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Refresh your morning with 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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26 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Thursday 09:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Pyotr Tchaikovsky

    Symphony no.6 in B minor Op.74 'Pathétique' (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Philadelphia Orchestra. Conductor: Christoph Eschenbach.
    • Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 "Pathétique": Philadelphia Orchestra/Eschenbach.
    • Ondine.

  • Witold Lutosławski

    Variations on a theme of Paganini

    Performer: Martha Argerich. Performer: Nelson Freire.
    • Rachmaninov:Suite No.2 /Ravel a Valse/Lutoslawski:/Paganini Variations - Argeric.
    • Philips.
    • 6.

  • Thomas Tallis

    Spem in alium

    Choir: Choir of King’s College, Cambridge. Director: Stephen Cleobury.
    • ARGO.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Violin Concerto in E minor, Op.64 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Janine Jansen. Orchestra: Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. Conductor: Riccardo Chailly.
    • Mendelssohn/Bruch - Violin Concertos; Romance: Janine Jansen.
    • Decca.

  • Valborg Aulin

    Parisian Scenes: Noisy Life

    Orchestra: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Johannes Gustavsson.
    • Aulin, Moberg, Andrée: Orchestral Works.
    • Naxos Sweden - Nilento.
    • 1.

  • Gustav Holst

    Capriccio

    Music Arranger: Imogen Holst. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Richard Hickox.
    • Holst: Egdon Heath, Hammersmith etc.: LSO/Hickox.
    • Chandos.

  • Ketil Bjørnstad

    Schubert Said

    Performer: Svante Henryson. Performer: Ketil Bjørnstad.
    • Ketil Bjørnstad & Svante Henryson: Night Song.
    • ECM.
    • 6.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Symphony No.8 in G major (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Los Angeles Philharmonic. Conductor: Gustavo Dudamel.
    • Dvořák: Symphonies Nos. 7-9.
    • DG.
    • 8.

  • Guillaume de Machaut

    Moult sui de bonne heure nee

    Ensemble: La Reverdie.
    • ARCANA.

  • Claude Debussy

    Tarantelle styrienne

    Orchestrator: Maurice Ravel. Orchestra: Orchestre de l’Opéra de Lyon. Conductor: Jun Märkl.
    • Debussy - Complete Orchestral Works.
    • Naxos.
    • 7.

  • Jennifer Higdon

    Piano Trio (1st mvmt, Pale Yellow)

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

  • Heitor Villa‐Lobos

    Bachiana brasileira No 5

    Singer: Renée Fleming. Ensemble: New World Symphony. Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas.
    • Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras: Michael Tilson Thomas.
    • RCA.
    • 5-6.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Brandenburg Concerto No 1 in F major, BWV 1046 (4th mvt)

    Performer: Clemens Röger. Performer: Jochen Pless. Performer: Henrik Wahlgren. Performer: Susanne Wettermann. Performer: Sebastian Breuninger. Orchestra: Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. Conductor: Riccardo Chailly.
    • Bach: Brandenburg Concertos.
    • Decca.
    • 4.

  • Marin Marais

    La sonnerie de Sainte-Geneviève du Mont de Paris

    Ensemble: Le Concert des Nations. Director: Jordi Savall.
    • Tous Les Matins Du Monde: Bande Originale du Film, Jordi Savall.
    • Alia Vox.

  • Claude Debussy

    La cathédrale engloutie (Preludes, Book 1)

    Performer: Jean‐Bernard Pommier.
    • Debussy: Piano works: Jean-Bernard Pommier.
    • Virgin Classics.
    • 10.

  • George Gershwin

    An American in Paris (conclusion)

    Performer: André Previn. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.
    • EMI.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Don Giovanni (Overture)

    Orchestra: Norwegian National Opera Orchestra. Conductor: Rinaldo Alessandrini.
    • Mozart: Overtures: Norwegian National Opera Orchestra/Alessandrini.
    • Naive.
    • 15.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Giulio Cesare in Egitto, HWV 17, Act I: Aria. Priva son d'ogni conforto

    Orchestra: The English Concert. Conductor: Harry Bicket. Singer: Beth Taylor.
    • Handel: Giulio Cesare in Egitto.
    • Linn Records.
    • 7.

  • Edvard Grieg

    Homage March (Sigurd Jorsalfar Suite)

    Orchestra: Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Esa‐Pekka Salonen.
    • Sibelius: Finlandia; Valse Triste; Grieg: Sigurd Jorsalfar; Salonen.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 5.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    3 Nocturnes Op.9 (no.1 in B flat minor)

    Performer: Angela Hewitt.
    • Chopin: The Complete Nocturnes and Impromptus: Angela Hewitt, piano.
    • Hyperion.
    • 3.

  • Robert Schumann

    Konzertstück for four horns and orchestra, Op 86

    Performer: Dale Clevenger. Performer: Richard Oldberg. Performer: Thomas Howell. Performer: Norman Schweikert. Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Daniel Barenboim.
    • Decca Eloquence.

  • Claudio Monteverdi

    Dixit Dominus primo (Selva morale e spirituale)

    Ensemble: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Coro.

  • Gabriel Fauré

    Pavane, Op 50

    Orchestra: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
    • Pavane: Ravel, Satie & Faure: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Helvi Leiviskä

    The Coming of Spring (Suite No 2 for Orchestra, Op 11; 1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Lahti Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Dalia Stasevska.
    • Helvi Leiviska: Orchestral Works Vol. 1.
    • Bis.
    • 2.

  • Franz Liszt

    Valse Oubliée No 1

    Performer: Nikolai Lugansky.
    • Nikolai Lugansky: Liszt.
    • Naive.
    • 10.

  • Johann Strauss II

    Roses from the South Op.388

    Music Arranger: Arnold Schoenberg. Ensemble: Linos Ensemble. Performer: Ryoko Morooka.
    • Capriccio.

Broadcast

  • Thursday 09:30
    BBC Radio 3