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A classical soundtrack for your morning

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.

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27 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Monday09:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Jeremiah Clarke

    The Prince of Denmark's March (Trumpet Voluntary)

    Performer: Håkan Hardenberger. Performer: Simon Preston.
    • PHILIPS.

  • Luciano Berio

    Ritirata notturna di Madrid [after Boccherini]

    Composer: Luigi Boccherini. Orchestra: Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi. Conductor: Riccardo Chailly.
    • Berio: Orchestral transcriptions: Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Guiseppe Verdi.
    • Decca.
    • 3.

  • Jacobus Clemens non Papa

    Ego Flos Campi

    Choir: ORA. Conductor: Suzi Digby.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Piano Sonata No 55 in B flat major, H XVI 41

    Performer: Jean‐Efflam Bavouzet.
    • Haydn: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 5 - Bavouzet.
    • Chandos.
    • 12-13.

  • Vincenzo Bellini

    Casta diva (Norma)

    Singer: Maria Callas. Choir: Chorus of La Scala, Milan. Orchestra: Orchestra of La Scala, Milan. Conductor: Tullio Serafin.
    • EMI.

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Folk Festival (The Gadfly)

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vassily Sinaisky.
    • The Film Music of Dmitri Shostakovich, Vol.2: BBC Phil, Sinaisky.
    • Chandos.
    • 8.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Capriccio Brillant in B minor Op. 22

    Performer: Lars Vogt. Orchestra: Orchestre de chambre de Paris.
    • Mendelssohn: Piano Works.
    • Ondine.
    • 7.

  • Isabella Leonarda

    Violin Sonata in D minor Op.16`12

    Ensemble: La Villanella Basel.
    • O Dulcis Amor.
    • Ramee.
    • 15.

  • Richard Rodgers

    The Carousel Waltz

    Music Arranger: Don Walker. Orchestra: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Barbara Hannigan.
    • Alpha.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony No 7 in D major, K 45

    Orchestra: Prague Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.
    • Telarc.

  • Louise Héritte-Viardot

    Piano Quartet No 1 in A major, 'In Summer' (2nd mvt, Flies and Butterflies)

    Ensemble: Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective.
    • Brahms & Contemporaries, Vol. 2.
    • Chandos.
    • 2.

  • Georges Bizet

    Petite Suite 'Jeux d'enfants'

    Orchestra: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Conductor: Bernard Haitink.
    • Bizet: Symphony in C etc.: Concertgebouw Orchestra/Haitink.
    • Philips.
    • 5.

  • Kevin Day

    Gymnopédie

    Performer: Sterling Elliott. Performer: Richard Uttley.

  • Phyllis Tate

    London Fields – suite: no.4 Hampstead Heath

    Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Barry Wordsworth.
    • Lyrita.

  • Ernest John Moeran

    Bank Holiday

    Performer: Paul Guinery.
    • Stone.

  • Louis James Lefebure-Wely

    Sortie in B flat major for organ

    Performer: Ben van Oosten.
    • MDG.

  • Léo Delibes

    Pizzicato (from Sylvia)

    Orchestra: Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: János Sándor.
    • 99 Must-Have Sunday Morning Classics.
    • Cobra Entertainment LLC.
    • 84.

  • Pauline Viardot

    Les Deux Roses (12 Melodies sur des poesies Russes)

    Performer: Joseph Middleton. Singer: Louise Alder.
    • Chère Nuit.
    • Chandos.
    • 10.

  • Hildegard von Bingen

    O felix anima

    Choir: Anonymous 4.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

  • Bohuslav Martinů

    Symphony No. 1; 1st movement Moderato - Poco più mosso

    Orchestra: Bamberg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jakub Hrůša.
    • Martinů: The Symphonies.
    • DG.
    • 1.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Sonatensatz

    Performer: Leila Josefowicz. Performer: John Novacek.
    • WARNER CLASSICS.

  • Leoš Janáček

    The Cunning Little Vixen - Suite

    Music Arranger: Václav Talich. Music Arranger: Charles Mackerras. Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
    • Chandos.

  • Cécile Chaminade

    Valse-Caprice, Op. 33

    Performer: Hiroko Ishimoto.
    • Pioneers: Piano Works by Female Composers.
    • Grand Piano.
    • 201.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No 4 in B flat major, Op 60 (3rd mvt)

    Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Singer: Charlotte Margiono. Singer: Rudolf Schasching. Singer: Birgit Remmert. Singer: Robert Holl. Choir: Arnold Schoenberg Chor. Conductor: Erwin Ortner.
    • Beethoven: Symphonies 1-9: Harnoncourt, Chamber Orchestra of Europe.
    • Teldec.
    • 3.

  • Maurice Ravel

    String Quartet 1st mvt: Allegro moderato - Tres doux

    Ensemble: Leonkoro Quartet.
    • Ravel, Schumann: String Quartets.
    • Mirare.
    • 101.

  • Thomas Campion

    My love hath vow'd

    Singer: Andreas Scholl. Performer: Andreas Martin.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

  • Malcolm Arnold

    Four Cornish Dances, Op. 91

    Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Bryden Thomson.
    • CHANDOS.

Broadcast

  • Monday09:30
    BBC Radio 3