
Celebrating classical greats
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'
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Music Played
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Ronald Binge
Sailing By
Orchestra: The New London Orchestra. Conductor: Ronald Corp.- Hyperion.
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Saverio Mercadante
Clarinet Concerto No.2 in B flat major, Op.101 (1st mvt: Allegro maestoso)
Performer: Joy Farrall. Orchestra: Britten Sinfonia. Conductor: Nicholas Daniel.- Mercadante: 2 Clarinet Concertos; Rossini; Donizetti.
- Decca (UMO).
- 1.
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Gustav Mahler
Ging heut' Morgen übers Feld (Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen)
Singer: Christian Gerhaher. Performer: Gerold Huber.- Christian Gerhaher: Mahler Lieder.
- RCA Red Seal.
- 7.
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Franz Schubert
Piano Trio in B flat major, D.898 (4th mvt)
Ensemble: Florestan Trio.- Schubert: Piano Trio No. 1 in B-Flat, D. 898; Notturno etc..
- Hyperion.
- 4.
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Antonio Vivaldi
Laudamus te (Gloria in D major, RV 589)
Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Orchestra: English Baroque Soloists. Choir: Monteverdi Choir. Singer: Katharine Gowers. Singer: Lucy Ballard.- Vivaldi: Gloria, Handel: Gloria, Dixit Dominus: John Eliot Gardiner.
- Philips Classics.
- 3.
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Eugène Ysaÿe
Solo Violin Sonata no,2 in A minor, Op,27 'Obsession' (1st mvt)
Performer: Alina Ibragimova.- Hyperion CDA67993.
- Hyperion.
- 005.
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Jean‐Philippe Rameau
Pygmalion: Ouverture
Orchestra: Les Talens Lyriques. Conductor: Christophe Rousset.- Rameau: Pygmalion & Les Fêtes de Polymnie.
- Aparté.
- 1.
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Edward Elgar
Symphony no.2 in E flat major Op.63 (2nd mvt)
Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis.- Elgar: Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2.
- Signum Classics.
- 202.
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Johann Sebastian Bach
Brandenburg Concerto No 4 in G major, BWV 1049 (1st mvt, Allegro)
Performer: Reinhard Goebel. Ensemble: Musica Antiqua Köln. Director: Reinhard Goebel.- ARCHIV PRODUKTION.
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Bryce Dessner
Towards the Forest
- Dessner: Towards the Forest.
- Warner Classics.
- 1.
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Jean Sibelius
Granen (The Spruce) [5 Piano Pieces, Op.75 No.5]
Performer: Håvard Gimse.- Naxos.
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Jean‐Joseph de Mondonville
Sonate en symphonie in F major Op.3 no.2
Ensemble: Les Musiciens du Louvre. Conductor: Marc Minkowski.- ARCHIV.
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Nubya Garcia
Water's Path
- Odyssey.
- Concord Jazz.
- 8.
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Gioachino Rossini
The Thieving Magpie (Overture)
Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Conductor: Claudio Abbado.- Rossini OverturesThe Chamber Orchestra Of Europe.
- Deutsche Grammaphon.
- 7.
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George Frideric Handel
Minuet in G minor, HWV 434 No 4 (arr. for harp & piano by Jan-Peter Klopfel)
Composer: Jan-Peter Klöpfel. Performer: Xavier de Maistre. Performer: Julien Quentin.- Minuet in G Minor, HWV 434/4 (Arr. for Harp & Piano by Jan-Peter Klöpfel).
- Sony Classical/Sony Music.
- 1.
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Ermanno Wolf‐Ferrari
Idillo-concertino in A major, Op.15 (4th mvt)
Performer: Andrea Tenaglia. Orchestra: Orchestra sinfonica di Roma. Conductor: Francesco La Vecchia.- Complete Wind Concertos.
- Naxos.
- 4.
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Fritz Kreisler
Praeludium and Allegro in the style of Gaetano Pugnani
Performer: Jack Liebeck. Performer: Katya Apekisheva.- Hyperion.
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Johann Sebastian Bach
Prelude no.21 in B flat major
Music Arranger: Jacques Loussier. Ensemble: Jacques Loussier Trio.- Bach Remastered Hits.
- Millenium Digital Remasters.
- 11.
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Camille Saint‐Saëns
Danse macabre Op.40
Performer: Renaud Capuçon. Orchestra: The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. Conductor: Daniel Harding.- Le Boeuf sur le toit.
- Warner Classics.
- 6.
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Peter Warlock
Capriol Suite
Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Clio Gould.- English String Classics 2: Vaughan Williams/Warlock/Tippet/Elgar etc.
- Warner Apex.
- 7.
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Fanny Mendelssohn
Introduction and Capriccio in B minor
Performer: Martina Frezzotti.- Piano Classics.
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Dan Evmark
Silent Waves
- Naxos Sweden.
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John Barry
Out of Africa (Main Title)
Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: John Barry.- MCA Records.
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Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Manfred Symphony, Op 58 (4th mvt)
Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vasily Petrenko.- Tchaikovsky: Manfred Symphony, The Voyevoda: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orches.
- Naxos.
- 4.
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Caroline Shaw
...and the Swallow
Choir: Tenebrae. Conductor: Nigel Short.- A Prayer for Deliverance.
- Signum Classics.
- 104.
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Johannes Brahms
Piano Quartet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 26: IV. Finale. Allegro
- Brahms: Piano Quartets Nos. 2 & 3.
- Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
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Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges
Violin concerto in D major Op. Post. no.2 - 3rd movement, Rondo (allegro)
Performer: Zhou Qian. Orchestra: Toronto Camerata. Conductor: Kevin Mallon.- Saint-George: Complete Violin Concertos, Vol.2.
- NAXOS.
- 3.
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Louis Couperin
Suite in A - Prelude and Courante
Performer: Pavel Kolesnikov.- Hyperion.
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Hector Berlioz
Le Corsaire - overture Op.21
Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis.- Chandos.
Broadcast
- Thu 13 Nov 202509:30BBC Radio 3
