A classical soundtrack for your morning
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”
Last on
Music Played
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Charles Gounod
Meditation on Bach's first prelude, 'Ave Maria'
Music Arranger: Sir Stephen Hough. Performer: Sir Stephen Hough.- Hyperion.
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William Grant Still
Symphony no.1 'Afro-American' (1st mvt)
Orchestra: Fort Smith Symphony. Conductor: John Jeter.- William Grant Still: Afro-American Symphony/In Memoriam/Africa (Symphonic Poem).
- NAXOS.
- 5.
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Joseph Haydn
Piano Trio in E flat major H.15.22 (3rd mvt)
Ensemble: Trio Gaspard.- CHANDOS.
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Leroy Anderson
Sleigh Ride
Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Leonard Slatkin.- Anderson, L.: Orchestral Music, Vol. 3 - Sleigh Ride / The Typewriter / Plink, P.
- Naxos.
- 1.
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Georges Bizet
Au fond du temple saint (The Pearl Fishers)
Singer: Rolando Villazón. Singer: Ildar Abdrazakov. Orchestra: Montreal Metropolitan Orchestra. Conductor: Yannick Nézet‐Séguin.- Duets.
- Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
- 1.
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Juan García de Zéspedes
Convidando está la noche
Ensemble: The Harp Consort. Director: Andrew Lawrence‐King.- Missa Mexicana.
- harmonia mundi.
- 16.
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Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
The Snow Maiden Op.12 (Prologue: Introduction)
Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Alpesh Chauhan.- Tchaikovsky Orchestral Works Vol. 2.
- Chandos.
- 106.
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Maurice Ravel
Introduction and allegro
Ensemble: Nash Ensemble.- Onyx.
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Johann Sebastian Bach
Brandenburg concerto no.4 in G major (1st mvt)
Ensemble: Dunedin Consort. Conductor: John Butt.- J.S. Bach: Six Brandenburg Concertos.
- Linn Records.
- 11.
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Trad.
Sussex Carol [on Christmas night]
Music Arranger: Ralph Vaughan Williams. Orchestrator: Daniel Hyde. Choir: Choir of King’s College, Cambridge. Orchestra: Britten Sinfonia. Conductor: Daniel Hyde.- All the Stars Looked Down: A John Rutter Celebration.
- King’s College, Cambridge.
- 4.
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John Rutter
Dormi, Jesu
Choir: Choir of King’s College, Cambridge. Orchestra: Britten Sinfonia. Conductor: Daniel Hyde.- All the Stars Looked Down: A John Rutter Celebration.
- King’s College, Cambridge.
- 13.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony no.34 in C major K.338 (3rd mvt)
Orchestra: Budapest Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Iván Fischer.- HUNGAROTON.
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Hélène de Montgeroult
Études Nos 41 and 82
Performer: Clare Hammond.- BIS.
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George Frideric Handel
For unto us a child is born (Messiah)
Choir: Huddersfield Choral Society. Orchestra: Royal Northern Sinfonia. Conductor: Jane Glover.- Handel: Messiah.
- Signum Classics.
- 212.
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Frederick Delius
Winter Landscape (North Country Sketches)
Orchestra: Welsh National Opera Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.- Delius: Brigg Fair etc: Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera/Mackerras.
- Argo.
- 5.
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Ludwig van Beethoven
Coriolan Overture
Orchestra: Le Concert des Nations. Conductor: Jordi Savall.- ALIA VOX.
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Cecil Broadhurst
The Cowboy Carol
Choir: Royal Choral Society. Conductor: Malcolm Sargent.- Christmas Favourites: The Essential Collection (Digitally Remastered).
- AVID Entertainment.
- 36.
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Anon.
Angelus ad Virginem
Performer: Andrew Lawrence‐King.- Christmas Carols.
- Erato.
- 208.
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John Gardner
Tomorrow shall be my dancing day
Choir: The Sixteen. Performer: Ben Hoffnung. Performer: William Lockhart. Performer: Margaret Phillips. Conductor: Harry Christophers.- Hodie - An English Christmas Collection.
- Coro.
- 25.
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John Foster
While shepherds watched their flocks by night
Choir: Psalmody. Ensemble: The Parley of Instruments. Director: Peter Holman.- While Shepherds Watched.
- Hyperion.
- 15.
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Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
The Sleeping Beauty Suite (The Lilac Fairy)
Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Herbert von Karajan.- Tchaikovsky: Ballet Suites, Wiener Philharmoniker.
- Decca.
- 15.
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John Tavener
The Lamb
Choir: Choir of New College Oxford. Conductor: Edward Higginbottom.- Agnus Dei: Choir of New College, Oxford/Higginbottom.
- Erato.
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Johann Sebastian Bach
Nun komm der Heiden Heiland BWV.659
Music Arranger: Ferruccio Busoni. Performer: Víkingur Ólafsson.- Solo Piano Works.
- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
- 8.
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Madeleine Dring
Festival Scherzo
Performer: Martin Roscoe. Ensemble: Guildhall String Ensemble. Conductor: Robert Salter.- HYPERION.
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Jean Sibelius
The Swan of Tuonela (Lemminkainen suite Op.22)
Orchestra: Lahti Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Osmo Vänskä.- BIS.
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John Rutter
When icicles hang
Singer: Nicholas Wilson. Choir: The Cambridge Singers. Performer: Duke Dobing. Orchestra: City of London Sinfonia. Conductor: John Rutter.- Fancies.
- Collegium.
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Franz Schubert
3 Marches militaires D.733 (no.1 in D major)
Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Charles Groves.- Sir Charles' Precious Music Box 2: Philharmonia/Groves.
- Denon.
- 2.
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Rachel Portman
Emma (Main title)
Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: David Snell.- Emma (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).
- Hollywood Records.
- 1.
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Benjamin Britten
The Birth of Nicolas (Saint Nicolas Op.42)
Singer: Luke McWatters. Singer: Allan Clayton. Choir: Temple Church Choristers. Choir: The Choir Of Trinity College, Cambridge. Choir: Holst Singers. Orchestra: City of London Sinfonia. Conductor: Stephen Layton.- Britten: A Ceremony of Carols & St Nicolas.
- Hyperion.
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Mel Tormé
Christmas song [Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire]
Composer: Robert Wells. Performer: Alexis Ffrench.- Christmas Piano with Alexis.
- Sony Classical.
- 5.
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Alexander L’Estrange
Lute-book Lullaby
Singer: Joanna Forbes L'Estrange. Choir: Tenebrae. Performer: James Sherlock. Conductor: Nigel Short.- On Eagles' Wings: Sacred Choral Works by Alexander L'Estrange.
- Signum Records.
- 12.
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Johann Sebastian Bach
In dulci jubilo BWV.608
Music Arranger: Andrew Davis. Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Martyn Brabbins.- King of Kings - JS Bach Orchestral Transcriptions.
- Chandos.
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Trad.
The Londonderry Air
Orchestrator: Sir Hamilton Harty. Orchestra: Ulster Orchestra. Conductor: Bryden Thomson.- Harty: The Children of Lir etc. - Holmes/Harper/Ulster Orchestra/Thomson.
- Chandos.
Broadcast
- Tue 16 Dec 202509:30BBC Radio 3

