Main content

Ease into the day with classical music

Tom McKinney presents Radio 3’s Breakfast show live from Salford. With birdsong, 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’

10 days left to listen

3 hours

Last on

Mon 22 Dec 202506:30
BBC Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

Start the day on the right note with classical music

Next

Rise and shine with classical music

See all episodes from Breakfast

Music Played

  • Hector Berlioz

    L'enfance du Christ (L'adieu des bergers)

    Choir: Tenebrae. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Colin Davis.
    • Berlioz: L'enfance du Christ: Sir Colin Davis, LSO, Tenebrae Choir.
    • LSO Live.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Nocturne in F sharp minor, Op.48 no.2

    Performer: Maria João Pires.
    • Chopin: The Nocturnes: Maria Joao Pires.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 4.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cantata no. 62 BWV.62; 1. Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (Chorus)

    Choir: Collegium Vocale Gent. Director: Philippe Herreweghe.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

  • Trad.

    Adam Lay Ybounden

    Choir: Jervaulx Singers. Conductor: Charlie Gower-Smith.
    • In The Stillness.
    • Convivium Records.

  • Philip Lane

    Wassail Dances

    Orchestra: The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
    • Hely-Hutchinson: A Carol Symphony.
    • Naxos.
    • 11-13.

  • Franz Xaver Gruber

    Tawel nos [ Silent Night ]

    Lyricist: Josef Mohr. Music Arranger: Chris Hazell. Conductor: Tecwyn Evans. Orchestra: Welsh National Opera Orchestra.
    • Carols & Christmas Songs.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 5.

  • Richard Strauss

    Serenade in E flat major, Op.7

    Ensemble: Ensemble à vent Paris Bastille. Director: François Leleux.
    • Francois Leleux - Richard Strauss.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 4.

  • Matthew Curtis

    Christmas Rush

    Orchestra: RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
    • Another Night Before Christmas.
    • NAXOS.
    • 9.

  • Clive Osgood

    Up! Good Christen folk

    Choir: Polyphony. Ensemble: Britten Sinfonia. Director: Stephen Layton.
    • CONVIVIUM.

  • Robert B. Sherman

    Feed the Birds (From \"Mary Poppins\")

    Composer: Richard M. Sherman. Performer: Lang Lang. Lyricist: Robert B. Sherman. Lyricist: Richard M. Sherman.
    • The Disney Book (Deluxe Edition).
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 17.

  • Leopold Mozart

    A musical sleigh ride

    Music Arranger: Philip Lane. Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Barry Wordsworth.
    • The Night Before Christmas.
    • Naxos.
    • 1.

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Consurge, filia Sion (Oratorio de Noel, Op 12)

    Choir: Bachchor Mainz. Orchestra: L’arpa festante. Conductor: Ralf Otto.
    • Saint Saens: Weihnachtsoratorium.
    • Deutsche Harmonia Mundi.
    • 9.

  • Gioachino Rossini

    La boutique fantasque: Tarantella

    Music Arranger: Ottorino Respighi. Conductor: Jesús López Cobos. Orchestra: Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
    • Respighi: Transcriptions for Orchestra.
    • Telarc.
    • 3.

  • John Gardner

    The holly and the ivy

    Performer: Simon Lindley. Choir: Huddersfield Choral Society. Conductor: Brian Kay.
    • A Christmas Celebration.
    • Chandos.
    • 9.

  • Trad.

    I saw three ships

    Lyricist: Trad.. Music Arranger: John Rutter. Conductor: John Rutter. Orchestra: City of London Sinfonia. Choir: The Cambridge Singers.
    • The John Rutter Christmas Album.
    • Collegium.
    • 19.

  • Franz Schubert

    Schubert: Winterreise, D. 911: No. 13, Die Post

    Performer: Julius Drake. Lyricist: Wilhelm Müller. Singer: Gerald Finley.
    • Schubert: Winterreise, D. 911.
    • Hyperion.

  • Thomas Clark

    Cranbrook (While Shepherds Watched)

    Ensemble: The Parley of Instruments. Choir: Psalmody. Director: Peter Holman.
    • Helios.

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 13, TH.24 \"Winter Reveries\": 1. Al

    Conductor: Semyon Bychkov. Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic.
    • Tchaikovsky: Complete Symphonies and Piano Concertos.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..

  • Hieronymus Praetorius

    In dulci jubilo

    Ensemble: VOCES8.
    • Christmas.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 1201.

  • Gordon Thornett

    Festive Overture: The Joy Of Christmas

    Orchestra: RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
    • The Spirit Of Christmas.
    • HERITAGE.
    • 1.

  • Alec Roth

    Song of the Shepherds

    Composer: Richard Crashaw. Singer: Emilia Morton. Singer: Katy Hill. Conductor: Harry Christophers. Choir: The Sixteen.
    • Song of the Nativity.
    • CORO.
    • 14.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Magnificat in D major BWV 243 (1st - 4th mvts)

    Singer: Miah Persson. Singer: Yukari Nonoshita. Orchestra: Bach Collegium Japan. Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki.
    • BIS.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Violin Concerto in D minor (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Janine Jansen. Orchestra: Oslo Philharmonic. Conductor: Klaus Mäkelä.
    • Decca.

  • Trad.

    Joy to the world

    Performer: Jonathan Menkis. Music Arranger: Frank Denson. Ensemble: Empire Brass.
    • Joy to the World: Music of Christmas.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 1.

  • Joseph Haydn

    String Quartet Op.55'2 "Razor" (4th mvt)

    Ensemble: London Haydn Quartet.
    • Haydn: String Quartets Opp 54 & 55.
    • Hyperion.
    • 008.

  • Leroy Anderson

    The Syncopated Clock

    Orchestra: Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Leonard Slatkin.
    • Leroy Anderson: Favourites: Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra/Slatkin.
    • RCA Red Seal.
    • 16.

Broadcast

  • Mon 22 Dec 202506:30
    BBC Radio 3