Main content

Your perfect classical playlist

Ian Skelly plays the best in classical music, 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.

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

25 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Monday 09:30
BBC Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

A feast of great music

Next

Great classical music for your morning

See all episodes from Essential Classics

Music Played

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Waltz in E flat major Op.18 'Grande valse brillante'

    Performer: Lang Lang.
    • Lang Lang: The Chopin Album.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 15.

  • William Grant Still

    Singing River (Wood Notes)

    Orchestra: Fort Smith Symphony. Conductor: John Jeter.
    • Still: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3 - Wood Notes.
    • Naxos.
    • 1.

  • Thomas Tallis

    Loquebantur variis linguis for 7 voices

    Choir: ORA. Conductor: Suzi Digby.
    • Many are the Wonders.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 11.

  • Friedrich Kuhlau

    The Robbers' Castle (Overture)

    Orchestra: Danish National Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Michael Schønwandt.
    • Chandos.

  • Maurice Ravel

    Piano concerto in G (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Cédric Tiberghien. Orchestra: Les Siècles. Conductor: François‐Xavier Roth.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

  • Richard Rodgers

    June Is Bustin' Out All Over (Carousel)

    Lyricist: Oscar Hammerstein II. Singer: Renée Fleming. Ensemble: Broadway Cast. Conductor: Andy Einhorn.
    • Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel (2018 Broadway Cast Recording).
    • Concord Theatricals.
    • 4.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Violin Concerto in E major, BWV.1042 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Rachel Podger. Ensemble: Brecon Baroque.
    • Rachel Podger, Brecon Baroque - J.S. Bach violin concertos.
    • Channel Classics.
    • 4.

  • Zoltán Kodály

    Intermezzo (Hary Janos Suite, Op.35a)

    Orchestra: Budapest Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Iván Fischer.
    • Kodaly: "Hary Janos" Suite: Fischer.
    • Philips.
    • 15.

  • Clémence de Grandval

    Valse mélancolique

    Performer: Juliette Hurel. Performer: Isabelle Moretti.
    • Élégance: French music for flute and harp.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 14.

  • Franz Schubert

    Arpeggione Sonata D.821 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Natalie Clein. Performer: Charles Owen.
    • Classics for Pleasure.

  • Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

    Capriccio espagnol Op.34

    Orchestra: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.
    • Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture, Rimsky-Korsakov, Borodin: Neeme Jarvi.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 6.

  • Ronald Binge

    Cornet carillon

    Performer: Hannaford Street Silver Band. Conductor: James Curnow.
    • CBC.

  • Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka

    Ruslan i Lyudmila - Overture

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vassily Sinaisky.
    • Glinka: Orchestral Works.
    • Chandos.
    • 6.

  • Pyotr Tchaikovsky

    June (The Seasons)

    Performer: Yunchan Lim.
    • Tchaikovsky: The Seasons.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..

  • Anon.

    Sumer is icumen in

    Music Arranger: Chris Hazell. Ensemble: Huelgas Ensemble. Conductor: Paul Van Nevel.
    • En Albion: Medieval Polyphony in England.
    • Deutsche Harmonia Mundi.
    • 5.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Requiem: Introitus & Kyrie

    Singer: Joanne Lunn. Orchestra: Dunedin Consort. Director: John Butt.
    • LINN.

  • Pyotr Tchaikovsky

    String Quartet no.1 In D Major (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: The Heath Quartet.
    • String Quartets No. 1 & No. 3.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 2.

  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, Part II: VIf. Langsam. Tempo I

    Conductor: Vasily Petrenko. Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Mahler: Symphony No. 3.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 9.

  • César Franck

    Violin Sonata in A major; 4th mvt

    Performer: Joshua Bell. Performer: Jeremy Denk.
    • French Impressions: Joshua Bell/Jeremy Denk.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 8.

  • Helvi Leiviskä

    Suite No 2 for Orchestra, Op 11

    Orchestra: Lahti Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Dalia Stasevska.
    • Helvi Leiviska: Orchestral Works Vol. 1.
    • Bis.
    • 2-5.

  • Percy Grainger

    Country Gardens

    Performer: Penelope Thwaites. Performer: John Lavender.
    • Grainger: Piano Music for Four Hands Vol.1: Thwaites/Lavender.
    • Pavillion.
    • 9.

  • Frank Bridge

    Summer

    Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Neville Marriner.
    • Phillips.

  • Grace Williams

    Roundelay (The Dancers)

    Singer: Eiddwen Harrhy. Choir: The Richard Hickox Singers. Orchestra: City of London Sinfonia. Conductor: Richard Hickox.
    • Grace Williams: The Dancers etc.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 3.

  • Ferruccio Busoni

    Chorale Preludes after Brahms (no. 5)

    Performer: Igor Levit.
    • Sony.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Music for the Royal Fireworks (Overture)

    Ensemble: Le Concert des Nations. Conductor: Jordi Savall.
    • Alia Vox.

Broadcast

  • Monday 09:30
    BBC Radio 3