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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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26 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Thursday09:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Johann Strauss II

    Tritsch-Tratsch Polka Op.214

    Music Arranger: Georges Cziffra. Performer: Yuja Wang.
    • Fantasia.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 10.

  • Kian Soltani

    Variations on a Theme by Paganini for 2 Cellos

    Performer: Kian Soltani. Performer: Pablo Ferrández.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Erich Wolfgang Korngold

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

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

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Lasst uns sorgen, lasst uns wachen (Cantata No 213)

    Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan. Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki.
    • BIS.

  • Joaquín Rodrigo

    Concierto de Aranjuez (1st mvt)

    Performer: Miloš Karadaglić. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Yannick Nézet‐Séguin.
    • Milos Karadaglic - Aranjuez.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 1.

  • Ottorino Respighi

    The Pines of the Appian Way (Pines of Rome)

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Academy of Santa Cecilia, Rome. Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano.
    • Respighi: Fontane di Roma, Pina di Roma, Feste Romane & Il Tramonto.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 8.

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Sonata No. 2 in D Major for Violin and Piano, Op. 94a: IV. Allegro con brio

    Performer: Johan Dalene. Performer: Christian Ihle Hadland.
    • Stained Glass.
    • BIS.
    • 604.

  • Henry Purcell

    The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act 1, Scene of the drunken Poet: Fill up the Bowl

    Singer: Lorna Anderson. Singer: Gillian Fisher. Singer: Richard Suart. Ensemble: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • The Fairy Queen.
    • Coro.
    • 7.

  • Louise Farrenc

    Piano Quintet No. 1 in A minor, Op. 30: III - Scherzo. Presto

    Ensemble: Ensemble Louise Farrenc.
    • CPO.

  • Aaron Copland

    Buckaroo Holiday (Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo)

    Orchestra: New York Philharmonic. Conductor: Leonard Bernstein.
    • Copland: Appalachian Spring: New York Philharmonic/Bernstein.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 9.

  • Fritz Kreisler

    Liebesleid, Old Viennese Dance No. 2

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough. Music Arranger: Sergey Rachmaninov.
    • Hyperion.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Serenade in C minor K.388 (4th mvt)

    Ensemble: Ensemble Marsyas. Director: Peter Whelan.
    • LINN.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Symphony No 9 "From the New World" (4th mvt)

    Conductor: Manfred Honeck. Orchestra: Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
    • Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95, B. 178 "From the New World" - Simon:.
    • Reference Recordings.
    • 104.

  • Juan Carlos Cobián

    Nieblas del Riachuelo

    Performer: Jean-Baptiste Henry. Performer: Cécile Roubin. Performer: Arthur Heuel. Music Arranger: Gabriel Sivak.
    • Figures argentines.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 10.

  • Cécile Chaminade

    Callirhoé, suite de ballet: IV. Pas des cymbales

    Conductor: David Reiland. Orchestra: Orchestre national de Metz.
    • Compositrices: New Light on French Romantic Women Composers.
    • Bru Zane.
    • 4.

  • Anthony Hedges

    Scenes from the Humber, Op. 80: I. Petuaria Patrol

    Orchestra: RTÉ Sinfonietta. Conductor: Anthony Hedges.
    • Hedges: Four Breton Sketches / Cantilena.
    • Marco-Polo.
    • 1.

  • Benjamin Britten

    Hadrian's Wall - Roman Wall blues

    Performer: Huw Watkins. Singer: Mary Carewe.
    • NMC.

  • Miklós Rózsa

    Parade Of The Charioteers (From "Ben Hur")

    Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Rainer Padberg.
    • Legendary Hollywood: Miklós Rózsa.
    • Citadel / Mafy.
    • 10.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Harpsichord Suite No. 5 in E Major, HWV 430 "The Harmonious Blacksmith"

    Performer: Alicia de Larrocha.
    • Mozart: Piano Sonata No.14; Fantasia in C Minor / Handel: Suite No. 5 / J.S.Bach.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 4.

  • Marie Jaëll

    Cello Concerto in F Major: I - Allegro Moderato

    Performer: Raphaela Gromes. Orchestra: German Symphony Orchestra Berlin. Conductor: Anna Rakitina.
    • Fortissima.
    • Sony Classical.

  • Edward Picton-Turbervill

    Spell of Creation

    Choir: London Choral Sinfonia. Conductor: Michael Waldron.
    • Eden: The Music of Edward Picton-Turbervill.
    • Orchid Classics.
    • 1.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58: III. Rondo. Vivace

    Performer: Gianluca Cascioli. Orchestra: Ensemble Resonanz. Conductor: Riccardo Minasi.
    • Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 4, Op. 58 & \"6\", Op. 61a.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 3.

  • Mily Alexeyevich Balakirev

    Tamara - symphonic poem

    Orchestra: Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. Conductor: Kent Nagano.
    • Danse Macabre.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 4.

  • César Franck

    Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano in A: II. Vivace - Trio

    Ensemble: Trio E.T.A..
    • SWR Music.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90 "Italian" (1834 version): IV. Saltarello

    Orchestra: Le Concert des Nations. Conductor: Jordi Savall.
    • Mendelssohn: Italian Symphony.
    • Alia Vox.
    • 4.

  • Trad.

    The Jolly Pilgrim (Arr. for Ensemble by Bjarte Eike)

    Performer: Bjarte Eike. Music Arranger: Bjarte Eike. Lyricist: Thomas Guthrie. Ensemble: Barokksolistene.
    • The Playhouse Sessions - Bjarte Eike & Barokksolistene.
    • Rubicon.
    • 11.

  • Ruth Gipps

    Piano Concerto Op.34 (2nd movement)

    Performer: Angela Brownridge. Orchestra: Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Michael Laus.
    • British Composers Premiere Collections Volume Five.
    • Cameo.
    • 7.

  • Pyotr Tchaikovsky

    Symphony no.4 in F minor Op.36 (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich. Conductor: Paavo Järvi.
    • Alpha.

Broadcast

  • Thursday09:30
    BBC Radio 3