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The very best 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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25 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Wednesday09:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Pyotr Tchaikovsky

    Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, 'Pathétique' Op. 74: II. Allegro con grazia

    Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vasily Petrenko.
    • Tchaikovsky Symphony No.6 'Pathetique', Symphony No.4, Symphony No.3 'Polish'.
    • Onyx Classics.
    • 11.

  • Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

    Magnificat, Wq. 215 (Sicut erat in principio)

    Singer: Elizabeth Watts. Singer: Wiebke Lehmkuhl. Singer: Lothar Odinius. Singer: Markus Eiche. Choir: RIAS Chamber Choir. Ensemble: Academy for Ancient Music Berlin. Director: Hans-Christoph Rademann.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

  • Franz Schubert

    Piano Sonata in B Major, D.575 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Paul Lewis.
    • Weber & Schubert: Sonatas.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 7.

  • Emilie Mayer

    String Quartet in A Major - finale

    Ensemble: Constanze Quartet.
    • CPO.

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Bacchanale (Samson et Dalila)

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.
    • Saint-Saens: Orchestral Works: Neeme Jarvi.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 1.

  • William Bolcom

    Lost Lady Rag

    Performer: Marc‐André Hamelin.
    • William Bolcom: The Complete Rags.
    • HYPERION.
    • 11.

  • Carl Maria von Weber

    Andante e rondo ungarese Op.35 (Rondo)

    Performer: Laurence Perkins. Orchestra: Manchester Camerata. Conductor: Douglas Boyd.
    • Bassoon Concertos: Michael Haydn, Mozart, Stamitz & Weber.
    • Hyperion.

  • John Dowland

    First Book of Songs or Ayres: No. 6, Now, o Now, I Needs Must Part

    Singer: Alex Rosen. Singer: Jess Dandy. Singer: Laurence Kilsby. Singer: Lea Desandre. Conductor: Thomas Dunford. Ensemble: Jupiter Ensemble.
    • Songs of Passion.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 12.

  • Edward Elgar

    La capricieuse, Op.17

    Orchestrator: Søren Barfoed. Performer: Sol Gabetta. Orchestra: Danish National Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Mario Venzago.
    • Elgar: Cello Concerto: Sol Gambetta.
    • RCA.
    • 7.

  • Enrique Granados

    Danzas españolas, Op. 37: V. Andaluza (Playera)

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough.
    • HYPERION.

  • Robert Schumann

    Langsam (2nd movement) from Violin Concerto in D minor

    Performer: Joshua Bell. Performer: Steven Isserlis. Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Director: Joshua Bell.
    • For the Love of Brahms.
    • SONY.
    • 004.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Clarinet Trio in A minor: 4th mvt

    Performer: Martin Fröst. Performer: Torleif Thedéen. Performer: Roland Pöntinen.
    • BIS.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Scherzo capriccioso Op.66

    Orchestra: Oslo Philharmonic. Conductor: Mariss Jansons.
    • Dvorak: Symphony No. 5, Scherzo Capriccioso etc..
    • EMI.
    • 6.

  • Charlotte Sohy

    Kyrie

    Conductor: Christophe Grapperon. Choir: Chœur de Radio France.
    • Motets romantiques.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 11.

  • Frank Bridge

    A Sea-Idyll for piano

    Performer: Kathryn Stott.
    • Bridge - PIano Sonata etc Kathryn Stott.
    • Conifer.
    • 2.

  • Rebecca Dale

    The Lost Composers (Fortissima)

    Performer: Raphaela Gromes. Orchestra: German Symphony Orchestra Berlin. Conductor: Anna Rakitina.
    • The Lost Composers (Fortissima).
    • Sony Classical/Sony Music.
    • 1.

  • Percy Grainger

    The Lost Lady Found (A Lincolnshire Posy)

    Performer: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • Warner.

  • Cole Porter

    Miss Otis regrets

    Performer: Richard Rodney Bennett. Music Arranger: Richard Rodney Bennett.
    • Gershwin/Kern etc: That certain feeling: Richard Rodney Bennett.
    • CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE.

  • Frederick Delius

    On hearing the first cuckoo in spring

    Orchestra: Hallé. Conductor: Mark Elder.
    • HALLE.

  • Darius Milhaud

    Caramel Mou

    Performer: Christopher Glynn. Singer: Claire Booth.
    • Cocteau's Music.
    • Orchid Classics.
    • 109.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Cello Concerto no.1 in C major H.7b.1 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Steven Isserlis. Orchestra: The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen.
    • Hyperion.

  • Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou

    Ballad of the Spirits

    Performer: Katia Labèque. Performer: Marielle Labèque.
    • 55.
    • Universal Music Division Decca Records France.
    • 3.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Dopo notte (Ariodante)

    Singer: Magdalena Kožená. Orchestra: Venice Baroque Orchestra. Conductor: Andrea Marcon.
    • ARCHIV.

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Violin Concerto No 1 In D

    Performer: Gil Shaham. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: André Previn.
    • Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No.1 & 2.
    • DG.
    • 1-3.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Karelia Suite Op.11 (Alla marcia)

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sakari Oramo.
    • Sibelius: Symphony No.5/Karelia Suite etc: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
    • Erato.
    • 6.

  • Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

    Tu es Petrus a6

    Ensemble: I Fagiolini. Conductor: Robert Hollingworth.
    • Benevoli: Missa Tu es Petrus.
    • CORO.
    • 1.

  • Clara Schumann

    Piano Trio in G minor Op.17 (4th mvt)

    Ensemble: Nash Ensemble.
    • Hyperion.

  • Jean‐Baptiste Lully

    Roland - tragedie lyrique: air, Deux insulaires

    Ensemble: Les Talens Lyriques. Director: Christophe Rousset.
    • Les Grandes Eaux Musicaes de Versailles: Les Talens Lyrique/Rousset.
    • Ambroisie.
    • 5.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony no.39 in E flat major K.543 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.
    • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Symphonies 38 - 41 Scottish Chamber Orchestra Sir Charle.
    • Linn.
    • 7.

Broadcast

  • Wednesday09:30
    BBC Radio 3