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The best classical morning 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 21 Nov 202509:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Grand March (Aida)

    Orchestra: New York Philharmonic. Conductor: Leonard Bernstein.
    • CBS.

  • Erno Dohnanyi

    Sextet in C major Op.37 (4th mvt)

    Ensemble: Nash Ensemble.
    • Hyperion.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Concerto Grosso in B flat major Op.3`1

    Orchestra: Les Musiciens du Louvre. Conductor: Marc Minkowski.
    • Warner.

  • Jean Sibelius

    At the Castle Gate; Entr'acte (Pelléas et Mélisande)

    Orchestra: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.
    • BIS.

  • Edward Elgar

    The Dance (From the Bavarian Highlands Op.27)

    Choir: Cambridge University Chamber Choir. Performer: Iain Farrington. Director: Christopher Robinson.
    • NAXOS.

  • Jennifer Higdon

    Harp Concerto (Lullaby)

    Performer: Yolanda Kondonassis. Orchestra: Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Ward Stare.
    • American Rapture.
    • Azica.
    • 3.

  • Robert Schumann

    Abschied vom Walde (6 Songs, Op 89); Meine Rose (7 Songs, Op 90 No 2)

    Performer: Markus Hinterhäuser. Singer: Matthias Goerne.
    • Schumann: Einsamkeit - Lieder.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 117.

  • Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

    Symphony in E major Wq.182`6

    Orchestra: Gli Incogniti. Director: Amandine Beyer.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

  • William Walton

    Touch her soft lips, and part (Henry V Suite)

    Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Litton.
    • DECCA.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano Sonata No 27 in E minor, Op 90 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Víkingur Ólafsson.
    • DG.

  • Léo Delibes

    Cortege de Bacchus (Sylvia)

    Orchestra: San Francisco Symphony. Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas.
    • SFS MEDIA.

  • Germaine Tailleferre

    Piano Trio (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Trio Karénine.
    • Fauré, Ravel & Tailleferre.
    • Mirare.
    • 110.

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Symphony No 1 (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Gianandrea Noseda.
    • Lso Live.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Hear my prayer

    Choir: St Paul's Cathedral Choir. Singer: Jeremy Budd. Performer: Andrew Lucas. Director: John Scott.
    • Hear my Prayer: Budd/St Paul's Cathedral Choir/Scott.
    • Hyperion.
    • 1.

  • Domenico Scarlatti

    Sonata in A Major, Kk 212

    Performer: Daria van den Bercken.
    • Domenico Scarlatti and Daria van den Bercken.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 9.

  • Alec Roth

    A Time to Dance: Dancing on the Hill-Tops; Dance there

    Choir: Ex Cathedra. Singer: Grace Davidson. Conductor: Jeffrey Skidmore.
    • Alec Roth: A Time to Dance & Other Choral Works.
    • Hyperion.

  • Jacques Ibert

    Invitation to the Dance: Dance of the Clowns

    Orchestra: Sinfonia of London. Conductor: Robert Irving.
    • 20th Century Classics: Ibert.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 12.

  • Franz Schubert

    Der Alpenjager (D524)

    Singer: Dietrich Fischer‐Dieskau. Performer: Gerald Moore.
    • DG.

  • John Adams

    The Chairman Dances

    Orchestra: San Francisco Symphony. Conductor: Edo de Waart.
    • John Adams: The Chairman Dances: San Francisco SO, Edo de Waart.
    • Elektra Nonesuch.
    • 1.

  • Franz Schubert

    Symphony No 3 in D major, D 200 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
    • Chandos.

  • Manuel Cardoso

    Missa pro defunctis ('Requiem'): Offertorium

    Choir: Cupertinos. Conductor: Luís Toscano.
    • Cardoso: Requiem, Lamentations, Magnificat & Motets.
    • Hyperion.

  • Lü Wencheng

    Autumn Moon Over the Calm Lake

    Music Arranger: Chen Peixun. Performer: Jie Chen.
    • Chen, Jie: Chinese Piano Favourites.
    • Naxos.
    • 1.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Violin Concerto in D, RV 208 'Grosso Mogul' (1st mvt)

    Performer: Viktoria Mullova. Ensemble: Il Giardino Armonico. Director: Giovanni Antonini.
    • ONYX.

  • Robert Schumann

    Phantasiestucke for clarinet & piano (Op.73), no.1; Zart und mit Ausdruck

    Performer: Julian Bliss. Performer: Christopher Glynn.
    • The Shepherd On The Rock.
    • Signum.

  • Anton Bruckner

    Symphony No 9 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Günter Wand.
    • Anton Bruckner: Sypmhonie Nr.9.
    • RCA Red Seal.
    • 1.

  • Johann Strauss II

    Tritsch-Tratsch Polka

    Music Arranger: Georges Cziffra. Performer: Yuja Wang.
    • Yuja Wang - Fantasia.
    • DG.
    • 10.

  • Karl Jenkins

    The Signs Still Point The Way

    Choir: BBC Singers. Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Gabriella Teychenné.

  • Cécile Chaminade

    Capriccio Op.18

    Performer: Nils‐Erik Sparf. Performer: Bengt Forsberg.
    • DG.

  • Franz Tunder

    An Wasserflüßen Babylon

    Performer: Silas Wollston. Singer: Iestyn Davies. Ensemble: Fretwork.
    • Lamento.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 801.

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Piano Concerto no.1 in B flat minor Op.23 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Beatrice Rana. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Academy of Santa Cecilia, Rome. Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano.
    • Warner Classics.

Broadcast

  • Fri 21 Nov 202509:30
    BBC Radio 3