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A classical soundtrack for your morning

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

Wed 26 Nov 202509:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Gabriel Fauré

    Berceuse (Dolly Suite, Op.56)

    Performer: Katia Labèque. Performer: Marielle Labèque.
    • Bizet, Ravel, Faure: Katia & Marielle Labeque.
    • Philips.
    • 13.

  • Carl Maria von Weber

    Trübe Augen (Der Freischütz)

    Music Arranger: Wenzel Sedlak. Ensemble: Consortium Classicum.
    • Weber: Der Freischutz (Harmoniemusik), Consortium Classicum.
    • MD&G.
    • 14.

  • Francesca Caccini

    Io mi distruggo

    Singer: Shannon Mercer. Performer: Sylvain Bergeron. Performer: Amanda Keesmaat. Performer: Luc Beauséjour.
    • Francesca Caccini: O Viva Rosa.
    • Analekta.
    • 13.

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Souvenir de Florence, Op.70: (4th mvt)

    Performer: Lise Berthaud. Performer: Ophélie Gaillard. Ensemble: Novus String Quartet.
    • Tchaikovsky: String Quartet & Souvenir de Florence.
    • Aparté.
    • 8.

  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony no.5 in C sharp minor (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich. Conductor: Paavo Järvi.
    • Mahler: Symphony No. 5.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 4.

  • Henry Purcell

    Hornpipe (from Amphitryon, Z. 572)

    Conductor: Paul McCreesh. Ensemble: Gabrieli Players.
    • Purcell: King Arthur, 1691.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 3.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Partita No.5 in G major BWV 829

    Performer: Murray Perahia.
    • Bach: Partitas Nos. 1, 5 & 6: Murray Perahia.
    • Sony Classical.

  • Edvard Grieg

    Peer Gynt Suite No 2

    Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Paavo Berglund.
    • Grieg: Peer Gynt Suites 1 & 2: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/Berglund.
    • EMI.
    • 6.

  • Trad.

    A' Choille Ghruamach

    Performer: Nicola Benedetti. Performer: Brìghde Chaimbeul. Music Arranger: Brìghde Chaimbeul.
    • Decca.

  • Fanny Mendelssohn

    String Quartet in E flat major (4th mvt)

    Ensemble: Quatuor Ébène.
    • Felix & Fanny Mendelssohn: String Quartets Op. 13 in A minor, Op. 80 in F minor:.
    • Virgin.
    • 8.

  • George Gershwin

    Rhapsody in Blue

    Performer: Benjamin Grosvenor. Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: James Judd.
    • DECCA.

  • Orlande de Lassus

    Timor et tremor

    Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • The Earth Resounds: The Sixteen/Harry Christophers.
    • Coro.

  • George Frederick Bristow

    Winter's Tale Overture

    Conductor: Rebecca Miller. Orchestra: Royal Northern Sinfonia.
    • George Frederick Bristow: Orchestral Works.
    • New World Records.
    • 6.

  • Giuseppe Antonio Brescianello

    Ouverture-Suite or Strings & Continuo in C Major: IV. Hornpipe

    Ensemble: La Serenissima. Director: Adrian Chandler.
    • An Englishman Abroad: Nicola Matteis the Younger and the English style in 18th C.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 123.

  • Jacques Offenbach

    Can-Can (Orpheus in the Underworld)

    Orchestra: Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. Conductor: Erich Kunzel.
    • William Tell and other favourites: Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/Kunzel.
    • Telarc.

  • Elena Kats‐Chernin

    Eliza's Aria (Wild Swans)

    Singer: Jane Sheldon. Orchestra: Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Ola Rudner.
    • Elena Kats-Chernin - Wild Swans.
    • ABC.
    • 2.

  • Emmanuel Chabrier

    Le roi malgré lui: Danse slave (The King in Spite of Himself)

    Conductor: Hervé Niquet. Orchestra: Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • 2xHD.

  • Galina Grigorjeva

    Salve Regina

    Ensemble: Theatre of Voices. Ensemble: Yxus Quartet. Conductor: Paul Hillier.
    • Ondine.

  • Jean Françaix

    Wind Quintet no.1 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Quintette à vent français.
    • The Flute Master.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 18.

  • Franz Liszt

    Hungarian Rhapsody No 2 in C sharp minor

    Composer: Sergey Rachmaninov. Performer: Olga Kern.
    • Rachmaninov: Transcriptions/variations: Olga Kern.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 14.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony No 49 in F minor, 'La passione'

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Conductor: Frans Brüggen.
    • Philips.

  • William Alwyn

    Harp Concerto 'Lyra Angelica' (4th mvt)

    Performer: Osian Ellis. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: William Alwyn.
    • William Alwyn - Lyra Angelica; Autumn Legend.
    • Lyrita.
    • 8.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Eternal source of light divine (Birthday Ode for Queen Anne)

    Performer: David Blackadder. Singer: Elin Manahan Thomas. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Elin Manahan Thoms: Eternal Light.
    • Heliodor.

  • Elizabeth Maconchy

    Proud Thames

    Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vernon Handley.
    • Maconchy: Serenata Concertante; Symphony for Double String Orchestra.
    • Lyrita.
    • 1.

  • Jean‐Baptiste Lully

    4 Airs pour le carrousel de Monseigneur, LWV 72

    Singer: Brass of Aquitaine and London. Conductor: Richard Harvey.
    • Brass at La Sauve-Majeure.
    • ASV.
    • 3.

  • Franz Schubert

    Impromptu in A flat major, D.899 no.4

    Performer: Maria João Pires.
    • DG.

Broadcast

  • Wed 26 Nov 202509:30
    BBC Radio 3