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Great classical music 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

Tue 2 Dec 202509:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Johann Strauss II

    Roses from the South (Das Spitzentuch der Königin)

    Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Willi Boskovsky.
    • Johann Strauss: Famous Waltzes: Boskovsky.
    • Decca.
    • 2.

  • Hélène de Montgeroult

    Sonata in C major Op. 2 no. 2 for piano: 2nd mvt; Andantino quasi allegretto

    Performer: Nicolas Horvath.
    • Montgeroult: Complete Piano Sonatas.
    • Grand Piano.
    • 502.

  • Bedrich Smetana

    Festival Overture Op.4 (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Leoš Svárovský.
    • Smetana: Swedish Symphonic Poems.
    • Naxos.
    • 401.

  • Niccolò Paganini

    Moto perpetuo, Op.11

    Music Arranger: Donald Hunsberger. Performer: Wynton Marsalis. Ensemble: Eastman Wind Ensemble. Conductor: Donald Hunsberger.
    • Carnaval: Wynton Marsalis.
    • Sony.
    • 5.

  • Alonso Mudarra

    Fantasia X

    Performer: Julian Bream.
    • RCA.

  • Dmitri Kabalevsky

    Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 19: III. Prestissimo scherzando

    Orchestra: Malmö SymfoniOrkester. Conductor: Darrell Ang.
    • Kabalevsky: Works for Orchestra.
    • Naxos.
    • 303.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Adagio and Rondo in C minor, K 617

    Performer: John Steele Ritter. Performer: Jean‐Pierre Rampal. Performer: Pierre Pierlot. Performer: Bruno Pasquier. Performer: Roland Pidoux.
    • Sony.

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Eugene Onegin (Act 3, Sc 1: Polonaise)

    Orchestra: The Cleveland Orchestra. Conductor: Christoph von Dohnányi.
    • Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.6/Polonaise.
    • Telarc.
    • 5.

  • Avril Coleridge-Taylor

    In Memoriam - To the R.A.F.

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Andrews.
    • Avril Coleridge-Taylor: Piano Concerto & Orchestral Works.
    • Resonus Classics.
    • 11.

  • Lars‐Erik Larsson

    A Winter's Tale Op.18

    Orchestra: Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Stig Westerberg.
    • Swedish Society.

  • Anna Clyne

    In your blood (Dance)

    Performer: Inbal Segev. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Marin Alsop.
    • Avie.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Brandenburg Concerto no.6 in B flat major (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Concerto Italiano. Conductor: Rinaldo Alessandrini.
    • J. S. Bach: Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto Italiano.
    • Naive.
    • 8.

  • Claude Debussy

    Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune

    Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Ilan Volkov.
    • GBBBC.

  • Jean‐Féry Rebel

    Les Élémens (Le Chaos)

    Orchestra: Pygmalion. Conductor: Raphaël Pichon.
    • Enfers.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 102.

  • Scott Joplin

    Elite Syncopations

    Performer: Joshua Rifkin.
    • Joplin: Piano Rags: Joshua Rifkin.
    • Nonesuch.

  • Carlo Gesualdo

    Omnes amici mei (Tenebrae Responsaries for Good Friday)

    Ensemble: Collegium Vocale Gent. Conductor: Philippe Herreweghe.
    • Outhere.

  • John Ireland

    A Downland Suite (3rd mvt: Minuet)

    Orchestra: Sinfonia of London. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • John Ireland: Orchestral Works.
    • Chandos.
    • 4.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto Il Proteo ò il Mondo al Roverscio for violin, cello, 2 flutes, 2 oboes,

    Ensemble: La Serenissima. Director: Adrian Chandler.
    • Vivaldi X2².
    • Signum Classics.
    • 120.

  • Dobrinka Tabakova

    Kynance Cove

    Choir: Truro Cathedral Choir. Conductor: Christopher Gray.
    • Regent Records.

  • Vittorio Monti

    Czardas no.1

    Music Arranger: Tasmin Little. Music Arranger: John Lenehan. Performer: Tasmin Little. Performer: John Lenehan.
    • Tchaikovskiana: Tasmin Little/John Lenehan.
    • EMI Classical.

  • Richard Strauss

    Burleske

    Performer: Nelson Goerner. Orchestra: Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France. Conductor: Mikko Franck.
    • Alpha.

  • Chiara Margarita Cozzolani

    Tu dulcis, o bone Jesu

    Ensemble: Musica Secreta.
    • LINN RECORDS.

  • Jules Massenet

    Meditation (Thaïs)

    Performer: Yo‐Yo Ma. Performer: Kathryn Stott.
    • Paris, La Belle Epoque: Yo-Yo Ma/Kathryn Stott.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 1.

  • John Adams

    Harmonielehre: 3rd mvt Meister Eckhardt and Quackie

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

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Ballade no.3 in A flat major Op.47

    Performer: Cécile Ousset.
    • Best Chopin 50.
    • EMI.
    • 16.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No 1 in C major, Op 21 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Colin Davis.
    • Pentatone.

Broadcast

  • Tue 2 Dec 202509:30
    BBC Radio 3