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The ideal mix of 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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20 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Fri 3 Jul 202609:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Richard Wagner

    Lohengrin: Prelude to Act 3

    Orchestra: Staatskapelle Berlin. Conductor: Daniel Barenboim.
    • Wagner : Lohengrin.
    • Warner Classics International.

  • Fanny Mendelssohn

    Schwanenlied

    Performer: Sholto Kynoch. Singer: Helen Charlston.
    • A Poet's Love.
    • BIS.
    • 103.

  • Erich Wolfgang Korngold

    Symphony in F sharp major, Op.40 (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Sinfonia of London. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • Chandos.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Violin Sonata No 4 in A minor (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Viktoria Mullova. Performer: Alasdair Beatson.
    • Beethoven: Violin Sonatas 4, 5 & 7.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 102.

  • William Walton

    Spitfire Prelude and Fugue - concert version

    Orchestra: Orchestra of Opera North. Conductor: Paul Daniel.
    • Walton: Spitfire Prelude and Fugue: Sinofnia concertante.
    • Naxos.
    • 1.

  • Howard Goodall

    Ecce Homo

    Performer: David Goode. Choir: Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford. Conductor: Stephen Darlington.
    • ASV.

  • Arcangelo Corelli

    Trio sonata in G major Op.2`12 (Ciacona)

    Ensemble: Musica Antiqua Latina. Director: Giordano Antonelli.
    • Deutsche Harmonia Mundi: 88875174822.
    • Deutsche Harmonia Mundi.
    • 5.

  • Franz Liszt

    Années de pèlerinage II, 'Italie'; Canzonetta del Salvator Rosa

    Performer: Louis Lortie.
    • Liszt: Annees de Pelerinage.
    • Chandos.
    • 12.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Concerto Grosso in G major, Op 6 No 1

    Ensemble: Gabrieli Players. Director: Paul McCreesh.
    • SIGNUM.

  • Darius Milhaud

    Scaramouche (3rd mvt. Brazileira)

    Performer: Oleg Shebeta-Dragan. Conductor: Anna Skryleva. Orchestra: Odense Symfoniorkester.
    • Busoni, Françaix & Others: Clarinet Concertos.
    • Orchid Classics.
    • 105.

  • Carl Orff

    Carmina Burana: Ave formosissima; O Fortuna

    Choir: Audivi. Choir: Detroit Opera Youth Chorus. Orchestra: Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jader Bignamini.
    • Orff: Carmina Burana.
    • Pentatone.
    • 125.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Bagatelles Op.47 (no.5)

    Ensemble: Takács Quartet.
    • Dvorak: String Quartets: Takacs Quartet.
    • Decca.
    • 5.

  • Domenico Scarlatti

    Keyboard Sonata in C Kk.487

    Performer: Giorgi Gigashvili.

  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony No 4 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Bernard Haitink.
    • Mahler: Symphony No. 4 - Bernard Haitink.
    • BR-Klassik.
    • 101.

  • Amy Beach

    Extase (3 Songs, Op 21: No 2)

    Singer: Elsa Dreisig. Orchestra: Orchestra del teatro Carlo Felice di Genova. Conductor: Massimo Zanetti.
    • ERATO.

  • Nicholas Choveaux

    Introduction and Toccata

    Performer: Peter Crompton.
    • Toccatas and Roses, Peter Crompton.
    • Priory.
    • 9.

  • Claudio Monteverdi

    Laudate Dominum

    Choir: I Fagiolini. Choir: The 24. Ensemble: The English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble. Director: Robert Hollingworth.
    • Monteverdi: The Other Vespers.
    • DECCA.
    • 15.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Coffee, I must have coffee (Coffee-Cantata, BWV.211)

    Singer: Carolyn Sampson. Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan. Director: Masaaki Suzuki.
    • J.S.Bach: Secular Cantatas BWV 210 & 211.
    • BIS.
    • 14.

  • Max Steiner

    Gone with the Wind (main title)

    Orchestra: London Festival Orchestra. Choir: London Festival Chorus. Conductor: Stanley Black.
    • DECCA.

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    The Love for Three Oranges: March

    Performer: Sarah Chang. Performer: Sandra Rivers. Music Arranger: Jascha Heifetz.
    • EMI.

  • Libby Larsen

    The Ol Chisholm Trail (Western Songs)

    Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Andrew Griffiths.

  • Alexander Borodin

    Symphony No 2 in B Minor (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Seattle Symphony. Conductor: Gerard Schwarz.
    • Borodin: Symphonies Nos. 1-3.
    • Naxos.
    • 1.

  • Henry Purcell

    Fantazia No 7 in C minor

    Performer: Sit Fast.
    • ELOQUENTIA: EL1549.
    • ELOQUENTIA.
    • 8.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony No.36 in C major "Linz" (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Ensemble Resonanz. Conductor: Riccardo Minasi.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

  • Pyotr Tchaikovsky

    Serenade for Strings

    Director: Julian Azkoul.
    • Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings, Souvenir de Florence, Andante Cantabile.
    • BIS.
    • 1.

  • Gabriel Fauré

    Pelléas et Mélisande Suite, Op. 80: III. Sicilienne

    Orchestra: National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland. Conductor: Jean-Luc Tingaud.
    • Fauré: Pelléas et Mélisande Suite, Op. 80 & Other Works.
    • Naxos.
    • 103.

  • Robert Schumann

    Kresileriana: No 4 in B flat major

    Performer: Adam Laloum.
    • Schumann: Novelletten - Kreisleriana.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • 112.

  • Sarah Rimkus

    My heart is like a singing bird

    Lyricist: Christina Rossetti. Choir: The Gesualdo Six. Conductor: Owain Park.
    • Fading.
    • Hyperion.
    • 16.

  • Niel Gow

    The Caledonian Hunt's Delight

    Ensemble: Flutes & Frets Duo.
    • Heir of All the Ages.
    • EM Records.
    • 19.

  • George Gershwin

    Piano Concerto in F major (3rd mvt, Allegro agitato)

    Performer: Daniil Trifonov. Orchestra: Philadelphia Orchestra. Conductor: Yannick Nézet‐Séguin.
    • My American Story: North.
    • DG.
    • 4.

Broadcast

  • Fri 3 Jul 202609:30
    BBC Radio 3