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Refresh your morning with classical music

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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7 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Mon 22 Jun 202609:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Bedrich Smetana

    The Bartered Bride (Overture)

    Orchestra: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. Conductor: Darrell Ang.
    • Smetana: Triumphal Symphony & Overture and Dances from The Bartered Bride.
    • Naxos.
    • 5.

  • Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

    Salve regina for 5 voices

    Choir: Stile Antico.
    • The Golden Renaissance: Palestrina.
    • Decca.

  • Niels Wilhelm Gade

    Capriccio in A Minor for Violin & Orchestra

    Performer: Ian van Rensburg. Orchestra: Aarhus Symfoniorkester. Conductor: Jean Thorel.
    • Concertos from 19th-Century Denmark.
    • Dacapo.
    • 301.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony No. 40 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. Conductor: Tarmo Peltokoski.
    • Mozart Symphonies.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Heino Eller

    Twilight

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.
    • Music from Estonia vol.2.
    • Chandos.
    • 006.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Concerto for 2 Pianos and Orchestra in E Major, MWV O 5: 1. Allegro

    Performer: Katia Labèque. Performer: Marielle Labèque. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Semyon Bychkov.
    • Mendelssohn & Bruch: Concertos For 2 Pianos.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..

  • Francis Poulenc

    Rondeau (Les Biches)

    Orchestra: National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland. Conductor: Jean-Luc Tingaud.
    • Poulenc: Les biches Suite, Les animaux modèles Suite & Sinfonietta.
    • Naxos.
    • 101.

  • Earl Wild

    7 Virtuoso Etudes after George Gershwin: No. 4, "Embraceable You"

    Performer: Nikolay Medvedev.
    • Fusions.
    • SOMM Recordings.
    • 504.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Prelude and Fugue in D major, BWV 532 (orch. Respighi)

    Orchestrator: Ottorino Respighi. Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Gianandrea Noseda.
    • Respighi.
    • Chandos.
    • 20.

  • Dobrinka Tabakova

    Cello Concerto (Longing)

    Performer: Guy Johnston. Conductor: Delyana Lazarova. Orchestra: Hallé.
    • Tabakova: Concerto for Cello and Strings: Longing.
    • Halle Concerts Society.
    • 1.

  • Robert Schumann

    Piano Quintet in E flat major, Op 44 (4th mvt)

    Ensemble: The Schubert Ensemble.
    • Schumann: Piano Quintet/Quartet: The Schubert Ensemble.
    • ASV.
    • 4.

  • Gustav Holst

    A Somerset Rhapsody, Op 21 No 2

    Ensemble: Bournemouth Sinfonietta. Conductor: Norman Del Mar.
    • Gustav Holst - Brook Green Suite; Planets Suite.
    • EMI Classics.

  • Zoltán Kodály

    Esti Dal, K. 110

    Choir: Danish National Vocal Ensemble. Conductor: Marcus Creed.
    • Kodály & Ligeti: Choral Works.
    • OUR Recordings.
    • 501.

  • Maurice Ravel

    Le gibet (Gaspard de la nuit)

    Performer: Martha Argerich.
    • 111 Years Of Deutsche Grammophon The Collector's Edition Vol.2.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Duke Ellington

    Dusk

    Ensemble: Duke Ellington and His Orchestra.
    • Dusk.
    • Documents.
    • 5.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92: II. Allegretto

    Orchestra: London Classical Players. Conductor: Sir Roger Norrington.
    • Beethoven: Symphonies & Concertos..
    • Warner Classics.
    • 21.

  • Tarquinio Merula

    Aria in Ciacona

    Ensemble: Lautten Compagney. Conductor: Wolfgang Katschner.
    • Timeless - Music by Merula and Glass.
    • Deutsche Harmonia Mundi.
    • 18.

  • Mel Bonis

    3 Femmes de légende: No.3, Le songe de Cléopâtre, Op. 180'2

    Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
    • Mel Bonis: Orchestral Works.
    • Chandos.
    • 103.

  • Franz Liszt

    Liebesträume S.541 (no.3 in A flat major)

    Performer: Khatia Buniatishvili.
    • Liszt: Piano Works: Khatia Buniatishvili.
    • Sony.
    • 1.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Serenade for Wind

    Orchestra: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
    • DG.

  • Henry Purcell

    Chacony in G minor

    Music Arranger: Benjamin Britten. Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Conductor: William Conway.
    • WARNER CLASSICS.

  • Elfrida Andrée

    Prelude (Fritiof Suite)

    Orchestra: Stockholm Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Gustaf Sjökvist.
    • Sterling.

  • George Frideric Handel

    To thee, thou glorious son of worth (Theodora)

    Singer: Rosemary Joshua. Singer: Dame Sarah Connolly. Orchestra: The English Concert. Director: Harry Bicket.
    • Handel Duets: The English Concert.
    • Chaconne.
    • 6.

  • Maurice Ravel

    Alborado del gracioso (Miroirs)

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • Ravel: Sheherazade; Ma Mere l'Oye; La Valse: BSO/Rattle.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 7.

Broadcast

  • Mon 22 Jun 202609:30
    BBC Radio 3