Main content

The very best of classical music

Ian Skelly plays the best in classical music for your morning, 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 an orchestral masterpiece.

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

28 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Tuesday09:30
BBC Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

A classical soundtrack for your morning

Next

Relax into the day with classical

See all episodes from Essential Classics

Music Played

  • Johannes Brahms

    Rhapsodie in E flat major, Op 119 No 4

    Performer: Lars Vogt.
    • Haydn, Brahms, Lachenmann, Schubert: Lars Vogt.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 13.

  • Gustav Holst

    Uranus, the Magician (The Planets)

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Davis.
    • Holst: Orchestral Works, Volume 2.
    • Chandos.
    • 15.

  • Thomas Tomkins

    When David Heard

    Choir: Stile Antico.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

  • William Grant Still

    Lyric Quartet (The Jovial One)

    Ensemble: Catalyst Quartet.
    • Uncovered, Vol 3.
    • Azica.
    • 6.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    The Wasps (Overture)

    Orchestra: Hallé. Conductor: Mark Elder.
    • Vaughan Williams: Orchestral works including Symphony no.3, The Wasps Overture,.
    • Hallé.
    • 7.

  • Manuel de Falla

    Will O' the Wisp (from El amor brujo)

    Performer: Miles Davis. Music Arranger: Gil Evans. Conductor: Gil Evans.
    • Sony.

  • Malcolm Arnold

    Three Shanties for wind quintet (No 3)

    Performer: Emma Johnson. Performer: Jaime Martín. Performer: Jonathan Kelly. Performer: Claire Briggs. Performer: Susanna Cohen.
    • Arnold: Complete Works for Clarinet: Emma Johnson.
    • ASV.
    • 6.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Organ Concerto in B flat major, Op.4`2

    Performer: Bob van Asperen. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.
    • Virgin.

  • Giuseppe Verdi

    La donna è mobile (Rigoletto)

    Singer: Rolando Villazón. Orchestra: Munich Radio Orchestra. Conductor: Marcello Viotti.
    • Italian Opera Arias: Rolando Villazon/Munchner Rundfunkorchester/Viotti.
    • Virgin Classics.
    • 10.

  • Edvard Grieg

    Nocturne, Op 54 No 4 (Lyric Pieces)

    Performer: Leif Ove Andsnes.
    • Grieg: Lyric Pieces: Leif Ove Andsnes.
    • EMI Classics.

  • Edvard Grieg

    Butterfly (Lyric Pieces - book 3 Op.43)

    Performer: Leif Ove Andsnes.
    • EMI.

  • George Gershwin

    Porgy and Bess, a Symphonic Picture; 1. Catfish Row

    Music Arranger: Robert Russell Bennett. Conductor: Barbara Hannigan. Orchestra: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra.
    • An American Dream?.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 1.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Symphonic Dances, Op. 45: I. Non allegro

    Orchestra: Sinfonia of London. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 13 - Symphonic Dances, Op. 45.
    • Chandos.
    • 105.

  • Elena Kats‐Chernin

    Green Leaf Prelude

    Performer: Nicola Sweeney. Performer: Sarah Nicolls.
    • Ragtime & Blue.
    • SIGNUM CLASSICS.
    • 2.

  • Max Richter

    On The Nature Of Daylight

    Orchestra: Baltic Sea Philharmonic. Conductor: Kristjan Järvi.
    • Exiles.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 2.

  • Leroy Anderson

    Bugler's Holiday

    Orchestra: Boston Pops Orchestra. Conductor: Arthur Fiedler.
    • DG.

  • Alexander Glazunov

    Concert waltz no. 1 in D major Op.47

    Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Paavo Berglund.
    • WARNER CLASSICS.

  • Franz Schubert

    Winterreise D911: IX. Irrlicht (Will-o'-the-wisp)

    Performer: James Baillieu. Singer: Benjamin Appl.
    • Schubert: Winterreise.
    • Alpha.
    • 9.

  • Hector Berlioz

    Menuet des follets - Dance of the Will-o'-the-Wisps (The Damnation of Faust)

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Louis Frémaux.
    • WARNER.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Air on a G string (Suite no.3 in D major BWV.1068)

    Music Arranger: Jacques Loussier. Ensemble: Jacques Loussier Trio.
    • Air On A 'G' String - The Very Best Of Jacques Loussier.
    • Music Club.
    • 1.

  • Richard Wagner

    The Ride of the Valkyries (Die Walküre)

    Orchestra: Staatskapelle Dresden. Conductor: Donald Runnicles.
    • Wagner: Der Ring - Orchestral Highlights: Runnicles.
    • Teldec.

  • Ivor Gurney

    Sleep (Five Elizabethan Songs)

    Performer: Malcolm Martineau. Singer: Bryn Terfel.
    • Bryn Terfel: Silent Noon - English Songs.
    • DG.
    • 4.

  • Miles Davis

    Springsville

    • Prince of Darkness: The Best of Miles Davis.
    • Maximuze.
    • 12.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Horn Concerto No. 4 in E Flat Major, K. 495: I. Allegro maestoso

    Performer: Martin Owen. Conductor: Gábor Takács‐Nagy. Orchestra: Manchester Camerata.
    • Mozart: Horn Concertos.
    • Chandos.
    • 109.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Violin Concerto in G minor, RV 315, 'Summer'

    Performer: Fabio Biondi. Ensemble: Europa Galante.
    • Vivaldi: The Four Seasons; Europa Galante, Fabio Biondi.
    • Virgin Classics.
    • 4.

  • Francis Poulenc

    Concerto for 2 Pianos and Orchestra in D minor

    Performer: Louis Lortie. Performer: Hélène Mercier. Conductor: Edward Gardner. Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Poulenc: Concertos for Piano.
    • Chandos.
    • 111.

  • John Adams

    Short Ride in a Fast Machine

    Orchestra: San Francisco Symphony. Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas.
    • Adams: Harmonielehre etc: San Francisco Symphony/Tilson Thomas.
    • SFS.
    • 4.

  • Miles Davis

    Mood

    • The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings Of The Miles Davis Quintet January 1965.
    • Columbia/Legacy.
    • 7.

  • William Byrd

    Miserere mei, Deus

    Choir: Contrapunctus. Conductor: Owen Rees.
    • Libera Nos - The Cry of the Oppressed.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 701.

  • Frank Bridge

    The Hour Glass: The Dew Fairy

    Performer: Kathryn Stott.
    • Bridge: Piano Sonata etc: Kathryn Stott.
    • Conifer.

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Danse macabre, Op. 40

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.
    • Saint-Saëns: Orchestral Works.
    • Chandos.
    • 104.

Broadcast

  • Tuesday09:30
    BBC Radio 3