Main content

Relax into the day with classical

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.

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

Thursday 09:30
BBC Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

The very best of classical music

Next

Celebrating classical greats

See all episodes from Essential Classics

Music Played

  • Charles Gounod

    Judex (Mors et Vita)

    Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Libor Pešek.
    • Adagio.
    • RCA Red Seal.
    • 4.

  • Edward Elgar

    Piano Quintet in A Minor; 3rd movement; Andante - allegro

    Ensemble: Nash Ensemble.
    • Elgar: Violin Sonata / Piano Quintet.
    • Hyperion.
    • 6.

  • James McMillan

    Lux aeterna

    Choir: SANSARA. Conductor: Tom Herring.
    • Cloths of Heaven.
    • Convivium Records.
    • 15.

  • Lili Boulanger

    Nocturne

    Performer: Tine Thing Helseth. Ensemble: tenThing.
    • She Composes Like A Man.
    • Lawo Classics.
    • 2.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Toccata & Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565

    Music Arranger: Sir Andrew Davis. Conductor: Martyn Brabbins. Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • King of Kings: Bach Orchestral Transcriptions.
    • Chandos.
    • 1.

  • Giacomo Puccini

    Nessun dorma (Turandot)

    Singer: Luciano Pavarotti. Choir: The John Alldis Choir. Choir: Wandsworth School Boys’ Choir. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Zubin Mehta.
    • DECCA.

  • Richard Rodgers

    My Favourite Things (The Sound of Music)

    Music Arranger: Sir Stephen Hough. Performer: Sir Stephen Hough.
    • Nimbus.

  • Maurice Ravel

    Introduction and allegro

    Ensemble: Nash Ensemble.
    • Onyx.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony no.101 in D major 'Clock' (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt.
    • Haydn: Symphony no. 101: Congertgegbouw Orchestra, Harnoncourt.
    • Teldec.

  • Christen Taylor Holmes

    Summer Shower

    Lyricist: Emily Dickinson. Ensemble: The Gesualdo Six. Director: Owain Park.
    • Wishing Tree.
    • Hyperion.
    • 9.

  • Manuel de Falla

    En el Generalife (Nights in the Gardens of Spain)

    Performer: Steven Osborne. Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Ludovic Morlot.
    • Hyperion CDA68148.
    • Hyperion.
    • 4.

  • William Grant Still

    African Dancer (Suite for violin and piano)

    Performer: Randall Goosby. Performer: Zhu Wang.
    • Roots.
    • Decca.
    • 9.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    The Magic Flute (Overture)

    Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Conductor: Yannick Nézet‐Séguin.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Charles Wood

    String Quartet No. 4 in E-Flat Major 'Harrogate'; 4th movement

    Ensemble: London Chamber Ensemble.
    • Wood: String Quartets.
    • SOMM Recordings.
    • 104.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Ave Maria

    Choir: Tenebrae. Performer: Alexander Mason. Director: Nigel Short.
    • SIGNUM.

  • Francis Poulenc

    Laudamus Te (from Gloria)

    Choir: Polyphony. Choir: The Choir Of Trinity College, Cambridge. Orchestra: Britten Sinfonia. Conductor: Stephen Layton.
    • Poulenc: Gloria & Motets.
    • Hyperion.

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Polka (The Golden Age)

    Orchestra: Moscow Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Constantine Orbelian.
    • DELOS.

  • Gabriel Fauré

    Pavane Op.50

    Choir: Chœur de l'Orchestre de Paris. Orchestra: Orchestre de Paris – Philharmonie. Conductor: Paavo Järvi.
    • Faure: Requiem: Paavo Jarvi.
    • VIRGIN CLASSICS.
    • 010.

  • Robin Hall & Jimmy MacGregor

    Football Crazy

    • The History of Pop & Rock 'N' Roll, Vol. 18.
    • Diamond Days.
    • 8.

  • Aram Khachaturian

    Masquerade Suite (Waltz)

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.
    • Chandos Records Limited.

  • Ingeborg Bronsart von Schellendorf

    Fantasie in G-Sharp Minor, Op. 18

    Performer: Joanna Kacperek.
    • In Plain Sight.
    • Rubicon.
    • 6.

  • Richard Strauss

    Beim Schlafengehen (Four Last Songs)

    Singer: Felicity Lott. Performer: Edwin Paling. Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.
    • Chandos.

  • Luigi Boccherini

    String Quintet No 11 in E major, G 275 (Minuetto)

    Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Neville Marriner.
    • The Best of The Academy.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 9.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Piano Concerto no. 1 in F sharp minor Op.1

    Performer: Yuja Wang. Orchestra: Los Angeles Philharmonic. Conductor: Gustavo Dudamel.
    • DG.

  • Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni

    Adagio in G minor

    Music Arranger: Remo Giazotto. Orchestra: Richard Hickox Orchestra. Performer: Alastair Ross. Performer: Simon Standage. Conductor: Richard Hickox.
    • Weekend Classics: Baroque Weekend: Pachelbel/Albinoni/Handel/Vivaldi.
    • Decca.
    • 2.

  • Malcolm Arnold

    Four Cornish Dances, Op 91 (No 2)

    Conductor: Malcolm Arnold. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Malcolm Arnold: English, Irish, Scottish & Cornish Dances: LPO/Arnold.
    • Lyrita.
    • 20.

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Football (Russian River Suite, Op 66)

    Performer: Rustem Hayroudinoff.
    • Chandos.

  • Alonso Lobo

    Versa est in luctum

    Choir: Stile Antico.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

  • Joe Hisaishi

    Merry-Go-Round of Life (Howl's Moving Castle)

    Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Joe Hisaishi.
    • DG.

Broadcast

  • Thursday 09:30
    BBC Radio 3