Main content

The ideal mix of classical music

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 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.

To listen on most smart speakers say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Essential Classics”

6 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Thu 12 Feb 202609:30
BBC Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

The best classical morning music

Next

Refresh your morning with classical music

See all episodes from Essential Classics

Music Played

  • Percy Grainger

    Molly on the Shore

    Ensemble: Royal Northern College of Music Wind Orchestra. Conductor: Clark Rundell.
    • Grainger: Works for Wind Orchestra Vol.4: Royal Northern College of Music Wind O.
    • Chandos.
    • 8.

  • Ludwig August Lebrun

    Oboe Concerto no.3 in C major (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Heinz Holliger. Ensemble: Camerata Bern. Conductor: Thomas Füri.
    • Oboe Concertos.
    • Archiv.
    • 9.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53, "Waldstein": I. Allegro con brio

    Performer: Igor Levit.
    • Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas.
    • Sony.

  • Heitor Villa‐Lobos

    Aria [Cantilena] (Bachianas brasileiras no.5)

    Singer: Arleen Augér. Ensemble: The 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic.
    • WARNER.

  • Alexander Moyzes

    The Little Bear from Rejdová (Gemer Dances, Op.51)

    Orchestra: Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Ondrej Lenárd.
    • Dances from Slovakia.
    • Naxos.
    • 104.

  • Germaine Tailleferre

    Harp Sonata (Perpetuum Mobile)

    Performer: Cristina Bianchi.
    • Scarlatti, Baltin & Others: Harp Works.
    • Oehms Classics.
    • 5.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto in D major RV.549

    Performer: Rachel Podger. Ensemble: Brecon Baroque.
    • L'Estro Armonico.
    • CHANNEL CLASSICS.
    • 1-3.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Academic Festival Overture

    Orchestra: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Conductor: Bernard Haitink.
    • PHILIPS.

  • Franz Schubert

    Winterreise - song-cycle (D.911), no.19; Tauschung

    Music Arranger: Hans Zender. Performer: Allan Clayton. Orchestra: Aurora Orchestra. Conductor: Nicholas Collon.
    • SIGNUM.

  • Claude Debussy

    Arabesque No.2 in G major

    Performer: Angela Hewitt.
    • Debussy: Children's Corner, Suite Bergamasque, Pour le Piano: Angela Hewitt.
    • Hyperion.
    • 13.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Sinfonia concertante in B flat major H.1.105 (1st mvt)

    Ensemble: Arcangelo. Conductor: Jonathan Cohen.
    • Hyperion.

  • Cecilia McDowall

    God is Light

    Choir: The Choir Of Trinity College, Cambridge. Conductor: Stephen Layton.
    • Hyperion.

  • Johann Strauss II

    Die Fledermaus (Overture)

    Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Georges Prêtre.
    • New Year's Concert 2010.
    • Decca.
    • 1.

  • Santiago de Murcia

    Fandango

    Ensemble: Ensemble Constantinople.
    • South American Spices.
    • ANALEKTA.
    • 9.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Water Music, Suite No. 2 in D Major, HWV 349: II. [Alla Hornpipe]

    Orchestra: B’Rock Orchestra. Conductor: Dmitry Sinkovsky.
    • Handel: Water & Fire.
    • Pentatone.
    • 102.

  • Jonathan Dove

    Stargazer: III. Arcturus and Canis Chasing Ursa Major and Minor with Lyra

    Conductor: Timothy Redmond. Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
    • Beyond.
    • Orchid Classics.
    • 106.

  • Johann Nepomuk Hummel

    Mandolin Concerto in G Major, S. 28: II. Andante con variazioni

    • Concertos.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).

  • Edward MacDowell

    Forgotten Fairy Tales, Op. 4: No. 2, Of a Tailor and a Bear (Gaily, pertly)

    • Macdowell: Piano Sonata No. 4 / 6 Poems / 12 Virtuoso Studies.
    • Naxos.
    • 2.

  • Julius Fucik

    Der alte Brummbär

    Performer: Jiri Formacek. Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Václav Neumann.
    • WARNER APEX.

  • Georges Bizet

    Jeux d'enfants (Le bal)

    Orchestra: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Davis.
    • Rossini-Respighi: La Boutique Fantasque - Davis.
    • CBS.
    • 17.

  • Ignacy Jan Paderewski

    Romanza: Andante (Piano Concerto in A minor, Op.17)

    Performer: Piers Lane. Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jerzy Maksymiuk.
    • Moszkowski & Paderewski Piano Concertos.
    • HYPERION RECORDS.
    • 6.

  • Bernard Herrmann

    Suite from "Wuthering Heights" (Arr. for Soprano, Baritone, and Orchestra by Han

    Music Arranger: Hans Sørensen. Orchestra: Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Mario Venzago.
    • Herrmann: Suite from Wuthering Heights, Echoes for Strings.
    • Chandos.
    • 108.

  • Aaron Copland

    Buckaroo Holiday (Rodeo - 4 dance episodes)

    Orchestra: San Francisco Symphony. Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas.
    • Copland the Populist: Michael Tilson Thomas, San Francisco Symphony.
    • RCA Red Seal.
    • 1.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major, K. 218

    Composer: Robert Levin.
    • Mozart: The Violin Concertos.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 10.

  • Kodály Zoltán

    Adagio in C major

    Performer: Natalie Clein. Performer: Julius Drake.
    • Zoltan Kodaly, Sonata for solo cello: Clein / Drake.
    • Hyperion.
    • 15.

  • Teresa Carreño

    Ballade, Op 15

    Performer: Clara Rodriguez.
    • Teresa Carreno: Clara Rodriguez.
    • Nimbus.
    • 3.

  • Claudio Monteverdi

    Laetatus sum

    Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • CORO.

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64, TH 29: IV. Finale. Andante maestoso - Allegro

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andris Nelsons.
    • Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Stravinsky & R. Strauss: Orchestral Works.
    • Orfeo.
    • 4.

Broadcast

  • Thu 12 Feb 202609:30
    BBC Radio 3