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Celebrating classical greats

Ian Skelly plays the best in classical music for your morning, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites.

Ian Skelly 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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21 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Thu 28 May 2026 09:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Brandenburg Concerto no.6 in B flat major BWV.1051 (1st mvt)

    Ensemble: Il Giardino Armonico. Conductor: Giovanni Antonini.
    • J.S. Bach: The Brandenburg Concertos; Il Giardino Armonico.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 7.

  • Anna Lapwood

    O Nata Lux

    Choir: Pembroke College Girls' Choir. Conductor: Anna Lapwood.
    • Signum.

  • Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

    Scheherazade, Op. 35: IV. Festival at Baghdad - The Sea - The Shipwreck

    Conductor: Vasily Petrenko. Orchestra: Oslo Philharmonic.
    • Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol, Op. 34, Russian Easter Festival Ove.
    • Lawo Classics.
    • 10.

  • Edvard Grieg

    Holberg Suite for strings, Op 40 (Air)

    Orchestra: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
    • Grieg: Holberg Suite/Tchaikovsky: String Serenade: Orheus Chamber Orchestra.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 4.

  • Bernard Herrmann

    Vertigo Suite (Prelude)

    Orchestra: Los Angeles Philharmonic. Conductor: Esa‐Pekka Salonen.
    • Herrmann - The Film Scores.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 16.

  • Louis Spohr

    Nonet in F major Op.31 (1st mvt)

    Ensemble: Nash Ensemble.
    • Spohr: Nonet and Octet: Nash Ensemble.
    • CRD.

  • Jean‐Philippe Rameau

    Chaconne (Les Indes galantes)

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century. Conductor: Frans Brüggen.
    • Rameau: Les Indes Galantes Suite: Orchestra of the 18th Century, Bruggen.
    • Philips.

  • Heitor Villa‐Lobos

    Aria (Bachiana brasileira no.5)

    Singer: Renée Fleming. Orchestra: New World Symphony. Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas.
    • Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras: Michael Tilson Thomas.
    • RCA.
    • 5.

  • Aaron Copland

    Dance Symphony: 3rd movt - Allegro vivo

    Orchestra: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Barbara Hannigan.
    • An American Dream?.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 10.

  • Clara Schumann

    Piano Trio in G minor Op.17 (4th mvt)

    Performer: Anne‐Sophie Mutter. Performer: Pablo Ferrández. Performer: Lambert Orkis.
    • Sony Masterworks.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    My Homeland Op.62

    Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Libor Pešek.
    • Dvorak: American Suite, Czech Suite; Overtures and Tone Poems.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 204.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Prelude in D flat major, Op 28 No 15, 'Raindrop'

    Performer: Roland Pöntinen.
    • BIS.

  • Giuseppe Torelli

    Sinfonia in C major G.33

    Ensemble: La Serenissima. Director: Adrian Chandler.
    • AVIE.

  • György Ligeti

    Études, Book 2: No. 9, Vertige

    Performer: Pierre‐Laurent Aimard.
    • György Ligeti Edition, Vol. 3.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 9.

  • Modest Mussorgsky

    Catacombs (Pictures at an Exhibition)

    Music Arranger: Maurice Ravel. Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • Mussorgsky / Borodin: Berliner Philharmoniker / Rattle.
    • EMI.
    • 12.

  • Joseph-Nicolas-Pancrace Royer

    Le Vertigo (Pièces de clavecin, Book 1, 1746)

    Performer: Jean Rondeau.
    • Vertigo.
    • Erato/Warner Classics.
    • 8.

  • Ottorino Respighi

    La Primavera (Trittico Botticelliano)

    Orchestra: Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège. Conductor: John Neschling.
    • Respighi: Vetrate di chiesa, Il tramonto & Trittico botticelliano.
    • BIS.
    • 1.

  • Nadia Boulanger

    3 Pieces

    Performer: Nicolas Altstaedt. Performer: José Gallardo.
    • French Cello Sonatas.
    • Naxos.
    • 2-4.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto in C Major in C Major, RV 555

    Orchestra: Les Musiciens du Prince‐Monaco. Director: Gianluca Capuano.
    • Vivaldi: Concerti per vari strumenti II.
    • Naïve, a Label of Believe Group.
    • 18.

  • Maurice Ravel

    Menuet antique

    Performer: Marielle Labèque.
    • Maurice Ravel Katia Et Marielle Labeque.
    • KML.
    • 10.

  • Edward Elgar

    The Wand of youth - suite no. 1 (Sun Dance)

    Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Adrian Boult.
    • Elgar: The Wand of Youth etc.: LPO/Boult.
    • EMI.
    • 4.

  • Robert Schumann

    Symphony No 1 in B flat major, Op 38, 'Spring'

    Orchestra: Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich. Conductor: David Zinman.
    • ARTE NOVA.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Ombra mai fu (Serse)

    Singer: Lorraine Hunt Lieberson. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Conductor: Harry Bicket.
    • Handel Arias.
    • AVIE Records.
    • 20.

  • Peggy Glanville-Hicks

    Concertino da camera

    Ensemble: Tall Poppies Orchestra.
    • TALL POPPIES.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Rondo in G major, Op.129 'Rage over a lost penny'

    Performer: Evgeny Kissin.
    • Bach-Bussoni - Chaconne, Beethoven - Rondos: Evgeny Kissin.
    • RCA Red Seal.
    • 3.

  • Pyotr Tchaikovsky

    Swan Lake (Waltz)

    Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Gustavo Dudamel.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

Broadcast

  • Thu 28 May 2026 09:30
    BBC Radio 3