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The ideal mix of classical music

Georgia Mann plays the best in classical music for your morning, 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 a masterpiece.

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25 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Wednesday 09:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Marc‐Antoine Charpentier

    Te Deum H.146 (Prelude)

    Ensemble: Les Arts Florissants. Conductor: William Christie.
    • ERATO.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony no.29 in A major K.201 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.
    • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; Symphonies; SCO; Sir Charles Mackerras.
    • Linn.
    • 4.

  • Gabriel Fauré

    Impromptu No. 6 In D-Flat Major, Op. 86

    Performer: Katya Apekisheva.
    • Scriabin/Faure/Chopin: Impromptus.
    • CHAMPS HILL RECORDS.
    • 8.

  • Anon.

    Flautino Concerto in C Major, RV 443 (Arr. for Marimba & Orchestra): III. Allegro

    Composer: Antonio Vivaldi. Performer: Fumito Nunoya. Orchestra: Kurpfälzisches Kammerorchester. Conductor: Johannes Schlaefli.
    • Concertos on Marimba.
    • Oehms Classics.
    • 3.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Carnival Overture

    Ensemble: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Mariss Jansons.
    • BR Klassik.

  • Kristina Arakelyan

    Dreamland

    Performer: Kristina Arakelyan. Lyricist: Christina Rossetti. Singer: Ellie Blewitt. Choir: Choir of King’s College, London. Conductor: Joseph Fort.
    • A Christmas Offering.
    • Signum Classics.

  • Franz Waxman

    Carmen Fantasy

    Composer: Georges Bizet. Performer: Chloë Hanslip. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Paul Mann.
    • Chloe.
    • Warner.
    • 11.

  • Fanny Mendelssohn

    Piano Quartet in A flat major (1st mvt: Allegro moderato)

    Ensemble: Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective.
    • Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn: Piano Sextet; Piano Quartet; Piano Trio.
    • Chandos.
    • 9.

  • Malcolm Arnold

    Four English Dances, Set 1 (No 4)

    Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Malcolm Arnold.
    • Malcolm Arnold: English, Irish, Scottish & Cornish Dances: LPO/Arnold.
    • Lyrita.
    • 4.

  • Anon.

    Isabella

    Ensemble: La Reverdie.
    • Arcana.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Cello Sonata no.1 in E minor Op.38 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Daniel Müller‐Schott. Performer: Francesco Piemontesi.
    • Brahms: Sonatas Opp. 38, 78 & 99.
    • Orfeo.
    • 101.

  • Leonard Bernstein

    Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

    Conductor: Santtu‐Matias Rouvali. Orchestra: Tampere Filharmonia.
    • American Concertos.
    • Orfeo.
    • 6.

  • Henry Purcell

    Sonata no. 9 in F major Z.810 'Golden'

    Ensemble: Retrospect Trio.
    • Purcell: Ten Sonatas in Four Parts.
    • Linn.
    • 39--43.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Songs of Travel: V. In Dreams

    Singer: Bryn Terfel. Performer: Martin Martineau.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.

  • Hans Werner Henze

    ‘Ophelia’ from Royal Winter Music (Sonata No. 1 on Shakespearean Characters)

    Performer: Julian Bream.
    • SONY CLASSICAL.

  • Amy Beach

    'Dreaming' from 4 Sketches, Op.15

    Performer: Sterling Elliott. Performer: Richard Uttley.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Prelude and Fugue in C major, BWV846 (The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1, No 1)

    Performer: Trevor Pinnock.
    • DG.

  • Dobrinka Tabakova

    Turn our captivity, O Lord

    Choir: The Sixteen. Director: Harry Christophers.
    • CORO.

  • Joseph Martin Kraus

    Symphony in C Minor, 1st mvt Larghetto - Allegro

    Orchestra: The Mozartists. Conductor: Ian Page.
    • Sturm und Drang, Vol. 4.
    • Signum Records.
    • 1.

  • Benjamin Britten

    Frolicsome Finale (Simple Symphony)

    Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Benjamin Britten.
    • Britten: Young person's guide to the orchestra etc: LSO/ECO/Britten.
    • Decca.
    • 5.

  • Claude Debussy

    Arabesque no.1 in E major

    Performer: Jean‐Efflam Bavouzet.
    • Debussy: Complete works for piano vol.3: Bavouzet.
    • Chandos.
    • 7.

  • Ruth Gipps

    Wind Sinfonietta, Op 73

    Conductor: BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Jonathan Bloxham.

  • Hector Berlioz

    Rêverie et caprice

    Performer: Renaud Capuçon. Orchestra: The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. Conductor: Daniel Harding.
    • Fantastique Berlioz ! (Radio Classique).
    • Warner Classics.
    • 8.

  • Lili Boulanger

    D'un vieux jardin

    Performer: Kunal Lahiry.
    • Licht in der Nacht.
    • Fuga Libera.
    • 5.

  • Arthur Bliss

    Things to come (March)

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
    • Chandos Movies.

  • Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre

    Trio Sonata No 1 in G minor

    Ensemble: Ensemble Correspondances. Director: Sébastien Daucé.
    • Splendeurs de Versailles (Collection Château de Versailles).
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 7.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Violin Concerto No 1 in B flat major, K 207 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Viktoria Mullova. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Director: Viktoria Mullova.
    • Mozart: Violin Concertos: Viktoria Mullova.
    • Philips.
    • 8.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Bagatelle in A Minor, WoO 59 ʻFür Eliseʼ

    Performer: Paul Lewis.
    • Beethoven: Fur Elise, Bagatelles Opp. 33, 119 & 126.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 25.

Broadcast

  • Wednesday 09:30
    BBC Radio 3