Main content

The very best of classical music

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 an orchestral masterpiece.

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

27 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Tuesday09:30
BBC Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

A classical soundtrack for your morning

Next

Relax into the day with classical

See all episodes from Essential Classics

Music Played

  • Francis Poulenc

    Rondeau (Les biches)

    Orchestra: Orchestre de Paris – Philharmonie. Conductor: Semyon Bychkov.
    • Paris 1920: Orchestre de Paris/Semyon Bychkov.
    • Philips.
    • 2.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Trio in E flat major for horn, violin and piano; 4. Finale

    Performer: Martin Owen. Performer: Francesca Dego. Performer: Alessandro Taverna.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Augusta Holmès

    Night and Love (interlude from the symphonic ode Ludus pro Patria)

    Orchestra: Orchestre national de Lyon. Conductor: Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider.
    • Bru Zane.

  • Franz Schubert

    Die schöne Müllerin D. 795 "the Fair Maid of the Mill": Ix. Des Müllers Blumen "

    Performer: Christopher Glynn. Singer: Nicky Spence.
    • Schubert: The Fair Maid of the Mill.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 109.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Finlandia

    Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Thomas Søndergård.
    • Sibelius.
    • Linn Records.
    • 2.

  • Franz Liszt

    Années de pèlerinage I, Suisse, S. 160: VIII. Le mal du pays

    Performer: Leslie Howard.
    • Liszt: Complete Piano Music 39 – Années de pèlerinage I.
    • Hyperion.
    • 8.

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Phaeton, Op 39

    Orchestra: Symphony Orchestra Basel. Conductor: Ivor Bolton.
    • Phaéton. Poème symphonique, Op. 39, R. 170.
    • Prospero Classical.
    • 1.

  • 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.

  • Gustav Holst

    A Fugal Concerto Op.40 No.2

    Performer: Jonathan Snowden. Performer: David Theodore. Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Yehudi Menuhin.
    • EMI.

  • Jenő Huszka

    In London, Hey! (from Prince Bob)

    Singer: Jonas Kaufmann. Orchestra: Magyar Állami Operaház zenekara. Conductor: Dirk Kaftan.
    • SONY.

  • Alexander Glazunov

    From the Middle Ages, Op. 79: III. The Troubadour's Serenade

    Conductor: Neeme Järvi. Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
    • Glazunov: From The Middle Ages, Scènes de ballet - Lyadov: A Musical Snuffbox.
    • Chandos.
    • 103.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cantata no. 134 BWV.134 (Ein Herz, das seinen Jesum lebend weiss): Erschallet, ihr Himmel, Erfreue dich, Erde (Chorale)

    Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan. Director: Masaaki Suzuki.
    • BIS.

  • Rita Strohl

    Grande Fantaisie-Quintette: II. Scherzo. Allegro moderato

    Performer: Héloïse Luzzati. Performer: Célia Oneto Bensaid. Performer: Léa Hennino. Performer: Alexandre Pascal. Performer: Shuichi Okada.
    • La Boîte à Pépites.

  • Max Bruch

    Kol nidrei Op.47

    Performer: Tim Posner. Orchestra: Bern Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Katharina Müllner.
    • Claves.

  • Nikolai Girshevich Kapustin

    Sinfonietta for Piano 4-Hands (Overture)

    Performer: Frank Dupree. Performer: Adrian Brendle.
    • Kapustin: Piano Concerto No. 5, Op. 72, Concerto for 2 Pianos & Percussion, Op..
    • CapriccioNR.
    • 1.

  • Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre

    Violin Sonata no.2 in D major

    Performer: Riccardo Minasi. Ensemble: Bizzarrie Armoniche.
    • NAÏVE.

  • Georges Bizet

    Chants du Rhin, WD 52: Le Retour

    Performer: Nathanaël Gouin.
    • Bizet sans Paroles.
    • Mirare.
    • 1,2,6.

  • Grace Williams

    Hiraeth

    Performer: Edward Witsenburg.
    • Harp Music from Six Centuries.
    • Globe.
    • 20.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Going Home

    Singer: Paul Robeson.
    • Live At Carnegie Hall.
    • Vanguard Records.
    • 9.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Violin Concerto in E minor Op.64 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Christian Tetzlaff. Orchestra: Frankfurt Radio Symphony. Conductor: Paavo Järvi.
    • Ondine.

  • Eleanor Daley

    Grandmother Moon

    Choir: The Gesualdo Six. Conductor: Owain Park.
    • Radiant Dawn.
    • Hyperion.

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    We marched, we asked for work and bread (Symphony No. 2 in B Major "To October" mvt 4)

    Conductor: John Storgårds. Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Shostakovich: Symphony No. 2 "To October"; Symphony No. 5.
    • Chandos.
    • 104.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Ballade No. 2 in F

    Performer: Krystian Zimerman.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.

  • Aram Khachaturian

    Masquerade - suite (Waltz)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Stanley Black.
    • Khachaturian - Spartacus.
    • Decca.
    • 4.

  • Nikolai Yakovlevich Myaskovsky

    Cello Concerto in C minor, Op.66

    Performer: Jamie Walton. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Alexander Briger.
    • SIGNUM.

  • Gabriel Fauré

    Cantique de Jean Racine, Op 11

    Choir: Choir of New College Oxford. Performer: Matthew Halls. Performer: Christopher Hughes. Ensemble: Capricorn. Conductor: Edward Higginbottom.
    • Agnus Dei: Choir of New College, Oxford/Higginbottom.
    • Erato.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Quintet in E flat major Op.16 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Eric Le Sage. Ensemble: Les Vents Français.
    • Les Vents Français - Winds & Piano.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 117.

  • Edward Elgar

    Carissima

    Orchestra: The New London Orchestra. Conductor: Ronald Corp.
    • British Light Music Classics - 2.
    • Hyperion.
    • 17.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Concerto grosso, Op. 6 No. 4 in A minor, movs 3 and 4

    Ensemble: Dunedin Consort. Director: John Butt.
    • Ode For St. Cecilia's Day.
    • LINN.

  • Arturo Márquez

    Conga del fuego nuevo

    Orchestra: Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Gustavo Dudamel.
    • Gustavo Dudamel: Discoveries.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 12.

Broadcast

  • Tuesday09:30
    BBC Radio 3