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Celebrating classical greats

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 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

  • Vittorio Monti

    Czardas

    Music Arranger: Mikhail Parhamovsky. Performer: Nicola Benedetti. Performer: Ksenija Sidorova. Performer: Thomas Carroll.
    • Decca.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Slavonic Dance in F major, Op 46 No 4

    Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Jiří Bělohlávek.
    • Dvorák: Slavonic Dances Opp. 46 & 72.
    • DECCA.
    • 4.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    8 Slavonic Dances, Op. 46, B.83: No. 7 in C Minor (Allegro assai)

    • Dvorák: Slavonic Dances Opp. 46 & 72.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 7.

  • William Lawes

    Consort Sett a 5 No. 1 in G Minor

    Performer: Sarah Cunningham. Ensemble: Phantasm.
    • Consorts in Four and Five Parts.
    • Channel Classics.
    • 14-16.

  • Joseph Canteloube

    Baïlèro (Chants d'Auvergne)

    Singer: Dawn Upshaw. Orchestra: Orchestre de l’Opéra de Lyon. Conductor: Kent Nagano.
    • Erato.

  • Elena Kats‐Chernin

    Get Well Rag

    Performer: Sarah Nicolls.
    • Kats-Chernin: Ragtime and Blue.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 401.

  • Maurice Ravel

    String Quartet in F major (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Quatuor Ébène.
    • Debussy, Fauré & Ravel: String Quartets.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 9.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony in G major, K 45a

    Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Jeffrey Tate.
    • Mozart The Collectors Edition 50 CDs The Masterpieces The Greatest Artists.
    • EMI Classics.

  • Gabriel Fauré

    Sicilienne, Op 78

    Performer: Yo‐Yo Ma. Performer: Kathryn Stott.
    • Merci.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 8.

  • Astor Piazzolla

    Jorge Adios

    Performer: Andrea Timpanaro. Performer: Marco Aquarelli. Performer: Filippo Garruba. Performer: Glauco di Sabatino. Ensemble: duettango. Singer: Antonio De Luise.
    • Big Round.

  • Hildegard of Bingen

    O vos imitatores

    Music Arranger: Nigel Short. Choir: Tenebrae. Performer: Christian Forshaw. Conductor: Nigel Short.
    • When Sleep Comes: Evening Meditations for Voices & Saxophone.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 301.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony No. 44 in E Minor, Hob. I:44 "Trauer": II. Menuet. Allegretto: canone i

    Conductor: Giovanni Antonini. Orchestra: Il Giardino Armonico.
    • Haydn2032, Vol. 19: Trauer.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 7.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    The Lark Ascending

    Conductor: Andrew Manze. Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Vaughan Williams: Orchestral works.
    • PM Classics Ltd..
    • 3.

  • Georg Philipp Telemann

    Sonata in C Major, TWV 41:C5: III. Vivace

    Performer: Dan Laurin. Performer: Anna Paradiso. Performer: Mats Olofsson.
    • Telemann: Recorder Sonatas.
    • BIS.
    • 103.

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Symphony No. 9 in E-Flat Major, Op. 70: I. Allegro

    Conductor: Leonard Bernstein. Orchestra: New York Philharmonic.
    • Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 9.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 5.

  • Ray Henderson

    Button up your Overcoat

    Music Arranger: Max Harris. Ensemble: Ensemble Instrumental.
    • Icon: Menuhin and Grappelli.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 8.

  • Scott Joplin

    Solace (A Mexican Serenade)

    Ensemble: Symphonic Brass of London. Music Arranger: Eric Crees. Conductor: Eric Crees.
    • C4U193 SYMPHONIC BRASS RAGTIME.
    • CUES4U.
    • 2.

  • William Bolcom

    3 Ghost Rags: No. 1, Graceful Ghost Rag

    Performer: Marc‐André Hamelin.
    • Bolcom: The Complete Rags.
    • Hyperion.
    • 1.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Schafe können sicher weiden (Cantata No 208)

    Singer: Emma Kirkby. Orchestra: Parley of Instruments. Conductor: Roy Goodman.
    • Bach: Cantatas Nos. 82, 202 "Wedding" & 208 "Hunt".
    • Hyperion.
    • 24.

  • Louise Farrenc

    Étude in F sharp minor, Op 26 No 10

    Performer: Lang Lang.
    • Saint-Saëns.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 28.

  • Béla Bartók

    44 Duos, Sz. 98 (Arr. for Violin and Viola by A. Preucil and A. Tamestit): No. 2

    • Bartók: 44 Duos & Original field recordings.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 10.

  • Béla Bartók

    44 Duos, Sz. 98 (Arr. for Violin and Viola by A. Preucil and A. Tamestit): No. 3

    • Bartók: 44 Duos & Original field recordings.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 20.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37: II. Largo

    Conductor: Kurt Sanderling. Orchestra: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.
    • Beethoven: Complete Piano Concertos.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 8.

  • William Byrd

    Mass for 4 voices (Agnus Dei)

    Choir: Tallis Scholars. Director: Peter Phillips.
    • The Tallis Scholars Sing William Byrd.
    • Gimell.
    • 10.

  • Igor Stravinsky

    The Firebird Suite (1910)

    Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Pierre Boulez.
    • SONY CLASSICAL.

  • Johannes Brahms

    11 Chorale Preludes, Op. 122: No. 10, Herzlich tut mich verlangen (Arr. for Pian

    Music Arranger: Ferruccio Busoni.
    • Inmost Heart: Bach, Brahms, Busoni & Reger.
    • Linn Records.
    • 1.

  • Johannes Brahms

    11 Chorale Preludes, Op. 122: No. 8, Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (Arr. for Piano

    Music Arranger: Ferruccio Busoni.
    • Inmost Heart: Bach, Brahms, Busoni & Reger.
    • Linn Records.
    • 2.

  • Dorothy Howell

    The Rock

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Rebecca Miller.
    • Dorothy Howell Orchestral Works.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 102.

  • Marc‐Antoine Charpentier

    Messe de minuit (Kyrie; Christe)

    Choir: Les Musiciens du Louvre. Director: Marc Minkowski.
    • Charpentier: Te Deum.
    • Archiv.
    • 12-13.

  • John Barry

    The Beyondness of Things

    Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: John Barry.
    • Decca.

Broadcast

  • Today 09:30
    BBC Radio 3