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The ideal mix of 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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27 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Monday 09:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Maurice Ravel

    Le tombeau de Couperin (Rigaudon)

    Performer: Seong‐Jin Cho.
    • Ravel: The Complete Solo Piano Works.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Flautino Concerto in A minor RV.445

    Director: Giovanni Antonini. Ensemble: Il Giardino Armonico.
    • Alpha.

  • Louise Farrenc

    Sextet in C Minor, Op 40 (Version for Piano Quintet): III. Allegro vivace

    Performer: Emmanuel Despax. Ensemble: Piatti Quartet.
    • Resonance.
    • Signum Records.
    • 3.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Violin Concerto in D major, Op.77 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Leonidas Kavakos. Orchestra: Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. Conductor: Riccardo Chailly.
    • Various: Violin Concerto; ETC / Kavakos, Chailly, Nagy.
    • DECCA.
    • 003.

  • Dobrinka Tabakova

    Sun Triptych: II. Day

    Performer: Roman Mints. Performer: Kristina Blaumane. Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Dobrinka Tabakova.
    • Tabakova: Sun Triptych.
    • ECM New Series.

  • Isaac Albéniz

    Suite española (Granada)

    Performer: Julian Bream.
    • RCA.

  • Hugo Alfvén

    Uppsala Rhapsody

    Orchestra: Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.
    • BIS.

  • Robert Schumann

    Phantasiestück for clarinet and piano, Op 73 No 1

    Performer: Gervase de Peyer. Performer: Gwenneth Pryor.
    • Schubert, Schumann, Weber: Gervase de Peyer.
    • Chandos.
    • 5.

  • Johann Joseph Fux

    Sinfonia a 3 in C Major, K. 331

    Ensemble: Oslo Circles.
    • LAWO CLASSICS.

  • Claude Debussy

    Symphony in B minor

    Orchestrator: Tony Finno. Orchestra: Lyon Opera Orchestra. Conductor: Jun Märkl.
    • NAXOS.

  • Samuel Coleridge‐Taylor

    By the Lone Sea Shore

    Choir: London Choral Sinfonia. Conductor: Michael Waldron.
    • Coleridge-Taylor: Choral Works.
    • Orchid Classics.
    • 202.

  • Franz Schubert

    Impromptu in A flat major, D.899 no.4

    Performer: Radu Lupu.
    • Schubert: Four Impromptus, D899 & D935: Radu Lupu.
    • Decca.
    • 4.

  • Joseph Haydn

    String Quartet in C Major, Op. 20 No. 2: I. Moderato

    Ensemble: Isidore String Quartet.
    • Adorations.
    • Delos.
    • 1.

  • Mel Bonis

    Soir et matin, Op. 76: II. Matin

    • La mer: French Piano Trios.
    • Chandos Records Limited.
    • 7.

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Morning (Summer Day, Op 65a)

    Orchestra: New London Orchestra. Conductor: Ronald Corp.
    • Prokofiev: Music for Children: New London Orchestra/Corp.
    • Hyperion.

  • Max Richter

    On the Nature of Daylight

    Performer: Louisa Fuller. Performer: John Metcalf. Performer: Philip Sheppard. Performer: Chris Worsey.
    • Voyager - Essential Max Richter.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 1.

  • Giovanni Battista Pergolesi

    Stabat mater dolorosa (Stabat mater in F minor)

    Singer: Emma Kirkby. Singer: James Bowman. Ensemble: Academy of Ancient Music. Conductor: Christopher Hogwood.
    • Pergolesi: Stabat Mater/Salve Regina: Kirkby/Bowman/Academy of Ancient Music/Hog.
    • L'Oiseau-Lyre.
    • 1.

  • Jennifer Higdon

    Harp Concerto (Lullaby)

    Performer: Yolanda Kondonassis. Orchestra: Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Ward Stare.
    • American Rapture.
    • Azica.
    • 3.

  • Gustav Mahler

    Lieder und Gesänge, Vol. 3: No. 13, Nicht wiedersehen!

    Performer: Joseph Middleton. Singer: Sophie Rennert.
    • MAHLER...Lieder der Jugend: Songs of youth and awakening.
    • Signum Records.
    • 16.

  • Takashi Yoshimatsu

    And birds are still... Op.72

    Orchestra: Manchester Camerata. Conductor: Sachio Fujioka.
    • Chandos.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Lemminkainen's Return

    Orchestra: Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Leif Segerstam.
    • ONDINE.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough. Orchestra: Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Litton.
    • Rachmaninov: The Piano Concertos: Hough/Dallas Symphony Orchestra/Litton.
    • Hyperion.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony no.2 in D major Op.36 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt.
    • Beethoven: Symphonies 1-9: Harnoncourt, Chamber Orchestra of Europe.
    • Teldec.
    • 4.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Octet in E flat major Op.20 (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Nash Ensemble.
    • Beethoven/Mendelssohn: Nash Ensemble.
    • Wigmore Hall Live.
    • 6.

  • Claude Debussy

    La Mer - 3 symphonic sketches, no.1; De l'aube a midi sur la mer

    Orchestra: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Conductor: Mariss Jansons.
    • Debussy: Dutilleux: Ravel.
    • RCO LIVE.
    • 1.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony No 41 in C major, K 551, 'Jupiter' (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Peter Hanson. Ensemble: The English Concert. Conductor: Trevor Pinnock.
    • Mozart: Symphonies No. 40 & No. 41 "Jupiter": The English Concert, Trevor Pinnoc.
    • Archiv.
    • 7.

Broadcast

  • Monday 09:30
    BBC Radio 3