Main content

Celebrating classical greats

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 a masterpiece.

To listen on most smart speakers, say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Essential Classics”.

27 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Monday09:30
BBC Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

Relax into the day with classical

Next

Your perfect classical playlist

See all episodes from Essential Classics

Music Played

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Bassoon Concerto in C Minor, RV 402

    Performer: Sergio Azzolini. Ensemble: L’Onda Armonica.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Egmont - incidental music Op.84 (Overture)

    Orchestra: Academy of Ancient Music. Conductor: Christopher Hogwood.
    • Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 / Corialan / Egmont.
    • L'OISEAU LYRE.
    • 7.

  • Thorkell Sigurbjörnsson

    Heyr himna smidur

    Ensemble: Schola Cantorum Reykjavicensis. Conductor: Hörður Áskelsson.
    • Meditatio: Music For Mixed Choir.
    • BIS.
    • 11.

  • Henry Litolff

    Concerto Symphonique no.4 Op.102 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Yuja Wang. Orchestra: San Francisco Symphony. Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas.
    • AVIE.

  • Gustav Holst

    A Somerset Rhapsody Op.21' 2

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Richard Hickox.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Emilie Mayer

    String Quartet in F major, Allegretto. Finale

    Ensemble: Constanze Quartet.
    • CPO.

  • Marcel Tournier

    Images, Suite No.1 Op.29

    Performer: Emmanuel Ceysson. Ensemble: Quator Voce.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Hungarian Dance No 6

    Orchestra: Budapest Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Iván Fischer.
    • Brahms Violin Concerto: Hungarian Dances Nos. 1 - 10.
    • Decca (UMO) (Classics).
    • 9.

  • Edvard Grieg

    Lyric Pieces, Book VI, Op. 57: No. 3, Illusion

    Performer: Peter Donohoe.
    • Grieg: Lyric Pieces, Vol. 2.
    • Chandos.
    • 113.

  • Giuseppe Antonio Brescianello

    Sinfonia for strings in D major, Op.1 No.2

    Ensemble: La Serenissima. Director: Adrian Chandler.
    • SIGNUM CLASSICS.

  • Ola Gjeilo

    Second Eve

    Ensemble: VOCES8.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis for double string orchestra

    Orchestra: Aurora Orchestra. Conductor: Nigel Short.
    • A Walk With Ivor Gurney.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 101.

  • Germaine Tailleferre

    Piano Trio (second movement, Allegro vivace)

    Ensemble: Trio Karénine.
    • Fauré, Ravel & Tailleferre.
    • Mirare.
    • 109.

  • Rutland Boughton

    Somerset Pastoral

    Performer: Sarah Francis. Ensemble: Rasumovsky Quartet.
    • HELIOS.

  • Benjamin Britten

    O Waly, Waly (Folksong Arrangements, volume 3)

    Singer: Ian Partridge. Performer: Jennifer Partridge.
    • Upbeat.

  • Peteris Vasks

    Oboe Concerto (Morning Pastorale)

    Performer: Albrecht Mayer. Orchestra: Latvian National Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andris Poga.
    • Pēteris Vasks: Oboe Concerto, Vēstījums & Lauda.
    • Ondine.
    • 101.

  • Jean Sibelius

    The Swan of Tuonela (Lemminkainen Suite, Op.22 No.2)

    Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic. Conductor: Herbert von Karajan.
    • WARNER.

  • Daniel Auber

    Gustav III, ou le Bal Masque, AWV 23, Act V: Air de danse

    Orchestra: Janáčkova filharmonie Ostrava. Conductor: Dario Salvi.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Keyboard Suite in B flat major, HWV 434 (Menuet)

    Performer: Jeneba Kanneh‐Mason.
    • Jane Austen's Piano.
    • Sony.
    • 4.

  • Edvard Grieg

    Holberg Suite Op.40 (Prelude & Rigaudon)

    Orchestra: Australian Chamber Orchestra. Director: Richard Tognetti.
    • BIS.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Sinfonia Concertante for violin, viola & orchestra in E flat, K364

    Performer: Vilde Frang. Performer: Maxim Rysanov. Orchestra: Arcangelo. Conductor: Jonathan Cohen.
    • Warner.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Impromptu No. 1 in A-Flat Major, Op. 29

    Performer: Pavel Kolesnikov.
    • Chopin: Impromptus, Waltzes & Mazurkas.
    • Hyperion.
    • 6.

  • Alessandro Stradella

    Sinfonia No.22

    Ensemble: Convivium.
    • Early Italian Violin Sonatas: Convivium.
    • Hyperion.
    • 1.

  • Anton Bruckner

    Afferentur regi, WAB 1

    Performer: Becky Haley. Performer: Rory Cartmell. Performer: Joe Arnold. Lyricist: Anonymous. Director: Andrew Lucas.
    • Bruckner: Motets.
    • First Hand Records.
    • 6.

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Introduction and rondo capriccioso

    Performer: María Dueñas. Performer: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. Conductor: Mihhail Gerts.
    • Paganini: 24 Caprices — Caprices by Berlioz, Cervelló, Kreisler, Ortiz, Saint-Sa.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 35.

Broadcast

  • Monday09:30
    BBC Radio 3