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A classical soundtrack for your morning

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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24 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Music Played

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Festive Overture

    Orchestra: Boston Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andris Nelsons.
    • DG.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Romance no. 2 in F major Op.50

    Performer: Christian Tetzlaff. Orchestra: Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich. Conductor: David Zinman.
    • Beethoven: Violin concerto etc: Tetzlaff/Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich/Zinman.
    • Arte Nova Classics.
    • 5.
  • Claudio Monteverdi

    Beatus vir (Selva morale e spirituale)

    Choir: The Cambridge Singers. Ensemble: La Nuova Musica. Singer: Amy Haworth. Singer: Amy Moore. Singer: Ben Breakwell. Singer: Thomas Hobbs. Singer: James Holliday. Director: John Rutter.
    • The Sacred Flame: Cambridge Singers/La Nuova Musica/Rutter.
    • Collegium.
    • 2.
  • Maurice Ravel

    String Quartet in F major (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Belcea Quartet.
    • Debussy, Dutilleux & Ravel: String Quartets.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 118.
  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony no.101 in D major 'The Clock' (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. Conductor: Paavo Järvi.
    • Sony/RCA Red Seal.
  • Pyotr Tchaikovsky

    Voyevoda, Op 78

    Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vasily Petrenko.
    • Tchaikovsky: Manfred Symphony, The Voyevoda: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orches.
    • Naxos.
    • 5.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto in B minor for 4 violins, RV.580

    Ensemble: Brecon Baroque. Director: Rachel Podger.
    • CHANNEL CLASSICS.
  • Cécile Chaminade

    Toccata, Op.39

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough.
    • Hyperion.
  • George Enescu

    2 Romanian Rhapsodies, Op. 11: No. 1 in A Major

    Orchestra: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Mariss Jansons.
    • Rhapsody (Live).
    • BR-Klassik.
    • 3.
  • Alec Roth

    The Flower

    Choir: Ex Cathedra. Director: Jeffrey Skidmore.
    • SIGNUM CLASSICS.
  • Jean Sibelius

    Finlandia, Op 26

    Orchestra: Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Okko Kamu.
    • Sibelius: Orchestral Works: Various orchestras and conductors.
    • Finlandia.
    • 1.
  • François Couperin

    Les baricades misterieuses

    Music Arranger: Thomas Adès. Ensemble: The Composers Ensemble. Conductor: Thomas Adès.
    • EMI.
  • Emilie Mayer

    Symphony No 2 in E minor (Finale)

    Orchestra: NDR Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Leo McFall.
    • Mayer: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2.
    • CPO.
    • 4.
  • François Couperin

    Le Tic-Toc-Choc (Ordre no.18)

    Performer: Alexandre Tharaud.
    • Alexandre Tharaud - Autograph.
    • Erato.
    • 13.
  • John Dowland

    Time stands still

    Singer: Andreas Scholl. Performer: Julian Behr.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
  • Leroy Anderson

    The Syncopated Clock

    Orchestra: Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Leonard Slatkin.
    • Leroy Anderson: Favourites: Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra/Slatkin.
    • RCA Red Seal.
    • 16.
  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Vocalise, Op.34`14

    Music Arranger: Jules Conus. Ensemble: Hermitage Piano Trio.
    • Rachmaninoff: Trio élégiaques & Vocalise (Arr. J. Conus for Piano Trio).
    • Reference Recordings.
    • 5.
  • Josef Suk

    In the Power of Phantoms (A Summer's Tale, Op.29)

    Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.
    • DECCA.
  • Carl Orff

    Carmina Burana: XII. Olim lacus colueram

    Singer: Reginald Mobley. Choir: Audivi. Orchestra: Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jader Bignamini.
    • Orff: Carmina Burana.
    • Pentatone.
    • 112.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Clarinet Quintet in A major, K 581 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Jörg Widmann. Ensemble: Arcanto Quartett.
    • Mozart Clarinet Quintet.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 003.
  • Henriëtte Bosmans

    Cello Concerto No 2

    Performer: Gemma Rosefield. Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Jonathan Bloxham.
  • Frédéric Chopin

    Grande valse brillante

    Orchestrator: Igor Stravinsky. Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Litton.
    • Bis.
  • George Butterworth

    A Shropshire Lad

    Orchestra: London Mozart Players. Conductor: Hilary Davan Wetton.
    • Flowers of the Field.
    • Naxos.
    • 1.
  • Darius Milhaud

    Suite for violin, clarinet and piano (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Melos Ensemble.
    • EMI.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B flat major, BWV1051: I. Allegro

    Orchestra: Le Concert des Nations. Director: Jordi Savall.
    • Bach: Brandenburg Concertos.
    • Alia Vox.
    • 17.

Broadcast

  • Tuesday09:30