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Refresh your morning with classical music

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 a masterpiece.

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28 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Yesterday 09:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Prelude in C sharp minor Op.3 no.2

    Performer: Nikolai Lugansky.
    • Rachmaninov: Preludes Moments musicaux: Nikolai Lugansky.
    • Erato.

  • Jan Dismas Zelenka

    Concerto a 8 in G major ZWV.186 (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Collegium 1704.
    • Zelenka: Komposizione per Orchestra.
    • Supraphon.
    • 10-12.

  • James McMillan

    The Gallant Weaver

    Choir: Gabrieli Consort. Conductor: Paul McCreesh.
    • SIGNUM.

  • Germaine Tailleferre

    Harp Sonata (Perpetuum Mobile)

    Performer: Cristina Bianchi.
    • Scarlatti, Baltin & Others: Harp Works.
    • Oehms Classics.
    • 5.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano Concerto no.3 in C minor Op.37 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Leif Ove Andsnes. Orchestra: Mahler Chamber Orchestra.
    • Sony.

  • Johan Halvorsen

    Entry March of the Boyars

    Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.
    • Halvorsen: Orchestral Works, Vol.1: Thorsen, Bergen PO, Jarvi.
    • Chandos.

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Clarinet Sonata in E flat major, Op 167 - 1st movement, Allegretto

    Performer: Michael Collins. Performer: Michael McHale.
    • The Lyrical Clarinet.
    • Chandos.
    • 8.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Ave verum corpus, K 618

    Choir: Tenebrae. Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Conductor: Nigel Short.
    • Mozart: Requiem.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 15.

  • William Walton

    Symphony No. 1 in B-Flat Minor: IV. Maestoso - Brioso ed ardentemente

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • Walton: Symphony No. 1 & Belshazzar's Feast.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 4.

  • Johann Heinrich Schmelzer

    Balletti di filosofi

    Ensemble: Oslo Circles.
    • Bizzarrie!.
    • Lawo Classics.
    • 6.

  • Giacomo Puccini

    Un bel dì, vedremo (Madame Butterfly)

    Singer: Melody Moore. Orchestra: The Gulbenkian Orchestra. Conductor: Lawrence Foster.
    • Puccini: Madama Butterfly.
    • PENTATONE.
    • 15.

  • Fanny Mendelssohn

    Introduction and Capriccio in B minor

    Performer: Martina Frezzotti.
    • Piano Classics.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony no.98 in B flat major (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Les Musiciens du Louvre. Conductor: Marc Minkowski.
    • Haydn, 12 London Symphonies: Marc Minkowski, Les Musiciens du Louvre-Grenobles.
    • Naive.
    • 8.

  • Charles Gounod

    Ave Maria

    Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach. Performer: Yo‐Yo Ma. Performer: Kathryn Stott.
    • SONY.

  • Joaquín Rodrigo

    Serenata al alba del día

    Performer: Judith Hall. Performer: Tim Walker.
    • Habanera! Judith Hall (flute) & Tim Walker (Guitar).
    • Collins Classics.
    • 8.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Concerto grosso in G major Op.3`3

    Conductor: Martin Gester. Ensemble: Van Diemen’s Band.
    • Handel: 6 Concerti grossi, Op. 3.
    • BIS.
    • 201.

  • Edward Elgar

    March of the Mogul Emporers (The Crown of India, Op. 66)

    Ensemble: United States Marine Band.
    • ALTISSIMO!.

  • George Butterworth

    The lads in their hundreds (A Shropshire Lad)

    Singer: Roderick Williams. Performer: Iain Burnside.
    • George Butterworth, Songs from A Shropshire Lad: Williams / Burnside.
    • Naxos.
    • 5.

  • Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

    The Golden Cockerel (Suite): IV. The Wedding and Lamentable End of Dodon

    Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vasily Petrenko.
    • Stravinsky: The Firebird & Rimsky-Korsakov: The Golden Cockerel Suite.
    • Onyx Classics.
    • 4.

  • Ruth Gipps

    Horn Concerto, Op.58 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: David Pyatt. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Nicholas Braithwaite.
    • British Horn Concertos: Jacob/Arnold/Bowen/Gipps/Vinter.
    • Lyrita.
    • 11.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Two Serious Melodies, Op. 77: No. 2, Devotion (Ab imo pectore)

    Performer: Sueye Park. Orchestra: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. Conductor: Valentin Egel.
    • Goldmark and Sibelius: Works for violin and orchestra.
    • BIS.
    • 108.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Symphony No 2 in E minor, Op 27 (4th mvt)

    Performer: Evgeny Fyodorovich Svetlanov. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra.
    • ICA Classics.

  • Gustav Mahler

    Zu Strassburg auf der Schanz (Lieder und Gesänge)

    Singer: Mauro Peter. Performer: Joseph Middleton.
    • Mahler: Lieder der Jugend. Songs of Youth and Awakening.
    • SIGNUM CLASSICS.
    • 6.

  • Gabriel Fauré

    Fauré: Piano Quintet No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 89

    Performer: Anthony Marwood. Ensemble: Domus.
    • Fauré: Piano Quintets 1 & 2.
    • HYPERION.

  • John Barry

    Out of Africa (Main Theme)

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: John McNeely.
    • VARESE SARABANDE.

  • Ēriks Ešenvalds

    Only In Sleep

    Choir: The Choir Of Trinity College, Cambridge. Conductor: Stephen Layton.
    • Northern Lights and other Choral works.
    • Hyperion.
    • 16.

  • Muzio Clementi

    Keyboard Sonata in D major, Op 10 No 2

    Performer: Howard Shelley.
    • Hyperion.

  • Leonard Bernstein

    Wonderful Town (Overture)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • Bernstein: Wonderful Town.
    • LSO Live.
    • 1.

Broadcast

  • Yesterday 09:30
    BBC Radio 3