Main content

Start the day on the right note with classical music

Mark Forrest presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show live from Salford. With Bach Before 7 and the best in classical music. You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]

To listen on most smart speakers, just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play 3 Breakfast’

8 days left to listen

2 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Sun 21 Dec 202506:30
BBC Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

The best classical music wake-up call

Next

Ease into the day with classical music

See all episodes from Breakfast

Music Played

  • Florence Price

    Song for Snow

    Performer: Chloe Flower. Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Jessica Cottis.
    • Song for Snow.
    • Popsical Music Group.
    • 1.

  • Johann Stamitz

    Sinfonia in D Major (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: South-West German Chamber Orchestra Pforzheim. Conductor: Timo Handschuh.
    • Johann Stamitz: Darmstädter Sinfonien.
    • CPO.

  • Ottorino Respighi

    Arie di corte (Ancient Airs and Dances Suite no.3)

    Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of New York. Conductor: Salvatore Di Vittorio.
    • Respighi: Orchestral Works.
    • Naxos.
    • 302.

  • Trad.

    There is no rose [English, 15th Century]

    Ensemble: VOCES8.
    • Christmas.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 1401.

  • Elizabeth Maconchy

    Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!

    Choir: Choir of King’s College, Cambridge. Conductor: Sir David Willcocks.
    • Best Loved Christmas Carols.
    • Parlophone Records Limited.
    • 21.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Bereitet die Wege, bereitet die Bahn: Christi Glieder, ach bedenket

    Performer: Christopher Dawes. Conductor: Kevin Mallon. Ensemble: Aradia Ensemble.
    • Bach, J.S.: Christmas Cantatas.
    • Naxos.
    • 5.

  • Trad.

    Good King Wenceslas

    Ensemble: Canadian Brass.
    • Philips.

  • Edvard Grieg

    Symphonic Dances, Op. 64: II. Allegretto grazioso

    Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
    • Grieg: Symphonic Dances.
    • Chandos.
    • 2.

  • Trad.

    Sans Day Carol

    Music Arranger: John Rutter. Choir: The Cambridge Singers. Orchestra: City of London Sinfonia. Conductor: John Rutter.
    • John Rutter - The Choral Collection.
    • Decca (UMO).
    • 21.

  • Gustav Holst

    Mercury, the Winged Messenger (The Planets, Op 32)

    Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vladimir Jurowski.
    • London Philharmonic Orchestra - Holst The Planets - Vladimir Jurowski Conductor.
    • LPO.
    • 3.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Symphony No 1 (2nd mvt)

    Conductor: Robin Ticciati. Orchestra: Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
    • Brahms: The Symphonies.
    • Linn Records.
    • 2.

  • Giovanni Valentini

    Sinfonia per Il Santissimo Natale (1st mvt)

    Ensemble: Cappella Gabetta. Conductor: Andrés Gabetta.
    • Christmas Concertos.
    • Deutsche Harmonia Mundi.
    • 17.

  • Giovanni Valentini

    Sinfonia per Il Santissimo Natale (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Cappella Gabetta. Conductor: Andrés Gabetta.
    • Christmas Concertos.
    • Deutsche Harmonia Mundi.
    • 18.

  • Giovanni Valentini

    Sinfonia per Il Santissimo Natale (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Cappella Gabetta. Conductor: Andrés Gabetta.
    • Christmas Concertos.
    • Deutsche Harmonia Mundi.
    • 19.

  • Giovanni Valentini

    Sinfonia per Il Santissimo Natale (4th mvt)

    Ensemble: Cappella Gabetta. Conductor: Andrés Gabetta.
    • Christmas Concertos.
    • Deutsche Harmonia Mundi.
    • 20.

  • Giovanni Valentini

    Sinfonia per Il Santissimo Natale (5th mvt)

    Ensemble: Cappella Gabetta. Conductor: Andrés Gabetta.
    • Christmas Concertos.
    • Deutsche Harmonia Mundi.
    • 21.

  • John Foster

    While shepherds watched their flocks by night

    Choir: Psalmody. Ensemble: The Parley of Instruments. Director: Peter Holman.
    • While Shepherds Watched.
    • Hyperion.
    • 15.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Divertimento in D major, K.136 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: London Mozart Players. Conductor: Jane Glover.
    • Mozart The Collectors Edition 50 CDs The Masterpieces The Greatest Artists.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 8.

  • Mateo Flecha

    Riu riu chiu

    Choir: Stile Antico.
    • A Spanish Nativity.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • 8.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Organ Concerto in F major, HWV 295, 'The Cuckoo and the Nightingale'

    Performer: Istvan Ella. Orchestra: Corelli Chamber Orchestra.
    • Organ Concertos.
    • Capriccio.
    • 20-23.

  • Sir David Willcocks

    Deck The Hall

    Conductor: Matthew Owens. Ensemble: Wells Cathedral Choir.
    • A Wells Christmas.
    • Resonus Classics.
    • 6.

  • Gian Carlo Menotti

    Suite from Amahl and the night visitors

    Orchestra: RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
    • Heritage Records.

  • Trad.

    Christians Awake

    Performer: Darius Battiwalla. Conductor: Joseph Cullen. Ensemble: Huddersfield Choral Society.
    • The Carols Album.
    • Signum Records.
    • 26.

  • Josef Strauss

    Friedenspalmen Waltz

    Conductor: Daniel Barenboim. Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic.
    • New Year's Concert 2014 / Neujahrskonzert 2014.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 2.

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Symphony no.5 in E minor (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Christian Lindberg.
    • Tchaikovsky: Symphonies 4, 5 & 6.
    • BIS.
    • 3.

  • Trad.

    The Wexford Carol

    Music Arranger: Martin Shaw. Conductor: Harry Christophers. Ensemble: The Sixteen.
    • The Wise Men and the Star - A Christmas Collection.
    • CORO.
    • 24.

Broadcast

  • Sun 21 Dec 202506:30
    BBC Radio 3