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A feast of great 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

Fri 31 Oct 202509:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Scott Joplin

    Solace [A Mexican Serenade]

    Performer: William Bolcom.
    • Euphonic Sounds - The Scott Joplin Album.
    • OMEGA.
    • 12.

  • Arthur Sullivan

    When the night wind howls (Ruddigore)

    Librettist: W. S. Gilbert. Singer: Bryn Terfel. Choir: Swedish Radio Choir. Orchestra: Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Paul Daniel.
    • Bryn Terfel: Bad Boys; Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 8.

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Pezzo Capriccioso, Op.62

    Performer: Sol Gabetta. Orchestra: Munich Radio Orchestra. Conductor: Ari Rasilainen.
    • RCA.

  • Trad.

    The Lark in the Clear Air

    Music Arranger: Gordon Langford. Ensemble: Grimethorpe Colliery Band. Conductor: Major Peter Parkes.
    • Chandos.

  • William Walton

    Battle in the Air (Battle of Britain Suite)

    Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Neville Marriner.
    • Walton: Battle of Britain Suite etc.: ASMF/Marriner.
    • Chandos.
    • 17.

  • William Byrd

    Iustorum animae

    Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Byrd - Motets & Masses.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 108.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Sinfonia concertante in E-Flat Major, K. 364: I. Allegro maestoso

    Performer: Frank Peter Zimmermann. Performer: Tabea Zimmermann. Conductor: Gianluigi Gelmetti. Orchestra: Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra.
    • Mozart: Sinfonia concertante for Violin and Viola, K. 364 & Symphony No. 40, K..
    • Warner Classics.
    • 5.

  • Trad.

    Where life and death may dwell

    Performer: Víkingur Ólafsson. Music Arranger: Víkingur Ólafsson.
    • DG.

  • Edvard Grieg

    Symphonic Dance, Op 64 No 2 (Allegretto grazioso)

    Orchestra: Norwegian Radio Orchestra. Conductor: Ari Rasilainen.
    • Edvard Grieg : Symphony, Symphonic Dances.
    • Fazer Records/Finlandia.
    • 6.

  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Sicilian Vespers (O jour de peine)

    Singer: Valentyn Dytiuk. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Conductor: Speranza Scappucci.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Air (Orchestral Suite No.3 in D Major, BWV 1068)

    Performer: Martin Frost. Performer: Jonas Nordberg. Performer: Sebastien Dubé. Music Arranger: Martin Fröst.
    • B.A.C.H..
    • Sony Classical.
    • 5.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Piano Concerto No 1 in F sharp minor, Op 1; 3rd mvt

    Performer: Simon Trpceski. Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vasily Petrenko.
    • Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos 1 & 4, etc: Simon Trpceski, RLPO, Petrenko.
    • Avie.

  • William Byrd

    CLIP: Iustorum animae

    Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Byrd - Motets & Masses.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 108.

  • John Williams

    The Dance of the Witches (The Witches of Eastwick)

    Conductor: John Williams.
    • The Witches of Eastwick (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).
    • Rhino/Warner Records.
    • 2.

  • Franz Schubert

    String Quintet in C major, D.956 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Heinrich Schiff. Ensemble: Hagen Quartett.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Louise Farrenc

    Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 35: III. Scherzo. Vivace

    Orchestra: European Soloists, Luxembourg. Conductor: Christoph König.
    • Farrenc: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3.
    • Naxos.
    • 103.

  • Franz Schubert

    Litanei auf das Fest Allerseelen

    Performer: Gerald Moore. Singer: Dietrich Fischer‐Dieskau.
    • Fischer-Dieskau Lieder A-Z: Schubert (Complete Lieder Recordings on DG & Dec.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 260.

  • Christoph Willibald Gluck

    Dance of the Blessed Spirits (Orfeo ed Euridice)

    Orchestra: Orchestre de l’Opéra de Lyon. Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
    • EMI.

  • Gabriel Fauré

    In Paradisum (Requiem)

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

  • Joaquín Rodrigo

    Concierto de Aranjuez (1st mvt)

    Performer: Miloš Karadaglić. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Yannick Nézet‐Séguin.
    • Milos Karadaglic - Aranjuez.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 1.

  • Duke Ellington

    Sophisticated Lady

    Music Arranger: Luther Henderson. Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • American Music.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 303.

  • Takashi Yoshimatsu

    Saxophone Concerto 'Cyber-bird', Op. 59 (2nd movement - Bird in Grief)

    Performer: Nobuya Sugawa. Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Sachio Fujioka.
    • Yoshimatsu: Saxophone Concerto etc..
    • Chandos.
    • 2.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Polonaise in A flat major Op.53 'Eroica'

    Performer: Martha Argerich.
    • Chopin: 26 Preludes Scherzo NR. 2 - Martha Argerich.
    • Deutsche Grammaphon.
    • 28.

  • Kodály Zoltán

    Hary Janos - suite (Song)

    Orchestra: Budapest Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Iván Fischer.
    • Kodaly: Hary Janos Suite - Dances of Galanta...: BFO, Fischer.
    • Philips.
    • 11.

  • Eleanor Daley

    Requiem (In Remembrance)

    Choir: The Gesualdo Six. Conductor: Owain Park.
    • HYPERION.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Orchestral Suite no.4 in D major BWV.1059 (Overture)

    Orchestra: Freiburg Baroque Orchestra.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

  • Jean Françaix

    Sonatine

    Performer: Alison Balsom. Performer: Tom Poster.
    • WARNER.

  • Harry Gregson‐Williams

    Chicken Run (Main Theme)

    Composer: John Powell. Music Arranger: Sandy Smith. Ensemble: Grimethorpe Colliery Band. Conductor: Garry Cutt.
    • Movie Brass.
    • RCA Red Seal.
    • 13.

  • Georges Bizet

    L'Arlésienne Suite no.1 (Carillon)

    Orchestra: Les Musiciens du Louvre. Director: Marc Minkowski.
    • Bizet: L'arlesienne, Carmen suites: Minkowski.
    • Naive.
    • 8.

Broadcast

  • Fri 31 Oct 202509:30
    BBC Radio 3