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The very best of classical music

Ian Skelly plays the best in classical music, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites.

Ian Skelly 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

Last on

Tue 28 Oct 202509:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Edvard Grieg

    March of the Trolls (Lyric Pieces Op.54)

    Performer: Leif Ove Andsnes.
    • Grieg: Lyric Pieces: Leif Ove Andsnes.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 9.

  • Engelbert Humperdinck

    Hänsel und Gretel (Overture)

    Orchestra: Staatskapelle Dresden. Conductor: Colin Davis.
    • Philips.

  • Nicola Conforto

    La festa cinese (Overture)

    Orchestra: Concerto Köln. Conductor: Pablo Heras‐Casado.
    • El Maestro - Farinelli.
    • Archiv Produktion.
    • 1.

  • Cecilia McDowall

    Alma redemptoris mater

    Choir: The Choir Of Trinity College, Cambridge. Conductor: Stephen Layton.
    • Hyperion.

  • Antonio Bazzini

    La ronde des lutins

    Performer: Christian Li. Performer: Timothy Young.
    • Decca.

  • John Adams

    Short Ride in a Fast Machine

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Peter Oundjian.
    • Chandos.

  • Georg Philipp Telemann

    Trumpet Concerto in D for trumpet, 2 oboes, strings and continuo (1st mvt)

    Performer: Håkan Hardenberger. Performer: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Director: Iona Brown.
    • PHILIPS.

  • Franz Schubert

    Piano Trio No 1 in B flat major, D 898 (1st mvt)

    Ensemble: Trio Wanderer.
    • Schubert: Piano Trios Nos. 1 & 2, Notturno, Sonatensatz.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 1.

  • François Couperin

    Les Baricades Mistérieuses

    Music Arranger: Thomas Adès. Orchestra: Aurora Orchestra. Conductor: Nicholas Collon.
    • Insomnia.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 102.

  • Manuel de Falla

    Ritual Fire Dance (El Amor Brujo)

    Orchestra: Mahler Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Pablo Heras‐Casado.
    • Harmonia mundi.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 639

    Performer: Martin Fröst. Performer: Jonas Nordberg. Music Arranger: Martin Fröst.
    • Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 639 (Arr. for Clarinet and Theorbo by Mart.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 1.

  • Igor Stravinsky

    Symphony in E flat major Op.1 (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vladimir Ashkenazy.
    • Decca.

  • Nadia Boulanger

    Lux aeterna

    Performer: Adrien La Marca. Performer: Danae Dörken.
    • La Dolce Volta.

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Valse-Scherzo, Op.34

    Performer: Julia Fischer. Orchestra: Russian National Orchestra. Conductor: Yakov Kreizberg.
    • Pentatone.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Concerto in C major for flute and harp K.299 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Emmanuel Pahud. Performer: Marie‐Pierre Langlamet. Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic. Conductor: Claudio Abbado.
    • EMI Classics.

  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Il Trovatore: "D'amor sull'ali rosee"

    Singer: Anna Netrebko. Orchestra: Orchestra Teatro Regio Torino. Conductor: Gianandrea Noseda.
    • DG.

  • Claude Debussy

    Tarantelle Styrienne [Danse]

    Performer: Steven Osborne.
    • Hyperion.

  • Franz Schubert

    Erlkönig D.328

    Singer: Matthias Goerne. Performer: Andreas Haeifliger.
    • Schubert Lieder Volume 7: Erlkönig.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 9.

  • Arvo Pärt

    Festina lente

    Orchestra: Beethoven Orchestra Bonn. Conductor: Dennis Russell Davies.
    • Arvo Pärt: Miserere.
    • ECM New Series.
    • 2.

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Moscow, Cheryomushki: A Spin through Moscow

    Orchestra: Philadelphia Orchestra. Conductor: Riccardo Chailly.
    • DECCA.

  • John Williams

    The Raiders' March (Raiders of the Lost Ark)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: John Williams.
    • John Williams: Greatest Hits 1969-1999.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 13.

  • Deborah Pritchard

    The light thereof

    Performer: Matilda Lloyd. Ensemble: The Gesualdo Six. Director: Owain Park.
    • Radiant Dawn.
    • Hyperion.

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Symphony No 5 (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Storgårds.

  • Sonny Kompanek

    Killer Tango

    Performer: Canadian Brass.
    • OPENING DAY.

  • Emil Nikolaus von Reznicek

    Donna Diana (Overture)

    Orchestra: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.
    • Panorama: Famous Overtures.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 7.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cantata 'Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir', BWV 29

    Singer: Hana Blažíková. Singer: Robin Blaze. Singer: Gerd Türk. Singer: Peter Kooij. Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan. Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki.
    • Bach: Cantatas, Vol. 52.
    • BIS.
    • 13.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony no.1 in C major Op.21 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. Conductor: Riccardo Chailly.
    • Beethoven: Symphonies 1 & 2: Gewandhouorchester, Riccardo Chailly.
    • Decca.

  • Teresa Carreño

    Venise (Deux Esquisses italiennes, Op 33)

    Performer: Alexandra Oehler.
    • Teresa Carreno: Klavierwerke (Piano works).
    • ARS MUSICI.
    • 007.

  • Erich Wolfgang Korngold

    Symphony in F sharp major, Op.40 (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Sinfonia of London. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • Chandos.

  • Tomás Luis de Victoria

    O vos omnes

    Choir: Stile Antico.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

  • Richard Wagner

    Overture to The Flying Dutchman

    Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Georg Solti.
    • Wagner: Orchestral Favourites: Sir Georg Solti.
    • Decca.

Broadcast

  • Tue 28 Oct 202509:30
    BBC Radio 3