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”
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Music Played
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Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
The Seasons, Op. 37B: I. January. By the Fireplace
Orchestra: Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.- Tchaikovsky: Suite No. 4 & The Seasons.
- Chandos.
- 115.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Clarinet Concerto in A major K.622 (3rd mvt)
Performer: Martin Frost. Orchestra: Amsterdam Sinfonietta. Conductor: Peter Oundjian.- Mozart: Clarinet Concerto & Quintet: Martin Frost.
- BIS.
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Clara Schumann
Romance in B flat major, Op.22 no.3
Performer: Lisa Batiashvili. Performer: Alice Sara Ott.- Lisa Batiashvili plays Brahms & C. Schumann.
- Deutsche Grammophon.
- 6.
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Aaron Copland
Corral nocturne (Rodeo - 4 dance episodes)
Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Wilson.- CHANDOS.
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George Frideric Handel
Giulio Cesare: Va tacito (go silently)
Singer: Barnaby Smith. Ensemble: The Illyria Consort.- Voces8 Records.
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John Williams
Sound the Bells!
Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: John Williams.- Sound the Bells! (Version for Full Orchestra).
- Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
- 1.
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Jean Sibelius
Overture to Karelia
Orchestra: Oulu Sinfonia. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.- Overtures from Finland.
- Chandos.
- 1.
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Sergey Rachmaninov
Sonata In G Minor For Cello & Piano, Op. 19 - 4. Allegro mosso
Performer: Alisa Weilerstein. Performer: Inon Barnatan.- Rachmaninov & Chopin Cello Sonatas.
- Decca Music Group Ltd..
- 4.
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Béla Bartók
Romanian Folk Dances
Orchestra: Budapest Festival Orchestra. Choir: Budapest Festival Chorus. Conductor: Iván Fischer.- Bartok: Orchestral Works Vol.1: Budapest Festival Orchestra/Fischer.
- Philips.
- 8.
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H. Leslie Adams
Aria for cello and piano
Performer: Meredith Blecha-Wells. Performer: Kim Sun-Min.- NAVONA.
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Lucy Walker
I Saw Eternity
Conductor: Andrew Earis. Ensemble: St Martin's Voices.- Lucy Walker: Choral Works.
- Resonus Classics.
- 19.
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Marianna Martines
Harpsichord Concerto in E major (1st mvt)
Performer: Nicoleta Paraschivescu. Ensemble: La Floridiana.- Deutsche Harmonia Mundi.
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Agustín Barrios Mangoré
Vals, Op. 8 No. 3
Performer: Thibaut Garcia.- El Bohemio.
- Warner Classics.
- 13.
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Gustav Mahler
Symphony no.5 in C sharp minor (4th mvt)
Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.- EMI.
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Max Reger
Clarinet Quintet in A Major, Op. 146: II. Vivace
Performer: Thorsten Johanns. Ensemble: Diogenes Quartett.- Reger: Clarinet Quintet in A Major, Op. 146 & String Sextet in F Major, Op. 118.
- CPO.
- 102.
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Albert Ketèlbey
Bells across the Meadows
Orchestra: The New London Orchestra. Conductor: Ronald Corp.- British Light Music Classics, Vol. 1.
- Hyperion.
- 12.
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Claude Debussy
Pagodes (Estampes)
Performer: Jean‐Yves Thibaudet.- Debussy, Preludes etc.: Jean-Yves Thibaudet.
- Decca.
- 13.
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Edward Elgar
The Wand of youth - suite no.2 Op.1b (The Tame Bear)
Orchestra: Hallé. Conductor: Sir Mark Elder.- The Wand Of Youth Suites etc..
- Halle.
- 9.
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George Gershwin
It Ain't Necessarily So [Porgy & Bess]
Performer: Randall Goosby. Performer: Zhu Wang. Music Arranger: Jascha Heifetz.- Gershwin: Porgy and Bess: It Ain't Necessarily So (Arr. Heifetz).
- Decca Music Group Ltd..
- 1.
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Lars‐Erik Larsson
Lyric Fantasy, Op.54
Orchestra: Helsingborgs Symfoniorkester. Conductor: Andrew Manze.- Larsson: Orchestral Works, Vol. 1.
- CPO.
- 13.
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Frédéric Chopin
Barcarolle in F sharp major Op.60
Performer: Benjamin Grosvenor.- Benjamin Grosvenor: Homages.
- Decca.
- 009.
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William Grant Still
Violin Suite (Arr. for Violin & Orchestra): II. Mother and Child
Performer: Zina Schiff. Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Avlana Eisenberg.- Still: Orchestral Works.
- Naxos.
- 802.
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Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No 9 in D minor, Op 125, 'Choral' (4th mvt)
Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Singer: Charlotte Margiono. Singer: Rudolf Schasching. Singer: Birgit Remmert. Singer: Robert Holl. Choir: Arnold Schoenberg Chorus. Conductor: Erwin Ortner.- Beethoven: Symphonies 1-9: Harnoncourt, Chamber Orchestra of Europe.
- Teldec.
- 4.
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Antonín Dvořák
Serenade for Wind in D Minor, Op. 44: II. Minuetto (Tempo di minuetto)
Ensemble: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Myung-Whun Chung.- Dvorák: Serenades for Strings and Winds.
- Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
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Amy Beach
Berceuse (3 Pieces Op.40)
Performer: Steven Isserlis. Performer: Sir Stephen Hough.- Children's Cello.
- BIS.
- 17.
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Josquin des Prez
Inviolata, integra et casta es
Choir: Stile Antico.- Decca.
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Arthur Sullivan
L'ile enchantee: Scene de jalousie - Andante maestoso
Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: John Andrews.- Arthur Sullivan: L’ile Enchantee - complete ballet.
- Dutton.
- 15.
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Max Bruch
Violin Concerto No.1 in G minor, Op.26 (3rd movement: Finale)
Performer: Renaud Capuçon. Orchestra: Orchestre de Paris – Philharmonie. Conductor: Paavo Järvi.- Erato.
Broadcast
- Fri 2 Jan 202609:30BBC Radio 3

