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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”

20 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Music Played

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Aaron Copland

    Corral nocturne (Rodeo - 4 dance episodes)

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • CHANDOS.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Giulio Cesare: Va tacito (go silently)

    Singer: Barnaby Smith. Ensemble: The Illyria Consort.
    • Voces8 Records.
  • John Williams

    Sound the Bells!

    Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: John Williams.
    • Sound the Bells! (Version for Full Orchestra).
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 1.
  • Jean Sibelius

    Overture to Karelia

    Orchestra: Oulu Sinfonia. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
    • Overtures from Finland.
    • Chandos.
    • 1.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • H. Leslie Adams

    Aria for cello and piano

    Performer: Meredith Blecha-Wells. Performer: Kim Sun-Min.
    • NAVONA.
  • Lucy Walker

    I Saw Eternity

    Conductor: Andrew Earis. Ensemble: St Martin's Voices.
    • Lucy Walker: Choral Works.
    • Resonus Classics.
    • 19.
  • Marianna Martines

    Harpsichord Concerto in E major (1st mvt)

    Performer: Nicoleta Paraschivescu. Ensemble: La Floridiana.
    • Deutsche Harmonia Mundi.
  • Agustín Barrios Mangoré

    Vals, Op. 8 No. 3

    Performer: Thibaut Garcia.
    • El Bohemio.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 13.
  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony no.5 in C sharp minor (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • EMI.
  • 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.
  • Albert Ketèlbey

    Bells across the Meadows

    Orchestra: The New London Orchestra. Conductor: Ronald Corp.
    • British Light Music Classics, Vol. 1.
    • Hyperion.
    • 12.
  • Claude Debussy

    Pagodes (Estampes)

    Performer: Jean‐Yves Thibaudet.
    • Debussy, Preludes etc.: Jean-Yves Thibaudet.
    • Decca.
    • 13.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Lars‐Erik Larsson

    Lyric Fantasy, Op.54

    Orchestra: Helsingborgs Symfoniorkester. Conductor: Andrew Manze.
    • Larsson: Orchestral Works, Vol. 1.
    • CPO.
    • 13.
  • Frédéric Chopin

    Barcarolle in F sharp major Op.60

    Performer: Benjamin Grosvenor.
    • Benjamin Grosvenor: Homages.
    • Decca.
    • 009.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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).
  • Amy Beach

    Berceuse (3 Pieces Op.40)

    Performer: Steven Isserlis. Performer: Sir Stephen Hough.
    • Children's Cello.
    • BIS.
    • 17.
  • Josquin des Prez

    Inviolata, integra et casta es

    Choir: Stile Antico.
    • Decca.
  • 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.
  • 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 202609:30