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Relax into the day with classical

Georgia Mann plays the best in classical music, 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 an orchestral masterpiece.

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10 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Thu 25 Jun 202609:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony no.2 in D major, Op.36 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic. Conductor: Claudio Abbado.
    • Beethoven: 9 Symphonies: Abbado, Berliner Philharmoniker.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 8.

  • Franz Liszt

    Consolation No 3

    Performer: Sheku Kanneh‐Mason. Performer: James Baillieu. Music Arranger: Jules Deswert.
    • Collaborations.
    • Decca.
    • 2.

  • Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni

    Concerto a cinque in D minor, Op.9 no.2

    Performer: David Reichenberg. Orchestra: The English Concert. Conductor: Trevor Pinnock.
    • Pachelbel: Canon & Gigue etc..
    • ARCHIV.
    • 6-8.

  • Richard Addinsell

    Warsaw Concerto

    Performer: Jean‐Yves Thibaudet. Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Hugh Wolff.
    • Addinsell: Warsaw Concerto: Jean-Yves Thibaudet, BBCSO, Hugh Wolff.
    • Decca.

  • Herbert Howells

    Like as the hart desireth the waterbrooks

    Choir: Winchester Cathedral Choir. Performer: Philip Scriven. Conductor: David Hill.
    • Favourite Anthems from Winchester.
    • HERALD.
    • 2.

  • Margaret Bonds

    Montgomery Variations (4th mvt, Dawn in Dixie)

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Kellen Gray.
    • African American Voices II.
    • Linn Records.
    • 04.

  • Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

    Symphony in E flat major Wq.183`2

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Conductor: Gustav Leonhardt.
    • CPE Bach: Symphonies, Cello Concertos, etc: Bylsma/OAE/Leonhardt.
    • Virgin Classics.
    • 4.

  • Ronald Binge

    Sailing By

    Choir: The Fron Male Voice Choir. Orchestra: Czech Film Orchestra. Conductor: Cliff Masterson.
    • Voices Of The Valley: The Ultimate Collection (Standard CD).
    • Decca (UMO).
    • 13.

  • Earl Wild

    7 Virtuoso Etudes after George Gershwin: No. 1, Liza

    Performer: Nikolay Medvedev.
    • Fusions.
    • SOMM Recordings.
    • 501.

  • Earl Wild

    7 Virtuoso Etudes after George Gershwin: No. 2, Somebody Loves Me

    Performer: Nikolay Medvedev.
    • Fusions.
    • SOMM Recordings.
    • 502.

  • Earl Wild

    7 Virtuoso Etudes after George Gershwin: No. 3, The Man I Love

    Performer: Nikolay Medvedev.
    • Fusions.
    • SOMM Recordings.
    • 503.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Alcina (Overture)

    Orchestra: Il Complesso Barocco. Conductor: Alan Curtis.
    • Archiv.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Quintet in E flat major K.452 (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Ensemble 360.
    • Mozart: Chamber Works.
    • ASV.
    • 7.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Symphony No 8 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Semyon Bychkov.
    • Dvorak: Symphonies Nos. 7, 8 ,9.
    • Pentatone.
    • 8.

  • Judith Weir

    Still, Glowing

    Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Dalia Stasevska.
    • Dalia's Mixtape.
    • Platoon.
    • 3.

  • Cole Porter

    Too Darn Hot (Kiss me Kate)

    Ensemble: The Cast Of 'Burn The Floor'.
    • Burn the Floor (The Best of 1999-2012 Volume 1).
    • Ambition Entertainment Pty Ltd.
    • 13.

  • Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

    Sicut cervus

    Choir: Stile Antico.
    • Palestrina: Sicut cervus: I. Sicut cervus.
    • Decca.
    • 1.

  • Maurice Ravel

    Jeux d'eau

    Performer: Steven Osborne.
    • HYPERION.

  • George Frideric Handel

    He shall drink of the torrent (Dixit Dominus)

    Singer: Angela Kazimierczuk. Singer: Katherine Fugue. Choir: Monteverdi Choir. Orchestra: English Baroque Soloists. Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
    • Vivaldi Gloria / Handel Dixit Dominus.
    • Philips.
    • 026.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Waltz in A flat major for piano duet, Op 39 No 15

    Performer: Katia Labèque. Performer: Marielle Labèque.
    • Encore! Katia and Marielle Labeque.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 8.

  • Pauline Hall

    Ariettes oubliées (Verlaine Suite)

    Orchestra: Norwegian Radio Orchestra. Conductor: Christian Eggen.
    • Norway in Music: Pauline Hall.
    • Simax.
    • 003.

  • Tomás Luis de Victoria

    Caligaverunt oculi mei - responsory for 4 voices

    Ensemble: Pro Cantione Antiqua London. Conductor: Bruno Turner.
    • De Victoria - Tenebrae Responsories.
    • Deutsche Harmonia Mundi.
    • 12.

  • John Williams

    Disclosure Day (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack): Reprise

    Performer: John Williams.
    • Disclosure Day (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).
    • Back Lot Music.
    • 16.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Piano Concerto no.1 (2nd mvt)

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

  • Alexander Scriabin

    Poem of Ecstasy

    Orchestra: Oslo Philharmonic. Conductor: Vasily Petrenko.
    • Lawo.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Schafe können sicher weiden (Cantata No 208)

    Singer: Emma Kirkby. Orchestra: Parley of Instruments. Conductor: Roy Goodman.
    • Bach: Cantatas Nos. 82, 202 "Wedding" & 208 "Hunt".
    • Hyperion.
    • 24.

  • Amy Beach

    Berceuse (3 Pieces Op.40)

    Performer: Steven Isserlis. Performer: Sir Stephen Hough.
    • Children's Cello.
    • BIS.
    • 17.

  • Eric Coates

    Concert Waltz 'Footlights'

    Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • Avie.

  • Eugène Gigout

    Toccata (10 Pieces for Organ)

    Performer: Anna Lapwood.
    • Nimbus & Toccata.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 2.

  • Bedrich Smetana

    Vltava (Ma Vlast)

    Orchestra: Symfonický orchestr hlavního města Prahy FOK. Conductor: Libor Pešek.
    • Dvorak: New World Symphony: Prague Symphony Orchestra/Pesek.
    • Sony.

Broadcast

  • Thu 25 Jun 202609:30
    BBC Radio 3