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The very best 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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29 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Today 09:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Franz Schubert

    Marche militaire in D major, D.733 no.1

    Performer: Maria João Pires. Performer: Hüseyin Sermet.
    • Schubert: Fantasie...: Pires, Sermet.
    • Erato.
    • 2.

  • Florent Schmitt

    L'Éventail de Jeanne: X. Kermesse-Valse

    Orchestra: Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Geoffrey Simon.
    • French Ballet Music - L'Éventail de Jeanne & Les mariés de la tour Eiffel.
    • Chandos.
    • 110.

  • Erich Wolfgang Korngold

    Marietta's Song (Die Tote Stadt)

    Performer: Yo‐Yo Ma. Performer: Kathryn Stott.
    • Songs of Comfort and Hope.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 15.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Fürchte dich nicht, ich bin bei dir, BWV 228

    Choir: Monteverdi Choir. Ensemble: English Baroque Soloists. Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
    • Bach: Motets.
    • Soli Deo Gloria.
    • 15.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony No.36 in C major "Linz" (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Ensemble Resonanz. Conductor: Riccardo Minasi.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    The Love for Three Oranges, Op. 33: March

    Conductor: Paavo Järvi. Orchestra: French Radio Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Ballets russes.
    • Parlophone (France).
    • 4.

  • Louise Farrenc

    Piano Quintet no.1 in A minor Op.30 (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: The Schubert Ensemble.
    • Louise Farrenc: The Two Piano Quintets.
    • ASV.
    • 03.

  • Carl Maria von Weber

    Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 73: I. Allegro

    Performer: Raphaël Sévère. Orchestra: German Symphony Orchestra Berlin. Conductor: Aziz Shokhakimov.
    • Carl Maria von Weber: Concerto No. 1, Variations & Grand duo.
    • Mirare.
    • 1.

  • Samuel Coleridge‐Taylor

    Deep river (24 Folk melodies Op.59)

    Performer: Isata Kanneh‐Mason.
    • Summertime.
    • Decca.

  • Richard Rodgers

    Prologue: The Carousel Waltz (from 'Carousel')

    Lyricist: Oscar Hammerstein II. Orchestra: Sinfonia of London. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Andrea Falconieri

    Folias echa para mi Señora Doña Tarolilla de Carallenos

    Ensemble: Oslo Circles.
    • Bizzarrie!.
    • Lawo Classics.
    • 4.

  • Giacomo Puccini

    Manon Lescaut: Allegro

    Ensemble: ensemble minui.
    • ARS Produktion.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Piano Concerto no. 2 in C minor Op.18: II - Adagio Sostenuto

    Performer: Yuja Wang. Orchestra: Los Angeles Philharmonic. Conductor: Gustavo Dudamel.
    • Rachmaninoff: The Piano Concertos & Paganini Rhapsody.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Johann Adolf Hasse

    Marc'Antonio e Cleopatra: Aria "Morte col fiero aspetto"

    Lyricist: Francesco Ricciardi. Singer: Anna Prohaska. Ensemble: Il Giardino Armonico. Conductor: cGiovanni Antonini.
    • Serpent & Fire: Arias for Dido & Cleopatra.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 19.

  • Frank Bridge

    Cherry Ripe

    Ensemble: Maggini Quartet.
    • NAXOS.

  • Aaron Copland

    Humoristic Scherzo, the Cat and the Mouse

    Performer: Ramon Salvatore.
    • Copland: Piano Music.
    • Cedille.
    • 1.

  • Anna Clyne

    Color Field: III. Orange

    Orchestra: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Marin Alsop.
    • NAXOS.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Music for the Royal Fireworks (La réjouissance)

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

  • Amy Beach

    Romance for violin and piano Op 23

    Performer: Augustin Hadelich. Performer: Orion Weiss.
    • Warner Classics.

  • Astor Piazzolla

    Oblivion

    Ensemble: Trio Zadig.
    • Naive.

  • Jacques Ibert

    Escales - III Valence

    Orchestra: Orchestre de Paris – Philharmonie. Conductor: Daniel Barenboim.
    • Daniel Barenboim Conducts Works by Ravel, Debussy, Ibert & Chabrier ((Remastered.
    • RCA/Sony Masterworks.
    • 4.

  • Domenico Scarlatti

    Sonata in D Minor, K. 32

    Performer: Martin Fröst. Performer: Sebastien Dubé.
    • Night Passages.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 1.

  • Leonard Bernstein

    America (from 'West Side Story')

    Lyricist: Stephen Sondheim. Orchestra: West Side Story Orchestra. Ensemble: West Side Story Ensemble (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). Conductor: Johnny Green.
    • West Side Story (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).
    • Masterworks Broadway.
    • 7.

  • Florent Schmitt

    Antoine et Cléopâtre, Suite No. 1, Op. 69a: I. Antoine et Cléopâtre

    Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sakari Oramo.
    • Schmitt: Symphony No. 2 & Suites from Antoine et Cléopâtre.
    • Chandos.
    • 101.

  • Florent Schmitt

    Antoine et Cléopâtre, Suite No. 1, Op. 69a: II. Le Camp de Pompée

    Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sakari Oramo.
    • Schmitt: Symphony No. 2 & Suites from Antoine et Cléopâtre.
    • Chandos.
    • 102.

  • Florent Schmitt

    Antoine et Cléopâtre, Suite No. 1, Op. 69a: III. Bataille d'Actium

    Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sakari Oramo.
    • Schmitt: Symphony No. 2 & Suites from Antoine et Cléopâtre.
    • Chandos.
    • 103.

  • Josef Rheinberger

    Mass in E-Flat Major, Op. 109 "Cantus Missae": I. Kyrie

    Lyricist: Anonymous. Choir: VOCES8.
    • TWENTY.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 19.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No 4 in B flat major, Op 60 (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic. Conductor: Claudio Abbado.
    • Beethoven: 9 Symphonies: Abbado, Berliner Philharmoniker.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 7.

  • Cécile Chaminade

    Étude de concert, Op 35 No 2, 'Automne'

    Performer: John Ogdon.
    • EMI.

  • Edward Elgar

    Serenade in E minor for strings, Op 20

    Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Davis.
    • ONYX.

Broadcast

  • Today 09:30
    BBC Radio 3