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The ideal mix 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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14 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Thu 21 May 2026 09:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Study in C minor, Op 10 No 12, 'Revolutionary'

    Performer: Tamás Vásáry.
    • Chopin: Piano Works: Tamas Vasary.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 12.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Orchestral Suite no.1 in C major, BWV.1066 (Overture)

    Orchestra: Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra. Conductor: Ton Koopman.
    • J.S. Bach, Orchestral Suites, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra / Ton Koopman.
    • RCA.
    • 1.

  • Ivor Gurney

    Romance

    Performer: Chu-Yu Yang. Performer: Eric McElroy.
    • An English Pastoral.
    • SOMM Recordings.
    • 107.

  • Lennox Berkeley

    String Serenade - 1st movement, Vivace

    Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Richard Hickox.
    • The Berkeley Edition, Volume 1.
    • Chandos.
    • 7.

  • Alexander Borodin

    Polovtsian dances (Prince Igor)

    Orchestra: New York Philharmonic. Conductor: Leonard Bernstein.
    • SONY CLASSICAL.

  • Grace Williams

    Sea Sketches for String Orchestra: V. Calm Sea in Summer

    Conductor: John Andrews. Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Grace Williams: Orchestral Works.
    • Resonus Classics.
    • 14.

  • John Dowland

    Come again: sweet love doth now invite ( First Booke Of Songes, 1597)

    Performer: Jacob Heringman. Singer: Barbara Bonney.
    • Fairest Isle.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 1.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony No 26 in E flat major, K 184

    Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Jeffrey Tate.
    • Mozart The Collectors Edition 50 CDs The Masterpieces The Greatest Artists.
    • EMI Classics.

  • John Williams

    Raiders March (from Raiders of the Lost Ark)

    Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic. Conductor: John Williams.
    • John Williams: The Berlin Concert.
    • DG.

  • Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber

    Partita no. 3 in A major

    Performer: Florian Deuter. Performer: Mónica Waisman. Ensemble: Harmonie Universelle.
    • Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber: Harmonia artificioso-ariosa.
    • Accent.
    • 111.

  • Franz Schubert

    3 Marches militaires D.733 (no.1 in D major)

    Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Charles Groves.
    • Sir Charles' Precious Music Box 2: Philharmonia/Groves.
    • Denon.
    • 2.

  • William Grant Still

    In Memoriam

    Orchestra: Fort Smith Symphony. Conductor: John Jeter.
    • William Grant Still: Afro-American Symphony/In Memoriam/Africa (Symphonic Poem).
    • NAXOS.
    • 1.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano sonata no.14 in C sharp minor "Moonlight"

    Performer: Paul Lewis.
    • Sonatas, Vol. 3.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 7-9.

  • Joby Talbot

    The Mad Hatter's Tea Party (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - suite)

    Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Christopher Austin.
    • Signum.

  • Trad.

    Ar lan y mor

    Singer: Bryn Terfel. Orchestra: Welsh National Opera Orchestra. Conductor: Gareth Jones.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Dobrinka Tabakova

    Kynance Cove (final section)

    Choir: Truro Cathedral Choir. Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Christopher Gray.
    • Regent Records.

  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Simon Boccanegra: Act 1 Prelude and Come in quest'ora bruna

    Singer: Barbara Frittoli. Orchestra: Kauno Miesto Simfoninis Orkestras. Conductor: Constantine Orbelian.
    • Delos.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor; 1st movement, Moderato

    Performer: Yuja Wang. Orchestra: Los Angeles Philharmonic. Conductor: Gustavo Dudamel.
    • Rachmaninoff: The Piano Concertos & Paganini Rhapsody.
    • DG.

  • Liza Lehmann

    The Wren (Birdsongs)

    Singer: Janice Watson. Performer: Steuart Bedford.
    • Naxos.

  • Nicola Matteis, Jr

    Alia Fantasia in A Minor

    Performer: Alon Sariel. Music Arranger: Alon Sariel.
    • Plucked Bach III.
    • PENTATONE.

  • Arthur Sullivan

    The Pirates of Penzance (Overture)

    Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Neville Marriner.
    • Sullivan: Overtures.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 6.

  • Maurice Ravel

    Ma Mère l'Oye (Mother Goose) - ballet

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

  • George Frideric Handel

    Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (Solomon)

    Ensemble: The Brandenburg Consort. Conductor: Roy Goodman.
    • Rondeaux Royaux: The Brandenburg Consort, Roy Goodman.
    • Hyperion.
    • 4.

  • Rita Strohl

    Septet in C minor: 3rd mvt; Romance. Très lent et très mystérieux

    Performer: Shuichi Okada. Performer: Alexandre Pascal. Performer: Léa Hennino. Performer: Claudine Legras. Performer: Héloïse Luzzati. Performer: Lorraine Campet. Performer: Célia Oneto Bensaid.
    • Rita Strohl: Volume 2, Musique de chambre.
    • La Boîte à Pépites.
    • 107.

  • Thomas Tallis

    Sancte Deus, sancte fortis

    Choir: Tallis Scholars. Conductor: Peter Phillips.
    • A Tudor Collection: The Tallis Scholars.
    • Gimell.

  • Johann Strauss II

    Kaiser-Walzer, Op 437

    Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Willi Boskovsky.
    • Johann Strauss: Famous Waltzes: Boskovsky.
    • Decca.
    • 6.

Broadcast

  • Thu 21 May 2026 09:30
    BBC Radio 3