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Your perfect classical playlist

Ian Skelly plays the best in classical music, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites

Ian Skelly 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.

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10 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Tue 23 Dec 202509:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Philip Lane

    3 Christmas Pictures: Sleighbell Serenade

    Conductor: Gavin Sutherland. Orchestra: Royal Ballet Sinfonia.
    • Lane: Sleighbell Serenade / Prestbury Park / Three Christmas Pictures.
    • Marco-Polo.
    • 1.

  • Trad.

    Ding Dong Merrily on High (Arr. for Brass Ensemble by J. Rutter)

    Music Arranger: John Rutter. Ensemble: Vega Brass Ensemble.
    • NAXOS.

  • Trad.

    While Shepherds Watched

    Ensemble: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • The Complete Traditional Christmas Carols Collection.
    • CORO.
    • 4.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Sheep may safely graze (Cantata No 208) arr. Stokowski

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Matthias Bamert.
    • Chandos.

  • Teresa Carreño

    Le sommeil de l'enfant, Op 35

    Performer: Clara Rodriguez.
    • Teresa Carreno: Clara Rodriguez.
    • Nimbus.
    • 12.

  • Trad.

    Christmas day Ida Moarnin'

    Ensemble: Marici Saxes.
    • Marici.

  • John Williams

    Somewhere In My Memory

    Conductor: Stephen Bell. Orchestra: Hallé. Ensemble: Hallé Children's Choir.
    • A Christmas Celebration.
    • Halle Concerts Society.
    • 6.

  • Trad.

    Nous étions trois bergerettes

    Performer: Christian Erny. Choir: Zurich Chamber Singers.
    • BERLIN CLASSICS.

  • Julius Fucik

    Winterstürme

    Performer: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Václav Neumann.
    • WARNER APEX.

  • Trad.

    Zither Carol

    Music Arranger: Malcolm Sargent. Choir: BBC Singers.
    • James Galway's Christmas Carol.
    • RCA Red Seal.
    • 6.

  • Francesco Manfredini

    Concerto in C Major, Op. 3 No. 12 "Pastorale per il santissimo Natale":

    Conductor: Claudio Scimone. Orchestra: I Solisti Veneti.
    • Corelli, Torelli, Handel, Manfredini & Locatelli: Famous Christmas Concertos.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 9.

  • William James

    An Australian Christmas

    • Frohe Weihnachten!.
    • Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings.
    • 4.

  • John Ireland

    The Holy Boy

    Performer: Julian Lloyd Webber. Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Neville Marriner.
    • English Idyll.
    • Philips.
    • 8.

  • Trad.

    I Saw Three Ships

    Performer: Sheku Kanneh‐Mason. Performer: Harry Baker. Music Arranger: Harry Baker.
    • I Saw Three Ships (Arr. Baker).
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 1.

  • Cecilia McDowall

    Now may we singen (Medieval)

    Ensemble: ORA. Conductor: Suzi Digby.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

  • Franz Liszt

    Transcendental Study No 12 in B flat minor, 'Chasse-neige'

    Performer: Alice Sara Ott.
    • 111 Years Of Deutsche Grammophon The Collector's Edition Vol.2.
    • Deutshe Grammophon.
    • 12.

  • Eric Whitacre

    Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

    Lyricist: Robert Frost.
    • Whitacre: Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 1.

  • Nigel Hess

    A Christmas Overture

    Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Rutter.
    • John Rutter - A Christmas Festival.
    • COLLEGIUM.
    • 10.

  • Pavel Josef Vejvanovský

    Sonata Natalis

    Conductor: Christopher Hogwood. Orchestra: Academy of Ancient Music.
    • Christmas Concertos - Corelli & Torelli.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 8.

  • Bernard de La Monnoye

    Patapan

    Lyricist: Bernard de La Monnoye. Music Arranger: Robert De Cormier. Music Arranger: Eddie Sauter. Conductor: Leonard Bernstein. Orchestra: New York Philharmonic. Choir: The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.
    • The Joy of Christmas.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 8.

  • Marc‐Antoine Charpentier

    Charpentier: Noëls sur les instruments, H 531, 534 - III. Or nous dites, Marie

    Orchestra: The English Concert.
    • Christmas with The English Concert & Trevor Pinnock.
    • UME - Global Clearing House.
    • 12.

  • Hector Berlioz

    The Childhood of Christ: The Shepherd's Farewell

    Conductor: Terry Edwards.
    • A Classical Christmas.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 8.

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    The Snow Maiden, Op. 12, Act III: No. 13, Dance of the Tumblers (Allegro vivace)

    Conductor: Alpesh Chauhan. Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
    • Tchaikovsky Orchestral Works Vol. 2.
    • Chandos.
    • 108.

  • Béla Bartók

    Romanian Christmas carols Sz.57

    Performer: Zoltán Kocsis.
    • Philips.

  • Henri Büsser

    Le sommeil de l'enfant Jésus, Op. 3

    • Les Corps Glorieux: Music for Organ, Harp & Cello.
    • MSR Classics.
    • 1.

  • Chiquinha Gonzaga

    Canção dos pastores, noite de natal (Arr. for Violin & Piano by Esther Abrami)

    Lyricist: Esther Abrami.
    • Nightlight.
    • Sony Classical/Sony Music.
    • 6.

  • Peter Warlock

    Bethlehem Down

    Lyricist: Bruce Blunt.
    • Christmas Fantasy.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 9.

  • Leopold Mozart

    A musical sleigh ride

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

  • Samuel Barber

    Die natali, Op. 37

    • Barber: Piano Concerto / Die Natali / Medea's Meditation.
    • Naxos.
    • 4.

  • Trad.

    Angels We Have Heard on High (Arr. J. Rutter)

    Lyricist: Trad.. Music Arranger: John Rutter. Conductor: John Rutter. Choir: The Cambridge Singers.
    • Christmas Star: A Christmas Festival.
    • Collegium.
    • 9.

  • John Rutter

    Angels' carol for chorus and accompaniment

    Choir: The Cambridge Singers. Orchestra: City of London Sinfonia. Conductor: John Rutter.
    • The Ultimate Collection.
    • Decca (UMO).
    • 19.

  • Florence Price

    Song for Snow

    Composer: Elizabeth Coatsworth. Conductor: Jessica Cottis. Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields.
    • She Composed: The Holidays.
    • Popsical Music Group.
    • 1.

  • Jule Styne

    Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

    Lyricist: Sammy Cahn. Music Arranger: Barry Gordon. Ensemble: The Hampton String Quartet.
    • RCA.

  • Lars‐Erik Larsson

    A Winter's Tale Suite, Op 18

    Orchestra: Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Stig Westerberg.
    • Swedish Society.

  • Trad.

    El Noi de la Mare

    Performer: Guillem Pérez-Quer.
    • El Noi de la Mare (Arr. for Guitar by Guillem Perez-Quer).
    • Prima Classic.
    • 1.

  • Trad.

    La Virgen Lava Panales

    Choir: The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.
    • BONNEVILLE CLASSICS.

  • Johann Strauss II

    Schneeglöckchen-Walzer, Op. 143

    Music Arranger: Heinz Sandauer. Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Willi Boskovsky.
    • Strauss, J.II: Waltzes, Polkas & Marches.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 7.

Broadcast

  • Tue 23 Dec 202509:30
    BBC Radio 3