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Your perfect classical playlist

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 [email protected].

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”

3 hours, 30 minutes

Music Played

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring (Cantata No 147)

    Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan. Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki.
    • BIS.
  • Francis Poulenc

    Rag-Mazurka (Les biches)

    Orchestra: Orchestre de Paris – Philharmonie. Conductor: Semyon Bychkov.
    • Paris 1920: Orchestre de PAris/Semyon Bychkov.
    • Philips.
    • 6.
  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    10 Preludes Op.23 (no.6 in E flat major)

    Performer: Steven Osborne.
    • Hyperion.
  • Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre

    Violin Sonata no.2 in D major

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

    Symphony No 4 in A major 'Italian' (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Litton.
    • Mendelssohn: Symphonies nos 1 & 4: Bergen Philharmonic Orch/Litton.
    • BIS.
    • 6.
  • Roger Quilter

    As You Like It - suite: No. 3; Merry Pranks

    Orchestra: Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Adrian Leaper.
    • British Light Music: Roger Quilter.
    • Marco Polo.
    • 9.
  • Joseph Haydn

    Piano Sonata No. 62 in E flat major, Hob.XVI:52

    Performer: Jean‐Efflam Bavouzet.
    • Chandos.
  • Orlando Gibbons

    O clap your hands together

    Choir: Stile Antico.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
  • Bohuslav Martinů

    Prologue to La revue de cuisine - suite

    Ensemble: Sinfonia Lahti Chamber Ensemble.
    • Martinu: Trio / Nonet / La Revue De Cuisine.
    • BIS.
    • 8.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto in A minor 'con due violini obligati', RV 522

    Performer: Rachel Podger. Performer: Johannes Pramsohler. Ensemble: Brecon Baroque.
    • CHANNEL CLASSICS.
  • Dino Olivieri

    Tornerai

    Performer: Alexandre Tharaud. Conductor: Pierre Dumoussaud. Orchestra: Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine.
    • Pianosong.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 2.
  • Ethel Smyth

    Serenade in D Major: I. Allegro non troppo

    Conductor: Joshua Weilerstein. Orchestra: Lausanne Chamber Orchestra.
    • American and English Orchestral Music.
    • Claves Records.
    • 10.
  • Anton Stepanovich Arensky

    Concert Waltz

    Performer: Sergei Nakariakov. Performer: Alexander Markovich.
    • WARNER.
  • Hugo Alfvén

    Midsummer vigil - Swedish rhapsody no. 1 Op.19

    Orchestra: German Symphony Orchestra Berlin. Conductor: Łukasz Borowicz.
    • CPO.
  • Lucy Walker

    Make Me an Island

    Conductor: Andrew Earis. Ensemble: St Martin's Voices.
    • Lucy Walker: Choral Works.
    • Resonus Classics.
    • 8.
  • Henry Purcell

    Fantazia No 11 in G Major Z742

    Ensemble: Emerson String Quartet.
    • Decca Gold.
  • Gabriel Fauré

    Souvenirs de Bayreuth

    Composer: André Messager. Performer: Pierre-Alain Volondat. Performer: Patrick De Hooghe.
    • NAXOS.
  • Elizabeth Poston

    Trio for Flute, Clarinet & Harp: IV. Vivace scherzando

    Ensemble: Korros Ensemble.
    • Nostalgica.
    • Convivium Records.
    • 5.
  • Erich Wolfgang Korngold

    4 Shakespeare Songs: II. Under the Greenwood Tree

    Singer: Chen Reiss. Orchestra: Jewish Chamber Orchestra Munich. Conductor: Daniel Grossmann.
    • ONYX.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No. 4 in B-Flat Major, Op. 60: III. Allegro vivace

    Conductor: Ádám Fischer. Orchestra: Danish National Chamber Orchestra.
    • Beethoven: Complete Symphonies.
    • Naxos.
    • 15.
  • Gerald Finzi

    Introit, Op 6

    Performer: Thomas Gould. Orchestra: Aurora Orchestra. Conductor: Nicholas Collon.
    • Introit: The Music of Gerald Finzi.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 9.
  • Franz Liszt

    Concert Study no.3 in D flat major 'Un sospiro'

    Performer: Lang Lang.
    • Sony Classical: 88697891402.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 7.
  • Ailsa Dixon

    The 'Lost' Scherzo for String Quartet

    Ensemble: Villiers Quartet.
    • The Spirit of Love: Chamber Music by Ailsa Dixon.
    • Resonus Classics.
    • 5.
  • Aram Khachaturian

    Masquerade Suite (Waltz)

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.
    • Khachaturian: Piano Concerto etc..
    • Chandos.
    • 4.
  • Carl Maria von Weber

    Clarinet Concerto No 2 in E flat, Op 74

    Performer: Michael Collins. Orchestra: City of London Sinfonia.
    • Weber: Concertante Works for Clarinet and Horn: Michael Collins.
    • Chandos.
    • 11-13.
  • Edward Elgar

    La Capricieuse Op.17 for violin and piano

    Performer: Leonidas Kavakos. Performer: Enrico Pace.
    • DECCA.
  • Antonín Dvořák

    Legend, Op.59 No.8

    Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Tomáš Netopil.
    • PENTATONE.
  • Roxanna Panufnik

    Celestial Bird

    Choir: Ex Cathedra. Conductor: Jeffrey Skidmore.
    • Roxanna Panufnik: Celestial Bird.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 2.
  • William Grant Still

    American Suite: I. Indian Love Song

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Avlana Eisenberg.
    • Still: Orchestral Works.
    • Naxos.
    • 501.
  • Franz Schubert

    Hungarian Melody in B minor, D.817

    Performer: Florian Mitrea.
    • ACOUSENCE.
  • Cécile Chaminade

    Concertino, Op.107

    Performer: Sharon Bezaly. Orchestra: Residentie Orkest. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.
    • Great works for flute and orchestra.
    • BIS.
    • 007.

Broadcast

  • Mon 20 Oct 202509:30