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The best classical morning music

Georgia Mann plays the best in classical music, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites.

Georgia Mann 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 3 Dec 202509:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Malcolm Arnold

    Four Cornish Dances arr for brass band (No 1)

    Ensemble: Grimethorpe Colliery Band. Conductor: Malcolm Arnold.
    • The Malcolm Arnold Edition: Music for Brass.
    • Decca.
    • 23.

  • Willem de Fesch

    Concerto Grosso in C Major, Op. 3: No. 1

    Performer: Lidewij van der Voort. Orchestra: La Sfera Armoniosa. Conductor: Mike Fentross.
    • Challenge Classics.

  • Dobrinka Tabakova

    Of a rose sing we

    Performer: Owen Chan. Choir: Choir of Merton College, Oxford. Conductor: Benjamin Nicholas.
    • On Christmas Night: Carols from Merton.
    • Delphian Records.
    • 7.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Leonore - overture no.1 Op.138

    Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt.
    • Beethoven: Overtures: Harnoncourt, Chamber Orch. Of Europe.
    • Teldec.

  • Scott Joplin

    Maple Leaf Rag

    Performer: Katia & Marielle Labèque.
    • Gladrags - Works by Joplin, Mayerl etc.: Katia & Marielle Labeque.
    • EMI.
    • 7.

  • Hannah Peel

    Sunrise through the Dusty Nebula

    Ensemble: Tubular Brass. Conductor: Sandy Smith.
    • My Own Pleasure.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Piano Quartet No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 25: IV. Rondo alla Zingarese. Presto

    Performer: Marc‐André Hamelin.
    • Brahms: Piano Quartets Nos. 1, 2 & 3; Intermezzos, Op. 117.
    • Hyperion.
    • 4.

  • Maurice Ravel

    Bolero for orchestra

    Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Donald Runnicles.
    • GBBBC.

  • Avril Coleridge-Taylor

    Valse Caprice

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Andrews.
    • Avril Coleridge-Taylor: Piano Concerto & Orchestral Works.
    • Resonus Classics.
    • 10.

  • Joseph Haydn

    String Quartet in C major, Op 50 No 2 (4th mvt)

    Ensemble: Tokyo String Quartet.
    • Haydn: 6 Preussische Quartette.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 8.

  • Roderick Williams

    O Adonai

    Choir: Ex Cathedra. Conductor: Jeffrey Skidmore.
    • EX CATHEDRA.

  • Aram Khachaturian

    Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia (Spartacus)

    Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Kirill Karabits.
    • Onyx.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Suite no.2 Op.17 (Romance)

    Performer: Martha Argerich. Performer: Nelson Freire.
    • Philips.

  • Josef Suk

    A Fairy-tale suite [Pohadka] Op.16 (Runa's curse)

    Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Jiří Bělohlávek.
    • DECCA.

  • Leos Janáček

    Moon Waltz (The Excursions of Mr Broucek - Suite)

    Music Arranger: Jaroslav Smolka. Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Ilan Volkov.
    • Janacek: The Eternal Gospel; The Excursions of Mr Broucek.
    • Hyperion.
    • 8.

  • Judith Bingham

    Beneath These Alien Stars

    Singer: Alison Smart. Choir: BBC Singers. Performer: Iain Farrington. Conductor: David Hill.
    • Remoter Worlds.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 14.

  • Anne Nikitin

    Lunar Orbit

    • The Moonwalkers (Original Soundtrack).
    • Silva Screen Records.
    • 5.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Prelude and fugue no. 2 in C min BWV.847 (Book 1, The Well-Tempered Clavier)

    Performer: Sir András Schiff.
    • Bach: Das Wohltemperierte Clavier.
    • ECM.
    • 3-4.

  • Dora Pejačević

    Piano Quintet in B minor Op.40 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Oliver Triendl. Ensemble: Quatuor Sine Nomine.
    • Pejacevic: Chamber Works.
    • CPO.
    • 2.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Legends Op.59 (no.3 in G minor)

    Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.
    • Dvorak: Legends Op.59: ECO, Mackerras.
    • EMI.
    • 1.

  • Elizabeth Poston

    Jesus Christ the Apple Tree

    Choir: Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge. Conductor: Andrew Nethsingha.
    • Christmas with St. John's.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 2101.

  • Arturo Márquez

    Danzón No. 5 "Portales de Madrugada"

    Ensemble: Aero Quartet.
    • Aero Quartet.
    • Orchid Classics.
    • 105.

  • Arnold Bax

    The Tale the Pine Trees Knew

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: David Lloyd‐Jones.
    • Naxos.

  • Franz Liszt

    Canzonetta del Salvator Rosa (Années de pèlerinage II)

    Performer: Llŷr Williams.
    • Liszt: Piano Works: Llyr Williams.
    • Signum Classics.

  • Jasdeep Singh Degun

    Abbhā

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Ben Gernon.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Exsultate, jubilate K.165

    Singer: Carolyn Sampson. Orchestra: Bach Collegium Japan. Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki.
    • Mozart: Great Mass in C Minor & Exsultate, Jubilate.
    • BIS.
    • 14-17.

  • Robert Schumann

    Adagio and allegro in A flat major Op.70 for horn [or other] and piano

    Performer: Wolfgang Tomboeck. Performer: Madoka Inui.
    • Vienna Horn (The Art Of The).
    • Naxos.
    • 1.

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Romance (The Gadfly, Op.97)

    Music Arranger: Lev Atovmian. Performer: Daniel Hope. Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Maxim Dmitrievich Shostakovich.
    • Warner.

Broadcast

  • Wed 3 Dec 202509:30
    BBC Radio 3