Main content

Great classical music for your morning

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

Your perfect classical playlist

Next

The best classical morning music

See all episodes from Essential Classics

Music Played

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Serenade for string orchestra (Op.22) in E major, 1st movement; Moderato

    Ensemble: I Tempi. Conductor: Gevor Gharabekyan.
    • GENUIN.

  • Francesco Cavalli

    Salve Regina

    Choir: The Sixteen. Director: Harry Christophers.
    • CORO.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    2 Symphonic Dances Op.45 (no.1)

    Orchestra: The Philadelphia Orchestra. Conductor: Yannick Nézet‐Séguin.
    • DG.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony no.35 in D major K.385 'Haffner' (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Academy for Ancient Music Berlin. Conductor: Bernhard Forck.
    • Mozart: Paris & Haffner Symphonies & Oboe Concerto.
    • Pentatone.
    • 101.

  • Mel Bonis

    5 Petites pièces: No. 5, Cloches lointaines, Op.121

    Performer: Mengyiyi Chen.
    • Bonis: Complete Music for Solo Piano, Vol. 1.
    • Toccata Classics.
    • 15.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Violin Concerto in G minor, BWV 1056R

    Performer: Alina Ibragimova. Ensemble: Arcangelo. Conductor: Jonathan Cohen.
    • JS Bach: Violin Concertos.
    • Hyperion.
    • 10-12.

  • François Couperin

    Les Barricades Mysterieuses

    Music Arranger: Thomas Adès. Ensemble: The Composers Ensemble.
    • Ades: America: A Prophecy.
    • Warner.
    • 14.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Academic Festival Overture Op.80

    Orchestra: Budapest Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Iván Fischer.
    • CHANNEL.

  • Traditional Venezuelan

    Pajarito en sol

    Singer: Luciana Mancini. Ensemble: L’Arpeggiata. Director: Christina Pluhar.
    • ERATO.

  • Ernest Bloch

    Suite for viola and orchestra (4th mvt)

    Performer: Timothy Ridout. Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Martyn Brabbins.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Piano Sonata in G major H.16.40

    Performer: Sir András Schiff.
    • Haydn : Piano Sonatas Nos 32, 33, 53, 54 & 58 - Elatus.
    • Warner Classics International.
    • 3.

  • Emmanuel Chabrier

    España

    Orchestra: Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Paul Paray.
    • Paray Conducts Chabrier & Roussel.
    • Mercury.
    • 1.

  • Barbara Strozzi

    Sonetto proemio dell'opera

    Ensemble: Orlando di Lasso Ensemble.
    • Thorofon.

  • Claude Debussy

    Cloches à travers les feuilles (Images, Set 2)

    Performer: Zoltan Kocsis.
    • Debussy: Images, Arabesques: Kocsis.
    • Philips.
    • 4.

  • Maurice Ravel

    La vallée des cloches (Miroirs)

    Music Arranger: Percy Grainger. Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • EMI.

  • Trad.

    Clychau Aberdyfi (The bells of Aberdovey)

    Performer: Robin Huw Bowen.
    • Telyn Berseinol Fy Ngwlad / Sweet Harp Of My Land - A Collection Of Welsh Music.
    • Flying Fish.
    • 16.

  • Edward Elgar

    Pomp and Circumstance March No 1 in D major, Op 39

    Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Davis.
    • Elgar: Symphony no.1, Pomp and circumstance Marches: BBCSO, Davis.
    • Teldec.
    • 5.

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Winter Fairy (Cinderella)

    Performer: Alexander Sitkovetsky. Performer: Olga Sitkovetsky.
    • Sasha Plays Romantic Russian Rarities.
    • Angel Records.
    • 5.

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Extase (Orchestral Version)

    Lyricist: Victor Hugo. Conductor: Pierre Dumoussaud. Orchestra: Brussels Philharmonic.
    • So Poétique !.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 22.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto 'con molti strumenti' in D major RV.566

    Ensemble: I Barocchisti. Conductor: Diego Fasolis.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Nocturne in E flat major, Op 9 No 2

    Performer: Angela Hewitt.
    • Chopin: The Complete Nocturnes and Impromptus: Angela Hewitt, piano.
    • Hyperion.
    • 4.

  • Richard Strauss

    Der Rosenkavalier Suite

    Orchestra: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Conductor: Mariss Jansons.
    • RCO LIVE.

  • César Franck

    Cello Sonata in A major (4th mvt)

    Performer: Yo‐Yo Ma. Performer: Kathryn Stott.
    • Paris La Belle Epoque.
    • SONY CLASSICAL.
    • 10.

  • Ethel Smyth

    Symphonic Serenade (Finale)

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Odaline de la Martínez.
    • Chandos.

  • Aram Khachaturian

    Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia (Spartacus)

    Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Kirill Karabits.
    • Onyx.

Broadcast

  • Yesterday09:30
    BBC Radio 3