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The very best of classical music

Georgia Mann plays the best in classical music.

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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9 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Wed 24 Jun 202609:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Magnificat anima mea (Magnificat in D major, BWV 243)

    Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Vivaldi: Gloria; Caldara: Stabat Mater; Bach: Magnificat.
    • Collins Digital.
    • 22.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony No. 28 in C Major (1st mvt)

    Ensemble: Danish National Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Ádám Fischer.
    • Mozart: 45 Symphonies.
    • Dacapo.
    • 126.

  • Cécile Chaminade

    Les Sylvains Op.60

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough.
    • Hyperion.

  • Arnold Bax

    The Happy Forest

    Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • Made In Britain.
    • Avie.
    • 5.

  • Alexander Borodin

    String Quartet No. 2 in D major (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Takács Quartet.
    • DECCA.

  • Edward Elgar

    Carissima

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • Elgar: The longed for light: BBC Concert Orchestra/John Wilson.
    • Somm.
    • 5.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Clarinet Quintet in B minor, Op.115 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Martin Frost. Performer: Janine Jansen. Performer: Boris Brovtsyn. Performer: Maxim Rysanov. Performer: Torleif Thedéen.
    • BIS.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Egmont Op.84 (Overture)

    Orchestra: Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Gustavo Dudamel.
    • Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 'Eroica'/Prometheus/Egmont.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 6.

  • George Gershwin

    3 Preludes

    Performer: Nikolay Medvedev.
    • SOMM Recordings.

  • Fanny Mendelssohn

    String Quartet in E flat major (4th mvt)

    Ensemble: Quatuor Ébène.
    • Felix & Fanny Mendelssohn: String Quartets Op. 13 in A minor, Op. 80 in F minor:.
    • Virgin.
    • 8.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony no.45 in F sharp minor 'Farewell' (4th mvt)

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

  • Samuel Barber

    Agnus Dei

    Choir: Polyphony. Conductor: Stephen Layton.
    • HYPERION.

  • Johann Kaspar Kerll

    Sonata à 5 in G minor

    Ensemble: Charivari Agréable. Conductor: Kah-Ming Ng.
    • Pachelbel Vespers.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 032.

  • Claude Debussy

    Serenade for the Doll (Children's Corner)

    Performer: Pascal Rogé.
    • A Debussy Recital: Pascal Roge.
    • Decca.
    • 7.

  • Peter Maxwell Davies

    Lullabye for Lucy for chorus

    Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Coro.

  • Harrison Birtwistle

    Sleep Song

    Performer: Sean Shibe.
    • Vesper.
    • PENTATONE.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Nocturne in E flat major, Op 9 No 2

    Performer: Alexandre Tharaud.
    • Alexandre Tharaud: Chopin; Journal Intime.
    • Virgin Classics.
    • 16.

  • George Antheil

    Over the Plains

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Storgårds.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Alma Mahler-Werfel

    In meines Vaters Garten (5 songs)

    Singer: Angelika Kirchschlager. Performer: Helmut Deutsch.
    • Lieder.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 7.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Keyboard Concerto in F Minor, BWV 1056

    Performer: Mahan Esfahani. Ensemble: Britten Sinfonia.
    • Bach: The Complete Keyboard Concertos.
    • Hyperion.
    • 4-6.

  • Joseph Canteloube

    Bailero (Chants d'Auvergne)

    Singer: Kate Royal. Conductor: Edward Gardner. Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields.
    • Kate Royal.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 103.

  • Clara Schumann

    Piano Concerto in A minor, Op 7

    Performer: Isata Kanneh‐Mason. Performer: Jonathan Aasgaard. Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Holly Mathieson.
    • Decca.

  • Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni

    Il nome glorioso in terra, sanctificato in cielo (Sinfonia)

    Performer: Simon Munday. Ensemble: La Serenissima. Director: Adrian Chandler.
    • Venice By Night.
    • AVIE.
    • 18-20.

  • Johan Svendsen

    Variations on a Norwegian folksong Op.31

    Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.
    • Johan Svendsen - Orchestral Works Vol.1.
    • Chandos.
    • 007.

  • Max Bruch

    Concerto in E minor for clarinet, viola and orchestra Op.88 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Gérard Caussé. Performer: Paul Meyer. Orchestra: Opéra de Lyon. Conductor: Kent Nagano.
    • Bruch/Werke fur Klarinette und Viola.
    • Erato.

  • Elfrida Andrée

    Piano Trio in G Minor: Rondo Finale

    Ensemble: Trio Nordica.
    • Andree: Piano Trios - Piano Quartet in A minor.
    • Intim Musik.
    • 3.

  • Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

    Ave regina caelorum à 8

    Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Palestrina - Volume 4. The Sixteen/Harry Christophers.
    • Coro.
    • 10.

  • Leonard Bernstein

    Mambo (West Side Story)

    Conductor: Marin Alsop. Orchestra: São Paulo Symphony Orchestra.
    • Bernstein: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Suite, Slava!, CBS Music & A Bernstein Birth.
    • Naxos.
    • 1.

Broadcast

  • Wed 24 Jun 202609:30
    BBC Radio 3