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Your perfect classical playlist

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 essentialclassics@bbc.co.uk.

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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3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Mon 26 Jan 202609:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Léo Delibes

    Waltz (Coppelia)

    Orchestra: Les Siècles. Conductor: François‐Xavier Roth.
    • Bru Zane.

  • Tomás Luis de Victoria

    Versa est in luctum (Missa pro defunctis)

    Choir: Westminster Cathedral Choir. Conductor: David Hill.
    • HYPERION.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Capriccio Brillante in B minor, Op.22

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough. Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Lawrence Foster.
    • Mendelssohn: Piano Concertos.
    • Hyperion.
    • 1.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Harpsichord Concerto in D Minor, BWV 1059 I. Allegro

    Composer: Steven Devine. Performer: Steven Devine. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.
    • Bach: Harpsichord Concertos, BWV 1052, 1054, 1055 & 1059.
    • Resonus Classics.
    • 10.

  • Edvard Grieg

    Solveig's Song (Peer Gynt Suite no.2)

    Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Ole Kristian Ruud.
    • Grieg: Orchestral Music: Ruud.
    • BIS.

  • Ruggero Leoncavallo

    Recitar!... Vesti la giubba'(I Pagliacci)

    Singer: Luciano Pavarotti. Orchestra: National Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Giuseppe Patanè.
    • DECCA.

  • John Dowland

    Fine Knacks for Ladies

    Ensemble: Fine Arts Brass Ensemble.
    • Nimbus.

  • Mel Bonis

    Flute Sonata Op. 64

    Performer: Juliette Hurel. Performer: Hélène Couvert.
    • Compositrices à l'aube du XXe siècle.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 1.

  • Samuel Dushkin

    Sicilienne

    Performer: Nicola Benedetti. Performer: Samuele Telari. Performer: Thomas Carroll.
    • Violin Cafe.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 1.

  • Richard Arnell

    The New Age

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
    • Overtures from the British Isles, Volume 3.
    • Chandos.

  • Anon.

    Sumer is icumen in

    Ensemble: The Dufay Collective.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Teresa Carreño

    Venise, Op 33

    Performer: Clara Rodriguez.
    • Teresa Carreno: Clara Rodriguez.
    • Nimbus.
    • 14.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Egmont, Op 84 (Overture)

    Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt.
    • Teldec.

  • Mieczysław Weinberg

    Concertino, Op. 43bis: I. Adagio

    Performer: Raphael Wallfisch. Orchestra: Kristiansand Symfoniorkester. Conductor: Łukasz Borowicz.
    • Weinberg: Works for Cello & Orchestra.
    • CPO.
    • 301.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Piano Quartet No 2 in E flat major, Op 87 - 3rd movement, Scherzo

    Ensemble: The Schubert Ensemble.
    • Dvorak: Piano Quintet/Piano Quartet: Schubert Ensemble.
    • Chandos.
    • 3.

  • Stephen Sondheim

    Send in the clowns (A Little Night Music)

    Singer: Judi Dench. Orchestra: Royal National Theatre. Conductor: Paddy Cunneen.
    • TRING.

  • Julius Fucik

    Entry of the Gladiators, Op.68

    Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Libor Pešek.
    • Smetana: The Moldau; RLPO, Libor Pesek.
    • Virgin Classics.
    • 12.

  • Arthur Sullivan

    Oh! A private buffoon is a light-hearted loon (The Yeomen of the guard)

    Librettist: William Gilbert. Singer: Sir Thomas Allen. Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Neville Marriner.
    • Philips.

  • Charlie Chaplin

    Smile

    Performer: Richard Héry. Performer: Jim Tomlinson. Lyricist: Geoffrey Parsons. Lyricist: John Tuner. Singer: Stacey Kent. Ensemble: Quatuor Ébène.
    • Brazil.
    • Erato/Warner Classics.
    • 112.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto in C major for 2 trumpets, RV.537

    Performer: Crispian Steele‐Perkins. Performer: John Thiessen. Orchestra: Tafelmusik. Conductor: Jeanne Lamon.
    • Trumpet Music: Steele-Perkins, Taflemusik, Lamon.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 9-11.

  • Frank Bridge

    The Hour Glass: The Dew Fairy

    Performer: Kathryn Stott.
    • Bridge: Piano Sonata etc: Kathryn Stott.
    • Conifer.

  • Rebecca Dale

    Salve Regina

    Singer: Rosanna Wicks. Choir: Tenebrae. Conductor: Nigel Short.
    • Night Seasons.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 6.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus

    Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Manze.
    • Vaughan Williams: Orchestral works.
    • PM Classics Ltd..
    • 2.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Piano Concerto No 4 in G minor, Op 40

    Performer: Leif Ove Andsnes. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano.
    • Rachmaninov Piano Concertos - Leif Ove Andsnes - Antonio Pappano.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 4.

  • Astor Piazzolla

    Oblivion

    Performer: Alison Balsom. Orchestra: The Guy Barker Orchestra. Conductor: Guy Barker.
    • Warner Classics.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony no.59 in A major H.1.59 'Fire' (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Il Giardino Armonico. Conductor: Giovanni Antonini.
    • Haydn 2032, Vol. 13: Horn Signal.
    • ALPHA.
    • 05.

  • Peter Warlock

    3 Belloc Songs; No.3 My Own Country

    Performer: Christopher Glynn. Singer: Hugh Cutting.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Linden Lee

    Performer: Christopher Glynn. Singer: Hugh Cutting.

  • Malcolm Arnold

    4 English dances - set 1 Op.27

    Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Malcolm Arnold.
    • Malcolm Arnold: English, Irish, Scottish & Cornish Dances: LPO/Arnold.
    • Lyrita.
    • 1.

Broadcast

  • Mon 26 Jan 202609:30
    BBC Radio 3