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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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28 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Yesterday09:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • George Frideric Handel

    Sinfonia, 'Arrival of the Queen of Sheba' (Solomon)

    Orchestra: Academy of Ancient Music. Conductor: Christopher Hogwood.
    • Pachelbel/Handel/Vivaldi/Gluck: Academy of Ancient Music/Hogwood.
    • L'Oiseau-Lyre.
    • 5.

  • Luise Adolpha Le Beau

    Piano Quartet in F Minor, Op 28 (4th mvt, Finale)

    Ensemble: Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective.
    • Brahms & Contemporaries, Vol. 1.
    • Chandos.
    • 108.

  • Richard Strauss

    Romanze

    Performer: Michael Collins. Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra.
    • Strauss: Concertante Works.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 005.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cantata BWV 6: II. Aria. Hochgelobter Gottessohn

    Singer: Alex Potter. Conductor: Philippe Herreweghe. Ensemble: Collegium Vocale Gent.
    • Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben - Bach: Cantatas BWV 6-99-147.
    • Philips.
    • 8.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Egmont Overture

    Orchestra: Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. Conductor: Riccardo Chailly.
    • Decca.

  • Mily Alexeyevich Balakirev

    The Lark [after Glinka's song]

    Performer: Danny Driver.
    • Balakirev - Piano Sonatas and Other Works.
    • Hyperion.
    • 10.

  • Robert Schumann

    Symphony No. 1 in B-Flat Major, Op. 38 "Spring" IV. Allegro animato e grazioso

    Music Arranger: Gustav Mahler. Conductor: Marin Alsop. Orchestra: Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra.
    • R. Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2 (Re-Orchestrated by G. Mahler).
    • Naxos.
    • 104.

  • Hector Berlioz

    Serenade (Harold en Italie, Op 16)

    Performer: Timothy Ridout. Performer: Hamadi Ferjani. Orchestra: Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg. Conductor: John Nelson.
    • Berlioz Les nuits d’été; Harold en Italie.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 9.

  • Christoph Willibald Gluck

    Che faro senza Euridice (Orfeo ed Euridice)

    Singer: Philippe Jaroussky. Ensemble: I Barocchisti. Director: Diego Fasolis.
    • Erato.

  • Gabriel Fauré

    Barcarolle No. 3 in G flat major

    Performer: Pascal Rogé.
    • DECCA.

  • Doreen Carwithen

    String Quartet no. 1 (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Tippett Quartet.
    • Music for String Quartet.
    • Somm Recordings.
    • 6.

  • Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

    Sanctus (Missa Regina coeli)

    Conductor: Harry Christophers. Choir: The Sixteen.
    • Palestrina - Volume 3: The Sixteen, Harry Christophers.
    • Coro.
    • 13.

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Havanaise Op.83

    Performer: María Dueñas. Orchestra: Wiener Symphoniker. Conductor: Manfred Honeck.
    • Beethoven and Beyond.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 6.

  • Hildegard von Bingen

    Vos Flores Rosarum

    Performer: Marianne Piketty. Music Arranger: Olivier Fourés. Ensemble: Le Concert Idéal.
    • Evidence.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Serenade in E flat major, K.375 (1st mvt)

    Ensemble: Winds of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Colin Davis.
    • Eine kleine Nachtmusik / Clarinet Concerto / Serenade No. 11 (Symphonieorchester.
    • RCA Victor Red Seal.
    • 008.

  • Trad.

    The lark in the clear air

    Music Arranger: John Rutter. Choir: The Cambridge Singers. Conductor: John Rutter.
    • The Sprig of Thyme traditional songs.
    • Collegium.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Lerchengesang

    Performer: Hartmut Höll. Singer: Renée Fleming.
    • DECCA.

  • Joseph Haydn

    String Quartet in C Major, Op. 33 No. 3 "The Bird": II. Scherzo

    Ensemble: London Haydn Quartet.
    • Haydn: String Quartets, Op. 33 \"Russian Quartets\".
    • Hyperion.

  • Ottorino Respighi

    Bergamasca (Ancient Airs and Dances)

    Orchestra: Munich Radio Orchestra. Conductor: Henry Raudales.
    • Respighi: Antiche danze ed arie per liuto & Gli uccelli.
    • CPO.
    • 204.

  • Olivier Messiaen

    O Sacrum Convivium!

    Choir: Pembroke College Chapel Choir. Director: Anna Lapwood.
    • Arise, Shine.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 9.

  • Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges

    Symphonie Concertante in C Major, Op. 9 No. 1: I. Allegro

    Performer: Yury Revich. Performer: Libor Ježek. Conductor: Michael Halász. Orchestra: Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice.
    • Saint-Georges: Orchestral Works.
    • Naxos.
    • 101.

  • Henry Purcell

    Bonduca - incidental music Z.574: O lead me to some peaceful gloom

    Performer: Michal Biel. Singer: Jakob Orlinski.
    • ERATO.

  • Béla Bartók

    Romanian folk dances Sz.68

    Orchestra: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
    • Bartok: Romanian Folk Dances, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 4.

  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony No. 2 in C Minor "Resurrection": I. Allegro maestoso

    Orchestra: Hallé. Conductor: Kahchun Wong.
    • Mahler: Symphony No. 2 in C Minor "Resurrection" (Live).
    • Halle Concerts Society.
    • 1.

  • Franz Schubert

    Moments Musicaux, D.780 (no.2)

    Performer: Imogen Cooper.
    • Schubert 3: Imogen Cooper.
    • Ottavo.
    • 3.

  • Manuel de Falla

    Nana (7 Popular Spanish songs, No 5) transcribed Llobet & Pujol for violin & guitar

    Performer: Randall Goosby. Performer: Plínio Fernandes.
    • Decca.

  • Ethel Smyth

    Serenade in D Major: I. Allegro non troppo

    Conductor: Joshua Weilerstein. Orchestra: Lausanne Chamber Orchestra.
    • American and English Orchestral Music.
    • Claves Records.
    • 10.

  • Georg Philipp Telemann

    Trio Sonata in C minor (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Janna Huneke. Performer: Sarah Devonald. Performer: Mark Lacey. Performer: Tim Swanwick. Performer: Alec Forshaw.
    • Harmoniemusik.
    • The Classical Recording Company.
    • 16.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Violin Concerto in D major (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Hilary Hahn. Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Neville Marriner.
    • Brahms/Stravinsky: Violin Concertos: Hilary Hahn.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 3.

Broadcast

  • Yesterday09:30
    BBC Radio 3