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Ease into the day with classical music

Tom McKinney presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show live from Salford. With birdsong, Bach Before 7 and the best in classical music. You can contact the show by emailing 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk.

To listen on most smart speakers, just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play 3 Breakfast’.

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3 hours

Last on

Thu 21 May 2026 06:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Alonso Lobo

    Versa est in luctum

    Choir: Stile Antico.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

  • Ennio Morricone

    Gabriel's Oboe (From "The Mission")

    Performer: Renaud Capuçon. Orchestra: Brussels Philharmonic. Conductor: Stéphane Denève.
    • Relaxing Classics.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 26.

  • Augusta Holmès

    Night and Love (interlude from the symphonic ode Ludus pro Patria)

    Orchestra: Orchestre national de Lyon. Conductor: Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider.
    • Bru Zane.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Concerto in D Minor, BWV 974

    Performer: Víkingur Ólafsson.
    • Johann Sebastian Bach.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Andante festivo

    Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis.
    • Sibelius: Violin Concerto.
    • Chandos.
    • 10.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Sinfonia Concertante in E-Flat Major, K. 297b: I. Allegro

    Performer: Nicolas Baldeyrou. Performer: Gabriel Pidoux. Performer: David Guerrier. Performer: David Douçot. Conductor: Michael Alexander Willens. Orchestra: Kölner Akademie.
    • Mozart: Complete Works for Clarinet, Vol. 2.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 1.

  • John Stanley

    Trumpet Voluntary

    Performer: Wynton Marsalis. Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Anthony Newman.
    • Sony Classical.

  • Trad.

    The Lark in the Clear Air

    Music Arranger: James Whitbourn. Ensemble: The Gesualdo Six. Director: Owain Park.
    • Hyperion.

  • John Ireland

    Satyricon

    Orchestra: Sinfonia of London. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • John Ireland: Orchestral Works.
    • Chandos.
    • 1.

  • Franz Schubert

    Symphony no.8 in B minor D.759 'Unfinished' (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: B’Rock Orchestra. Conductor: René Jacobs.
    • Schubert: Symphony No. 8 in B Minor, D. 759 "Unfinished" & Symphony No. 9 in C M.
    • PENTATONE.
    • 501.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony No. 85 in B-Flat Major, Hob. I:85 "La reine": IV. Finale. Presto

    Conductor: Leonard Bernstein. Orchestra: New York Philharmonic.
    • Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 85-87.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 4.

  • Edward Elgar

    Sospiri, Op. 70

    Performer: Janine Jansen. Performer: Sir Antonio Pappano.
    • 12 Stradivari.
    • Decca.
    • 9.

  • Arthur Sullivan

    The Yeoman of the Guard (overture)

    Orchestra: English National Opera Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.
    • The Yeoman of the Guard and Trial by Jury.
    • TELARC.
    • 1.

  • Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

    Idyll, Op 44

    Orchestra: Ulster Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Peebles.
    • Coleridge-Taylor: Orchestral Works.
    • SOMM Recordings.
    • 104.

  • Christopher Tin

    Bird Raptures

    Lyricist: Christina Rossetti. Choir: VOCES8. Conductor: Barnaby Smith. Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • The Lost Birds.
    • Universal Music Classics.
    • 3.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Berceuse in D flat major, Op 57

    Performer: Hayato Sumino.
    • Berceuse.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 1.

  • Igor Stravinsky

    The Firebird - suite; VI. Final hymn

    Orchestra: Los Angeles Philharmonic. Conductor: Gustavo Dudamel.
    • Platoon.

  • John Field

    Nocturne No.5 in B flat, H. 37

    Performer: Barry Douglas.
    • Chandos.

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Festive Overture

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Storgårds.

  • Luigi Boccherini

    Cello Concerto No. 9 in B flat major, G.482 - 3rd mvt: Rondo allegro

    Performer: Ophélie Gaillard. Orchestra: Pulcinella Orchestra.
    • Boccherini: Cello Concertos, Stabat Mater & Quintet.
    • Aparté.
    • 9.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Ariodante (Overture and Alla Breve)

    Orchestra: Collegium Musicum 90. Conductor: Simon Standage.
    • Chandos.

  • Pyotr Tchaikovsky

    Romeo and Juliet - fantasy overture

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Academy of Santa Cecilia, Rome. Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano.
    • Tchaikovsky: Overtures & Fantasies.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 2.

  • Johannes Brahms

    String Sextet No 1 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Tabea Zimmermann. Performer: Jean‐Guihen Queyras. Ensemble: Belcea Quartet.
    • ALPHA.

  • Giacomo Puccini

    Che gelida manina (La bohème)

    Singer: Jonas Kaufmann. Orchestra: Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Marco Armiliato.
    • Jonas Kaufmann: Romantic Arias.
    • Decca.
    • 1.

Broadcast

  • Thu 21 May 2026 06:30
    BBC Radio 3