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Your perfect classical playlist

Ian Skelly plays the best in classical music, with familiar favourites alongside new discoveries and musical surprises.

Ian Skelly plays the best in classical music, with familiar favourites alongside new discoveries and musical surprises.

1000 Playlist starter – listen and send us your ideas for the next step in our musical journey today.

1030 Song of the Day – harnessing the magic of words, music and the human voice.

1115 Playlist reveal – a sequence of music suggested by you in response to our starter today.

1145 Slow Moment – time to take a break for a moment's musical reflection.

1230 Album of the Week

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

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Boxing Day 2024 09:30

Music Played

  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Grand March (Aida)

    Orchestra: New York Philharmonic. Conductor: Leonard Bernstein.
    • CBS.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Concerto in C major for flute and harp K.299 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Emmanuel Pahud. Performer: Marie‐Pierre Langlamet. Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic. Conductor: Claudio Abbado.
    • Mozart Flute Concertos Concerto For Flute And Harp.
    • EMI Classics.
  • Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck

    Hodie Christus natus est

    Ensemble: The Sixteen. Director: Harry Christophers.
    • A Renaissance Christmas.
    • CORO.
    • 2.
  • Germaine Tailleferre

    Berceuse

    Performer: Geneva Lewis. Performer: Sam Armstrong.
  • John Blow

    Chaconne in G major

    Ensemble: Arcangelo. Director: Jonathan Cohen.
    • HYPERION.
  • Tatiana Nikolayeva

    Children's Album, Op. 19 (Excerpts): No. 2, Music Box

    Performer: Hiroko Ishimoto.
    • Pioneers: Piano Works by Female Composers.
    • Grand Piano.
    • 1702.
  • Antonín Dvořák

    Sonatina in G major, Op 100 (4th mvt)

    Performer: James Ehnes. Performer: Eduard Laurel.
    • James Ehnes, Eduard Laurel - Dvorak, Janacek, Smetana.
    • Analekta.
    • 10.
  • Benjamin Britten

    Chorale After an Old French Carol

    Lyricist: W. H. Auden. Choir: Polyphony. Conductor: Stephen Layton.
    • Britten: Sacred & Profane; A.M.D.G; 5 Flower Songs; Choral Dances from Gloriana.
    • Hyperion.
    • 20.
  • Edward Elgar

    Cockaigne Op.40 'In London Town'

    Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Adrian Boult.
    • First Hand Records.
  • Giovanni Gabrieli

    Canzon per sonar a 4 [1608]

    Ensemble: Philip Jones Brass Ensemble.
    • DECCA.
  • Hugo Wolf

    Schlafendes Jesuskind (No. 25 from Mörike-Lieder)

    Performer: Joseph Middleton. Singer: Mary Bevan.
    • Signum.
  • Johannes Brahms

    Symphony no. 2 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. Conductor: Herbert Blomstedt.
    • Brahms: Symphony No. 2 & Academic Festival Overture (Live).
    • PENTATONE.
    • 104.
  • Pierre Villette

    Hymne à la Vièrge

    Choir: Westminster Cathedral Choir. Conductor: James O’Donnell.
    • HYPERION.
  • Joseph Haydn

    Cello Concerto No 2 in D major (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Jean‐Guihen Queyras. Orchestra: Freiburg Baroque Orchestra. Conductor: Petra Müllejans.
    • Haydn: Cello Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 - Monn: Cello Concerto.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 6.
  • Frédéric Chopin

    3 Nocturnes Op.9 (no.2 in E flat major)

    Performer: Nelson Goerner.
    • Chopin: Nocturnes.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 2.
  • Jonathan Dove

    The Three Kings

    Choir: Gabrieli Consort. Conductor: Paul McCreesh.
    • Signum.
  • Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre

    Violin Sonata no.2 in D major

    Performer: Riccardo Minasi. Ensemble: Bizzarrie Armoniche.
    • Ïշ.
  • Claude Debussy

    La boite a joujoux compl Caplet (Prelude)

    Orchestra: Lyon Opera Orchestra. Conductor: Jun Märkl.
    • Debussy.: Orchestral Works, Vol. 5; Markl.
    • Naxos.
    • 1.
  • Roger Limb

    The Box of Delights

    Ensemble: The ѿý Radiophonic Workshop.
    • The Box of Delights.
    • Silva Screen.
    • 1.
  • Anatoly Konstantinovich Lyadov

    A musical snuff box

    Performer: Terence Judd.
    • CHANDOS.
  • Erik Satie

    Jack in the Box

    Orchestrator: Darius Milhaud. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Conductor: John Lanchbery.
    • Warner Classics.
  • Carl Orff

    Dance (Carmina Burana)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: André Previn.
    • EMI CLASSICS.
  • Jan Dismas Zelenka

    Sonata in G minor ZWV 181 No 2 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Collegium 1704. Performer: Václav Luks.
    • Zelenka: Sonatas.
    • Accent.
    • 7.
  • Antonio Bazzini

    Dance of the Goblins

    Performer: Gil Shaham. Performer: Jonathan Feldman.
    • DG.
  • James McMillan

    Christmas Oratorio (My love and tender one are you)

    Choir: London Philharmonic Choir. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Mark Elder.
    • LPO.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    String Quartet in E flat major, K 160 (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Amadeus Quartet.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
  • Scott Joplin

    The Entertainer

    Performer: Dick Hyman.
    • Scott Joplin - Piano Works, 1899-1904.
    • RCA.
    • 7.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Christmas Oratorio, Cantata VI

    Singer: Malin Hartelius. Singer: Jörg Dürmüller. Ensemble: Combattimento. Conductor: Jan Willem de Vriend.
    • CHALLENGE.
  • William Walton

    Orb and Sceptre coronation march

    Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: André Previn.
    • Walton: Symphony no. 1: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Andre Previn.
    • Telarc.
  • Graham Ross

    Lullay, my liking

    Performer: Tanya Houghton. Choir: Choir of Clare College, Cambridge. Conductor: Graham Ross.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
  • Othmar Schoeck

    Horn Concerto (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Bruno Schneider. Orchestra: Orchester Musikkollegium Winterthur. Conductor: Werner Andreas Albert.
    • Schoeck: Orchestral Works.
    • CPO.
    • 4.
  • Franz Liszt

    Impromptu ("Nocturne") in F sharp major

    Performer: Vladimir Horowitz.
    • Vladimir Horowitz: Studio Recordings.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
    • 11.
  • Karol Szymanowski

    Concert Overture, Op 12

    Orchestra: ѿý Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
    • Chandos.

Broadcast

  • Boxing Day 2024 09:30

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