian Bliss Septet.
    • I Got Rhythm.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 106.

  • Galina Grigorjeva

    Ikos (On Leaving)

    Choir: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. Conductor: Paul Hillier.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Impromptu in F sharp major, Op 36

    Performer: Vladimir Ashkenazy.
    • Chopin: The Solo Piano Works: Ashkenazy.
    • London.
    • 28.

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Havanaise Op.83

    Performer: María Dueñas. Orchestra: Wiener Symphoniker. Conductor: Manfred Honeck.
    • Beethoven and Beyond.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 6.

Broadcast

  • Thu 6 Aug 2026 09:30
    BBC Radio 3