Main content

A classical soundtrack for your morning

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.

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

29 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Yesterday 09:30
BBC Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

Refresh your morning with classical music

Next

The very best of classical music

See all episodes from Essential Classics

Music Played

  • Franz Schubert

    Symphony No 3 in D major, D 200 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
    • Chandos.

  • Édouard Lalo

    Guitare, Op.28

    Orchestrator: Gabriel Pierné. Performer: Philippe Graffin. Orchestra: Ulster Orchestra. Conductor: Thierry Fischer.
    • Rare French works for violin & orchestra.
    • Hyperion.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Slavonic Dance in A flat major Op.72 no.8

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.
    • Dvorak: Complete Slavonic Dances: Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Jarvi.
    • Chandos.
    • 16.

  • George Enescu

    Wind Dectet Op.14 (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: Lausanne Chamber Orchestra. Director: Lawrence Foster.
    • Georges Enesco, Symphonie de chambre op.33, Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne...
    • CLAVES.
    • 9.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    A Midsummer Night's Dream Op.61 (Scherzo)

    Orchestra: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Conductor: Bernard Haitink.
    • Philips.

  • Robert Schumann

    Phantasiestück, Op 12 No 3

    Performer: Jonathan Biss.
    • Wigmore Live.

  • Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni

    Concerto à 5 in F major Op.7`9

    Performer: Anthony Robson. Ensemble: Collegium Musicum 90. Director: Simon Standage.
    • Albinoni: The Collected Concertos for Oboes and Strings.
    • Chaconne.
    • 24-26.

  • Dora Pejačević

    Piano Trio in C major, Op 29 (1st mvmt, Allegro con moto)

    Ensemble: Trio RoVerde.
    • BRILLIANT CLASSICS.

  • Pyotr Tchaikovsky

    The Sleeping Beauty (Waltz)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: André Previn.
    • Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Nutcracker: LSO, Previn.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 10.

  • Nicola Matteis

    Diverse Bizzarrie sopra la vecchia sarabanda ò pur ciaccona

    Performer: Astrid Kirschner. Ensemble: Oslo Circles.
    • Bizzarrie!.
    • Lawo Classics.
    • 28.

  • Ottorino Respighi

    L'Adorazione dei Magi (Trittico Botticelliano)

    Orchestra: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
    • Respighi: Ancient Airs and Dances: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 15.

  • Bernhard Crusell

    Clarinet Quartet No. 3 in D Major, Op. 7 - 1. Allegro non tanto

    Performer: Kari Kriikku. Performer: Sakari Oramo. Performer: Tuula Riisalo. Performer: Lea Pekkala.
    • Crusell: Complete Clarinet Quartets.
    • Ondine.
    • 9.

  • Franz Liszt

    The Dance in the Village Inn (Mephisto Waltz No 1)

    Orchestra: Orchestre de Paris – Philharmonie. Conductor: Georg Solti.
    • Deutsche Grammophone.

  • Germaine Tailleferre

    Sonata for Solo Harp: I. Allegretto

    Performer: Valérie Milot.
    • V - Chamber Music for Harp.
    • Analekta.
    • 1.

  • Franz Schubert

    Wohin?, D 795 No 2 (Die schöne Müllerin)

    Performer: Justus Zeyen. Singer: Thomas Quasthoff.
    • 111 Years Of Deutsche Grammophon The Collector's Edition Vol.2.
    • Deutshe Grammophon.
    • 2.

  • Scott Joplin

    Solace - A Mexican serenade

    Music Arranger: Jacqueline Thomas. Ensemble: Brodsky Quartet.
    • Golden Oldies - More Favourite Encores.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 15.

  • Christoph Willibald Gluck

    Che faro senza Euridice? (Orfeo ed Euridice)

    Singer: Andreas Scholl. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Conductor: Sir Roger Norrington.
    • Andreas Scholl - Heroes.
    • Decca.
    • 11.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Prelude in G minor, Op 23 No 5

    Performer: Simon Trpceski.
    • Simon Trpčeski plays Rachmaninov.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 10.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Two Humoresques, Op. 87: No. 1 in D Minor

    Performer: Sueye Park. Orchestra: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. Conductor: Valentin Egel.
    • Goldmark and Sibelius: Works for violin and orchestra.
    • Platoon.
    • 109.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Two Humoresques, Op. 87: No. 2 in D Major

    Performer: Sueye Park. Orchestra: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. Conductor: Valentin Egel.
    • Goldmark and Sibelius: Works for violin and orchestra.
    • Platoon.
    • 110.

  • Edward Picton-Turbervill

    Spell of Creation

    Choir: London Choral Sinfonia. Conductor: Michael Waldron.
    • Eden: The Music of Edward Picton-Turbervill.
    • Orchid Classics.
    • 1.

  • Henriëtte Bosmans

    Cello Sonata in A minor (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Janne Fredens. Performer: Søren Rastogi.
    • Bosmans: Un poco allegretto - from Sonata in A minor.
    • OUR Recordings.
    • 101.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto in A minor 'con due violini obligati', RV 522

    Performer: Rachel Podger. Performer: Johannes Pramsohler. Ensemble: Brecon Baroque.
    • CHANNEL CLASSICS.

  • Richard Strauss

    Four Symphonic Interludes from Intermezzo Op.72

    Orchestra: Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Jeffrey Tate.
    • WARNER.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Piano Trio in G major, H.15.25, 'Gypsy' (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: The Florestan Trio.
    • Haydn: Piano Trios, Vol.1: The Florestan Trio.
    • Hyperion.
    • 6.

  • Louis Spohr

    Potpourri

    Performer: Michael Collins. Orchestra: Swedish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Robin O’Neill.
    • Spohr: Clarinet Concertos Nos. 1 & 2.
    • Hyperion.
    • 4.

  • Dobrinka Tabakova

    Suite in Old Style (1st mvt)

    Performer: Maxim Rysanov. Performer: Vaiva Eidukaitytė-Storastienė. Orchestra: Lietuvos kamerinis orkestras.
    • ECM New Series.

  • William Byrd

    Agnus Dei (Mass for 5 voices)

    Choir: ORA. Conductor: Suzi Digby.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Piano concerto no.2 in G minor Op.22 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Alexandre Kantorow. Orchestra: Tapiola Sinfonietta. Conductor: Jean‐Jacques Kantorow.
    • Saint-Saëns: Works for Piano & Orchestra.
    • BIS.
    • 3.

Broadcast

  • Yesterday 09:30
    BBC Radio 3