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The very best of classical 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

Tue 9 Dec 202509:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Franz Schubert

    Symphony No.5 in B flat (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Swedish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Thomas Dausgaard.
    • Schubert: The Symphonies.
    • BIS.
    • 301.

  • Herbert Howells

    Here is the little door

    Choir: The Choir Of Trinity College, Cambridge. Conductor: Richard Marlow.
    • Christmas Classics.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 22.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Waltz in A flat major Op.42

    Performer: Mariam Batsashvili.
    • Warner.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Concerto grosso in B flat major Op.3`1

    Orchestra: Berliner Barock Solisten. Conductor: Reinhard Goebel.
    • Handel: Concerti Grossi, Op. 3.
    • haenssler CLASSIC.
    • 1-3.

  • John Williams

    Hedwig's Theme

    Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: John Williams.
    • Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone (AKA Philosopher's Stone) Original Motion.
    • Atlantic Records.
    • 19.

  • Richard Rodney Bennett

    Over the Hills and Far Away: Bobby Shafto; Pop Goes the Weasel; Over the Hills and Far Away

    Performer: Philip Moore. Performer: Andrew West.
    • Bennett: Letters to Lindbergh.
    • SIGNUM.
    • 701.

  • Jonathan Dove

    The Star-Song

    Choir: Wells Cathedral Choir. Performer: Jonathan Vaughn. Conductor: Matthew Owens.
    • HYPERION.

  • Elena Kats‐Chernin

    Rainbow Promise

    Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Alpesh Chauhan.

  • Patrick Hadley

    I Sing of a Maiden

    Performer: Iain Simcock. Choir: Westminster Cathedral Choir. Conductor: James O’Donnell.
    • Adeste fideles: Christmas Music from Westminster Cathedral.
    • Hyperion.
    • 16.

  • Richard Wagner

    Lohengrin (Prelude Act 1)

    Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Claudio Abbado.
    • DG.

  • James Lord Pierpont

    Jingle Bells (Arr. for String Quartet by Michi Wiancko)

    Music Arranger: Michi Wiancko. Ensemble: Miró Quartet.
    • Hearth.
    • Pentatone.
    • 103.

  • Arcangelo Corelli

    Concerto grosso in D major Op.6`4

    Ensemble: Höör Barock. Director: Dan Laurin.
    • BIS.

  • Jean Mouton

    Nesciens Mater

    Choir: The Brabant Ensemble. Director: Stephen Rice.
    • HYPERION.

  • Walter Donaldson

    Yes Sir, That's My Baby

    Performer: Alexandre Tharaud.
    • Le Boeuf sur le toit.
    • ERATO.
    • 3.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Symphony no.9 in E minor 'From the New World' (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andris Nelsons.
    • BR Klassik.

  • Judith Weir

    Illuminare, Jerusalem

    Choir: Taverner Choir. Ensemble: Taverner Consort. Conductor: Andrew Parrott.
    • The Promise of Ages - A Christmas Collection.
    • AVIE.
    • 17.

  • Maurice Ravel

    Petit Poucet (Ma mère l'oye for piano duet)

    Ensemble: Katia & Marielle Labèque.
    • Maurice Ravel Katia Et Marielle Labeque.
    • KML.

  • Roger Quilter

    A Children's Overture Op.17

    Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
    • Overtures From The British Isles Vol. 2.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 9.

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Piano Concerto No 2 in F major, Op 102 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Dmitri Maximovich Shostakovich. Conductor: Maxim Dmitrievich Shostakovich. Orchestra: Orchestre symphonique de Montréal.
    • Shostakovich: Piano concerto no. 2: I Musici de Montréal.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Isaac Albéniz

    Sevilla (Suite Española)

    Music Arranger: Jascha Heifetz. Performer: Vilde Frang. Performer: José Gallardo.
    • Homage.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 15.

  • William Walton

    Spitfire Prelude and Fugue - concert version

    Orchestra: Orchestra of Opera North. Conductor: Paul Daniel.
    • Walton: Spitfire Prelude and Fugue: Sinofnia concertante.
    • Naxos.
    • 1.

  • Thomas Tallis

    Videte miraculum

    Ensemble: Stile Antico.
    • Puer Natus Est, Tudor Music For Advent and Christmas: Stile Antico.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 1.

  • Edna Bentz Woods

    Valse Phantastique

    Performer: Marc‐André Hamelin.
    • HYPERION.

  • Gabriel Fauré

    Sicilienne Op.78

    Performer: Emmanuel Pahud. Performer: Mariko Anraku.
    • Beau Soir, French and Japanese melodies: Pahud/Anraku.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 6.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cantata No 63, 'Christen, ätzet diesen Tag'

    Singer: Ann Monoyios. Singer: Sara Mingardo. Singer: Rufus Müller. Singer: Stephan Loges. Choir: Monteverdi Choir.
    • ARCHIV.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Five variants of Dives and Lazarus

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Richard Hickox.
    • Vaughan Williams: Five Tudor Portraits: London Symphony Orchestra/Hickox.
    • Chandos.
    • 6.

  • Errollyn Wallen

    Peace on earth

    Performer: Dónal McCann. Choir: Choir of King’s College, Cambridge. Singer: George Hill. Conductor: Stephen Cleobury.
    • Errollyn Wallen: Peace on Earth.
    • Kings College Cambridge.
    • 1.

  • John Dowland

    Mrs Winter's Jump

    Performer: Jakob Lindberg.
    • BIS.

  • Robert Schumann

    Piano Concerto in A minor, Op 54 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Martha Argerich. Orchestra: Orchestra della Svizzera italiana. Conductor: Alexandre Rabinovitch-Barakovsky.
    • Warner.

Broadcast

  • Tue 9 Dec 202509:30
    BBC Radio 3