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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 a masterpiece.

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28 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Monday09:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Maurice Ravel

    Alborada del gracioso (Miroirs)

    Orchestra: Sinfonia of London. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • Maurice Ravel: Ma Mère L’oye; Boléro; Valses Nobles Et Sentimentales; Pavane Pou.
    • Chandos.
    • 9.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Cello sonata in G minor, Op 19; 2nd mvt, Allegro scherzando

    Performer: Alisa Weilerstein. Performer: Inon Barnatan.
    • Decca.

  • Charles Villiers Stanford

    Nine Irish Folksongs: No. 5, When She Answered Me

    Ensemble: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Stanford: Partsongs, Pastorals and Folksongs.
    • CORO.
    • 25.

  • Franz Schubert

    String quartet in E major, D 353 (4th mvt)

    Ensemble: Modigliani Quartet.
    • Schubert: The String Quartets.
    • Mirare.
    • 12.

  • 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.

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Suggestion diabolique (4 Pieces Op.4)

    Performer: Andrei Gavrilov.
    • Prokofiev/Tchaikovsky: Piano Concertos etc..
    • Warner Classics.
    • 9.

  • Jean‐Philippe Rameau

    Concert en sextuor no.4 in B flat

    Ensemble: Les Talens Lyriques. Director: Christophe Rousset.
    • Decca.

  • Elfrida Andrée

    Piano Trio in G minor: ii. Andante con espressione

    Ensemble: Nordica Trio.
    • INTIM MUSIK.

  • Niccolò Paganini

    Moto perpetuo in C major, Op 11

    Orchestra: Boston Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Seiji Ozawa.
    • Boston Symphony Orchestra - Great Recordings.
    • UME - Global Clearing House.
    • 62.

  • Louise Farrenc

    3 Mélodies, Op. 43: No. 3, Allegro

    Performer: Maria Stratigou.
    • Farrenc: Complete Piano Works, Vol. 5.
    • Grand Piano.
    • 103.

  • Zoltán Kodály

    Esti Dal, K. 110

    Choir: Danish National Vocal Ensemble. Conductor: Marcus Creed.
    • Kodály & Ligeti: Choral Works.
    • OUR Recordings.
    • 501.

  • Max Bruch

    Romanian Melody and Scherzo for Clarinet, Viola & String Orchestra, Op. 83; ii

    Performer: Dimitri Ashkenazy. Performer: Anton Kholodenko. Orchestra: Baltic Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Mats Liljefors.
    • Weber & Bruch: Works for Clarinet, Viola & Orchestra.
    • Paladino Music.
    • 401.

  • Gabriel Fauré

    Barcarolle No. 3 in G-Flat Major, Op. 42

    Performer: Kathryn Stott.
    • Fauré: The Complete Music for Piano.
    • Hyperion.
    • 3.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    The Wasps (Overture)

    Orchestra: Hallé. Conductor: Mark Elder.
    • Vaughan Williams: Orchestral works including Symphony no.3, The Wasps Overture,.
    • Hallé.
    • 7.

  • Samuel Coleridge‐Taylor

    Whispers of Summer

    Lyricist: Kathleen Easmon. Choir: London Choral Sinfonia. Conductor: Michael Waldron.
    • Coleridge-Taylor: Choral Works.
    • Orchid Classics.
    • 203.

  • Arcangelo Corelli

    Trio sonata in D major Op.3`2

    Ensemble: Avison Ensemble.
    • Arcangelo Corelli: Opus 1 and 3 - Church Sonatas.
    • Linn Records.

  • Charles Williams

    Devil's Galop

    Orchestra: The New London Orchestra. Conductor: Ronald Corp.
    • British Light Music Classics vol.1.
    • Hyperion.
    • 9.

  • Lowell Liebermann

    Gargoyles, Op. 29: III. Allegro moderato

    Performer: Lowell Liebermann.
    • Personal Demons.
    • Steinway and Sons.
    • 103.

  • Gaspar Cassadó

    Danse du diable vert

    Performer: Thomas Demenga. Performer: Thomas Larcher.
    • Bach, Chopin, Fauré: Chonguri.
    • ECM New Series.
    • 4.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Hungarian Dance No 1 in G minor

    Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Marin Alsop.
    • Brahms: Symphony no. 2, Hungarian Dances.
    • Naxos.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    String Quartet in E minor Op.59`2 'Razumovsky' (4th mvt)

    Ensemble: Casals Quartet.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

  • Alexander Scriabin

    Piano Sonata No. 4 in F-Sharp Major, Op. 30

    Performer: Bruce Liu.
    • Lunaris.
    • Universal Music Operations Limited.

  • Barbara Strozzi

    Il Ritorno

    Ensemble: Fieri Consort.
    • Virtuosa of Venice.
    • Fieri.
    • 07.

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Wedding-cake Op.76

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough. Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sakari Oramo.
    • Hyperion.

  • Ethel Smyth

    Serenade in D Major

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

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Vesperae solennes de confessore (K 339): Laudate Dominum

    Singer: Emma Kirkby. Orchestra: Academy of Ancient Music. Conductor: Christopher Hogwood.
    • Mozart: Kronungsmesse / Vesperae K339.
    • Editions L'Oiseau Lyre.
    • 12.

  • Malcolm Arnold

    Divertimento for flute, oboe and clarinet, Op 37 (Allegro energico)

    Performer: Janna Huneke. Performer: Sarah Devonald. Performer: Mark Lacey.
    • Harmoniemusik.
    • The Classical Recording Company.
    • 1.

  • Robert Schumann

    String Quartet in F major, Op 41 No 2 (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Engegårdkvartetten.
    • Schumann: The String Quartets.
    • BIS.
    • 6.

  • Gioachino Rossini

    La Gazza ladra (The thieving magpie): Overture

    Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Conductor: Claudio Abbado.
    • Rossini OverturesThe Chamber Orchestra Of Europe.
    • Deutsche Grammaphon.
    • 7.

Broadcast

  • Monday09:30
    BBC Radio 3