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Essential Classics marks Sir David Attenborough's 100th birthday

Georgia Mann plays the best in classical music, today celebrating Sir David Attenborough at 100 with some of his favourite music that he has listened to around the world.

Georgia Mann plays the best in classical music, with a special celebration today of Sir David Attenborough at 100, including some of his favourite music that he has listened to around the world while making nature series, a special playlist inspired by his favourite birdsong, and archive moments of Sir David talking about nature and the music that means the most to him.

1000 Playlister starter: a special edition inspired by David Attenborough's favourite birdsong. 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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8 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Fri 8 May 202609:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Léo Delibes

    Waltz (Coppelia)

    Music Arranger: Erno Dohnanyi. Performer: Polina Leschenko.
    • ALPHA.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony no. 52 in C minor H.1.52: IV Finale (Presto)

    Orchestra: Il Giardino Armonico. Conductor: Giovanni Antonini.
    • Alpha.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    String Quintet No. 4 in G Minor, K. 516: III. Adagio ma non troppo

    Performer: Antoine Tamestit. Ensemble: Quatuor Ébène.
    • Mozart: String Quintets K. 515 & 516.
    • Warner Music UK Limited.
    • 7.

  • Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

    Sea Drift

    Choir: Choir of King’s College, London. Conductor: Joseph Fort.
    • Coleridge-Taylor: Partsongs.
    • Delphian Records.
    • 1.

  • Arturo Márquez

    Conga del fuego nuevo

    Orchestra: Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Gustavo Dudamel.
    • Gustavo Dudamel: Discoveries.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 12.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Flute Concerto in D Major, Op. 10 No. 3, RV 428 "Il gardellino": III. Allegro

    Performer: Emmanuel Pahud. Orchestra: Australian Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Richard Tognetti.
    • A Musical Bestiary.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 35.

  • William Grant Still

    Summerland (3 Visions)

    Performer: Jeneba Kanneh‐Mason.
    • Fantasie.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 9.

  • Béla Bartók

    Concerto for Orchestra, Sz. 116: II. Presentando le coppie. Allegretto scherzando

    Orchestra: Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Karina Canellakis.
    • Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra.
    • Pentatone.
    • 106.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Christ, unser Herr, zum Jordan kam (Cantata BWV.7)

    Choir: Monteverdi Choir. Ensemble: English Baroque Soloists. Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
    • Soli Deo Gloria.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 'Pastoral': III - Allegro, "Joyful gathering of countryfolk"

    Performer: Leonidas Kavakos. Performer: Yo‐Yo Ma. Performer: Emanuel Ax.
    • Sony.

  • Christoph Zirngibl

    Every Child Has a Right to Dream (Resilience)

    Performer: Andreas Graf. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Ben Palmer.
    • Hope: 12 prayers for Cello & Orchesta.
    • Claves Records.
    • 3.

  • Franz Schubert

    String Quintet in C Major, D. 956 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Mstislav Rostropovich. Ensemble: Emerson String Quartet.
    • Schubert: String Quintet In C Major D.956, Op. Posth. 163.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 2.

  • Robert Schumann

    Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54: III - Allegro

    Performer: Ingrid Fliter. Orchestra: Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Antonio Méndez.
    • Schumann & Mendelssohn Piano Concertos.
    • Linn Records.

  • Gustav Mahler

    Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen (Rückert-Lieder)

    Singer: Janet Baker. Orchestra: Hallé. Conductor: John Barbirolli.
    • Mahler: Kindertotenlieder - 5 Rückertlieder - Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen.
    • Warner Classics.

  • Herbert Howells

    King David

    Performer: Joseph Middleton. Singer: Iestyn Davies.
    • Divine Music – An English Songbook.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 109.

  • Ottorino Respighi

    Prelude (The Birds)

    Orchestra: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
    • Respighi: Ancient Airs and Dances: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 1.

  • Traditional Catalan

    Song of the Birds

    Music Arranger: Pau Casals. Performer: Sheku Kanneh‐Mason. Ensemble: Cellos of the City of Birmingham Orchestra.
    • DECCA.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Suite no.4 in D minor HWV.437 (Sarabande)

    Ensemble: Jupiter Ensemble. Conductor: Thomas Dunford.
    • Handel - Eternal Heaven.
    • ERATO.
    • 1.

  • Pauline Viardot

    Six Morceaux, VWV 3003: VI. Tarantelle

    Performer: Raphaela Gromes. Conductor: Daniel Dodds. Orchestra: Lucerne Festival Strings.
    • Femmes.
    • Sony Music Entertainment UK Ltd.
    • 08.

  • Claudio Monteverdi

    Monteverdi: Madrigals - Book 6: Zefiro Torna E Di Soavi Accenti

    Lyricist: Francesco Petrarca. Singer: Ian Partridge. Singer: Nigel Rogers. Singer: Christopher Keyte. Conductor: Jürgen Jürgens.
    • Canti Amorosi.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 5.

  • William Walton

    Crown Imperial

    Ensemble: Gabrieli Players. Conductor: Paul McCreesh.
    • An English Coronation, 1902-1953.
    • Signum Records.
    • 47.

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Le Carnaval des animaux

    Conductor: François‐Xavier Roth. Orchestra: Les Siècles.
    • Saint-Saëns: Symphonic Poems - Le Carnaval des animaux - L'Assassinat du duc de.
    • harmonia mundi.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Prelude Op. 32: No. 10 in B minor

    Performer: Gergely Kovacs.

  • Claude Debussy

    Suite bergamasque for piano: IV - Passepied

    Performer: Behzod Abduraimov.
    • Alpha.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Partita for Solo Violin No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004: V. Chaconne

    Performer: Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli.
    • Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 15 - Brahms: Variations on a Theme of Paganini & Bach.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 1.

  • Enríque Samaniego

    La Llegada

    • My Field Recordings from Across the Planet.
    • Wrasse Records.
    • 33.

  • Igor Stravinsky

    Firebird Suite (1945 version): Final Hymn

    Orchestra: Columbia Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Igor Stravinsky.
    • Sony.

Broadcast

  • Fri 8 May 202609:30
    BBC Radio 3