Main content

The ideal mix 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”.

29 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Yesterday09:30
BBC Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

The best classical morning music

Next

Refresh your morning with classical music

See all episodes from Essential Classics

Music Played

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Brandenburg Concerto No 3 in G major, BWV 1048 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Director: Alison Bury.
    • J.S. Bach: The Brandenburg Concertos; Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 8.

  • Franz Schubert

    Piano Trio in E flat "Notturno"

    Performer: Christian Tetzlaff. Performer: Tanja Tetzlaff. Performer: Lars Vogt.
    • Schubert: Chamber Works.
    • Ondine.
    • 205.

  • Louise Farrenc

    Symphony No 1 in C minor (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: Insula Orchestra. Conductor: Laurence Equilbey.
    • ERATO.

  • Jules Massenet

    March of the Princesses (Cendrillon Suite)

    Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Neville Marriner.
    • Brilliant Classics.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Vocalise

    Performer: Leonard Elschenbroich. Performer: Alexei Grynyuk. Music Arranger: Leonard Rose.
    • Rachmaninov: Cello Sonata & Vocalise.
    • Onyx.
    • 8.

  • Jean‐Philippe Rameau

    Pièces de Clavessin (1724): I. Les Cyclopes

    • Rameau: Les Cyclopes – Pièces de Clavecin.
    • AVIE Records.
    • 1.

  • George Walker

    Trombone Concerto (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Christian Lindberg. Orchestra: Malmö SymfoniOrkester. Conductor: James DePreist.
    • BIS.

  • William Lloyd Webber

    Serenade for Strings

    Orchestra: City of London Sinfonia. Conductor: Richard Hickox.
    • Lloyd Webber: Invocation.
    • Chandos.
    • 1.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony no.101 in D major 'Clock' (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Les Musiciens du Louvre. Conductor: Marc Minkowski.
    • Haydn, 12 London Symphonies: Marc Minkowski, Les Musiciens du Louvre-Grenobles.
    • Naive.
    • 10.

  • Trad.

    La sirena

    Conductor: Christina Pluhar. Ensemble: L’Arpeggiata.
    • La Torre del Oro.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 6.

  • Josef Suk

    Fantastic Scherzo, Op 25

    Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.
    • Decca.

  • Henry Purcell

    Chacony in G Minor, Z. 730

    Ensemble: Les Violons du Roy. Conductor: Bernard Labadie.
    • Les Violons du Roy: Encore!.
    • Sono Luminus.
    • 1.

  • Adolf Schulz-Evler

    Arabesques on a theme from 'The Beautiful Blue Danube'

    Performer: Benjamin Grosvenor.
    • DECCA.

  • Niccolò Paganini

    Tarantella in A minor

    Music Arranger: Erwin Schwarz-Reiflingen. Performer: Pekka Kuusisto. Performer: Ismo Eskelinen.
    • Ondine.

  • Bernard Herrmann

    Prelude From Jason and the Argonauts

    • Citizen Kane: The Essential Bernard Herrmann.
    • Decca (UMO) (Classics).
    • 22.

  • George Frideric Handel

    O Ruddier Than The Cherry (Acis and Galatea)

    Singer: John Tomlinson. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: David Parry.
    • Chandos.

  • Richard Wagner

    'Fliegt hei, ihr Raben!' From Immolation Scene of Gotterdammerung

    Performer: Birgit Nilsson. Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Georg Solti.
    • Wagner: Götterdämmerung. Solti.
    • Decca.
    • 15.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    O Silver Moon (Rusalka)

    Music Arranger: Raphaël Pidoux. Ensemble: Cello8. Director: Raphaël Pidoux.
    • Mirare.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Divertimento in B flat major, K.137

    Orchestra: Camerata Salzburg. Conductor: Sándor Végh.
    • CAPRICCIO.

  • Anthony Phillips

    Spring Fair

    • Gemini: Pieces For Piano.
    • Esoteric.
    • 8.

  • Bedrich Smetana

    The Bartered Bride (Overture)

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Gianandrea Noseda.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Piano Concerto No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 25, MWV O7

    Conductor: Herbert Blomstedt. Orchestra: Gewandhausorchester Leipzig.
    • Mendelssohn: Piano Concertos Nos.1 & 2 etc.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 1.

  • Peter Ludwig Hertel

    Clog Dance (La fille mal gardée)

    Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Lanchbery.
    • EMI.

  • Guillaume de Machaut

    Quant ma dame

    Ensemble: Orlando Consort.
    • Hyperion.

  • Mel Bonis

    Meditation in F major, Op 33

    Performer: Raphaela Gromes. Performer: Julian Riem.
    • Méditation in F Major, Op. 33.
    • Sony Classical/Sony Music.
    • 1.

  • William Schuman

    American Festival Overture

    Orchestra: Los Angeles Philharmonic. Conductor: Leonard Bernstein.
    • Copland: Apalachian Spring.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
    • 2.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Full Fathom Five (3 Shakespeare Songs, No 1)

    Conductor: Nigel Short. Choir: Tenebrae.
    • Music of the Spheres.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 501.

  • John Rutter

    Blow, blow, thou winter wind (When icicles hang)

    Choir: The Cambridge Singers. Orchestra: City of London Sinfonia. Conductor: John Rutter.
    • Collegium.

  • Frederick Delius

    On hearing the first cuckoo in spring

    Orchestra: Hallé. Conductor: Mark Elder.
    • HALLE.

Broadcast

  • Yesterday09:30
    BBC Radio 3