Main content

A classical soundtrack for your morning

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.

To listen on most smart speakers, say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Essential Classics”.

29 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Today 09:30
BBC Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

Refresh your morning with classical music

Next

The very best of classical music

See all episodes from Essential Classics

Music Played

  • Franz Schubert

    Symphony no.5 in B flat major, D.485 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: North German Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Günter Wand.
    • Gunter Wand: The last recording - the last interview.
    • RCA Red Seal.
    • 04.

  • Gabriel Fauré

    Piano Quartet no.1 in C minor Op.15 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Kathryn Stott. Ensemble: Hermitage String Trio.
    • Chandos.

  • Francisco Garro

    In principio erat verbum

    Choir: Cupertinos. Conductor: Luís Toscano.
    • Garro: Missa O quam pulchra es & Cantate Domino.
    • Hyperion.
    • 10.

  • Samuel Barber

    Violin Concerto (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Geneva Lewis. Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Gemma New.
    • DELOS.

  • Richard Wagner

    Dawn and Siegfried's Rhine Journey (Götterdämmerung)

    Orchestra: The Cleveland Orchestra. Conductor: George Szell.
    • Szell Conducts Wagner: Great Orchestral Highlights from the Ring of the Nibelung.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 5.

  • Franz Lehár

    You Are My Heart's Delight (The Land of Smiles)

    Singer: Jonas Kaufmann. Orchestra: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. Conductor: Jochen Rieder.
    • Du bist die Welt für mich.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 7.

  • Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre

    Violin Sonata No. 1 in D Minor: V. Aria

    Performer: Emmanuel Resche-Caserta. Performer: Myriam Rignol. Performer: Thomas Dunford. Performer: William Christie.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

  • Constant Lambert

    The Rio Grande

    Singer: Sally Burgess. Performer: Jack Gibbons. Choir: Chorus of Opera North. Orchestra: Orchestra of Opera North. Conductor: David Lloyd‐Jones.
    • Lambert: Summer's Last Will and Testament; The Rio Grande.
    • HYPERION.
    • 1.

  • Christian Sinding

    Rustle of Spring (6 Pieces, Op 32)

    Performer: Christian Ihle Hadland.
    • Sinding, C.: Violin and Piano Music.
    • Naxos.
    • 1.

  • Anon

    The Sixth Royal Estampie

    Ensemble: La Reverdie.
    • ARCANA.

  • Igor Stravinsky

    Jeu de cartes (Deal 3)

    Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Ilan Volkov.
    • Stravinsky: Orpheus; Jeu de Cartes; Agon.
    • Hyperion.
    • 3.

  • Zez Confrey

    Dizzy Fingers

    Performer: Piers Lane.
    • HYPERION.

  • Christoph Willibald Gluck

    Dance of the Spectres and the Furies (Don Juan)

    Ensemble: Il Giardino Armonico. Conductor: Giovanni Antonini.
    • NAÏVE.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Five variants of Dives and Lazarus

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Richard Hickox.
    • Vaughan Williams: Five Tudor Portraits: London Symphony Orchestra/Hickox.
    • Chandos.
    • 6.

  • Joan Trimble

    Green Rain

    Performer: Gary Beecher. Singer: Niamh O'Sullivan.

  • Louis Vierne

    Symphony No 3 (5th mvt)

    Performer: Samuel Kummer.
    • Vierne: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 5.
    • Carus.
    • 5.

  • Richard Wagner

    Morgendlich leuchtend (Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg)

    Singer: Jonas Kaufmann. Orchestra: Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Marco Armiliato.
    • DECCA.

  • Erik Satie

    Je te veux

    Performer: Roland Pöntinen.
    • Erik Satie: Encore: Roland Pontinen.
    • BIS.
    • 2.

  • Charlie Chaplin

    Smile

    Performer: Nat King Cole.
    • Smile.
    • Capitol Records.
    • 1.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Violin Concerto in D Minor Op.47 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Lisa Batiashvili. Orchestra: Staatskapelle Berlin. Conductor: Daniel Barenboim.
    • Tchaikovsky, Sibelius: Violin Concertos.
    • DG.
    • 6.

  • Eric Coates

    The Dam Busters - March

    Music Arranger: Dawson. Ensemble: Grimethorpe Colliery UK Coal Band. Conductor: Garry Cutt.
    • Movie Brass.
    • RCA Red Seal.
    • 9.

  • Hedwige Chrétien

    The RIver; The Boat; Winter (Little Waterside Poems)

    Performer: Hamish Brown. Singer: Beth Taylor.
    • LINN.

  • Benjamin Britten

    Matinées musicales, Op 24 (Waltz)

    Orchestra: National Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Richard Bonynge.
    • Rossini/Respighi: La Boutique Fantasque: National Philharmonic Orch/Bonynge.
    • Decca.
    • 9.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Piano Concerto No 2 in F minor

    Performer: Benjamin Grosvenor. Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Elim Chan.
    • DECCA.

  • Pyotr Tchaikovsky

    Eugene Onegin (Act 2 Waltz)

    Orchestra: French Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Paavo Järvi.
    • Paavo Järvi: The Complete Erato Recordings.
    • ERATO.
    • 11.

  • Germaine Tailleferre

    Valse des dépêches (Les Maries de la tour Eiffel)

    Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Geoffrey Simon.
    • Chandos.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Quartet in F major K.370 (1st mvt)

    Performer: François Leleux. Performer: Lisa Batiashvili. Performer: Lawrence Power. Performer: Sebastian Klinger.
    • Sony.

  • Georg Frederic Handel

    For unto us a child is born (Messiah)

    Choir: Monteverdi Choir. Orchestra: English Baroque Soloists. Conductor: Christophe Rousset.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

Broadcast

  • Today 09:30
    BBC Radio 3