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The very best of classical music

Ian Skelly plays the best in classical music, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites.

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.

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

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Wed 19 Feb 2025 09:30

Music Played

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    March (English Folk Song Suite)

    Music Arranger: Gordon Jacob. Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: James Judd.
    • Vaughan Williams: Piano Concerto.
    • Naxos.
    • 12.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony no.39 in E flat major K.543 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.
    • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Symphonies 38 - 41 Scottish Chamber Orchestra Sir Charle.
    • Linn.
    • 7.
  • Johan Halvorsen

    Passacaglia on a Theme of Handel

    Performer: Julia Fischer. Performer: Daniel Müller‐Schott.
    • ORFEO: C 902 161 A.
    • Orfeo.
    • 12.
  • John Taverner

    Missa Corona Spinea - Sanctus

    Composer: Tallis Scholars. Choir: Tallis Scholars. Conductor: Peter Phillips.
    • Gimmel.
  • Claude Debussy

    Premier Piano Trio in G major (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Renaud Capuçon. Performer: Edgar Moreau. Performer: Bertrand Chamayou.
    • Debussy Sonates & Trio.
    • Erato.
    • 12.
  • Nikos Skalkottas

    The Little Fish (The Sea)

    Orchestra: Iceland Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Byron Fidetzis.
    • BIS.
  • Igor Stravinsky

    Danse russe (3 Movements from Petrushka)

    Performer: Yuja Wang.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
  • Robert Schumann

    Symphony No 2 in C major, Op 61 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Conductor: Yannick Nézet‐Séguin.
    • Schumann: The Symphonies.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 4.
  • Gerald Finzi

    Clarinet Concerto in C minor Op.31 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Michael Collins. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra.
    • BIS.
  • Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

    Cello Concerto no.3 in A major Wq.172 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Nicolas Altstaedt. Ensemble: Arcangelo. Ensemble: Arcangelo. Director: Jonathan Cohen.
    • HYPERION.
  • Richard Strauss

    Allerseelen

    Performer: Justus Zeyen. Singer: Thomas Quasthoff.
    • Thomas Quasthoff - A Romantic Songbook.
    • DG.
    • 21.
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Symphony No 4 in F minor, Op 36 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. Conductor: Andris Nelsons.
    • Accentus Music.
  • Henryk Wieniawski

    Caprice in E flat major [Alla saltarella]

    Music Arranger: Fritz Kreisler. Performer: Vilde Frang. Performer: José Gallardo.
    • Homage.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 8.
  • Frank Bridge

    Vignettes de Marseille (En fête)

    Performer: Kathryn Stott.
    • Bridge - PIano Sonata etc Kathryn Stott.
    • Conifer.
    • 8.
  • Matthew Locke

    The Tempest: Curtain Tune

    Orchestra: Vox Orchester. Conductor: Lorenzo Ghirlanda.
    • Purcell & Locke: Orchestral Works.
    • deutsche harmonia mundi.
    • 16.
  • Florence Price

    Suite of Dances

    Orchestra: Wurttemberg Philharmonic of Reutlingen. Conductor: John Jeter.
    • NAXOS.
  • Herbert Howells

    Take him, earth, for cherishing

    Choir: The Choir Of Trinity College, Cambridge. Conductor: Stephen Layton.
    • Howells: Requiem / Take him, earth, for cherishing.
    • Hyperion.
    • 5.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto for 4 violins in B Minor Op 3 No 10 RV580 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Rachel Podger. Ensemble: Brecon Baroque.
    • Channel.
  • Claude Debussy

    Poissons d'or (Images, Set 2)

    Performer: Jean-Efflam Bavouzet.
    • Debussy: Complete Works for Piano: Jean-Efflam Bavouzet.
    • Chandos.
  • Franz Schubert

    Die Forelle, D.550

    Singer: Dietrich Fischer‐Dieskau. Performer: Gerald Moore.
    • Schubert: Lieder: Fischer-Dieskau/Moore.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 12.
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    The Nutcracker (Coffee)

    Conductor: Mstislav Rostropovich. Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker.
    • 111 Years Of Deutsche Grammophon The Collector's Edition Vol.2.
    • Deutshe Grammophon.
    • 16.
  • Gustav Mahler

    Des Antonius von Padua Fischpredigt (Des Knaben Wunderhorn)

    Singer: Christian Gerhaher. Orchestra: The Cleveland Orchestra. Conductor: Pierre Boulez.
    • Mahler: Des Knaben Wunderhorn, Symphonie No. 10: Adagio; Kozena, Gerhaher, Cleve.
    • Deutsche Grammaphon.
    • 7.
  • Bohuslav Martinů

    Trio in F major for flute, cello & piano (1st mvt)

    Ensemble: The Dartington Ensemble.
    • Martinů: La revue de cuisine; Madrigals & Other Chamber Music.
    • Hyperion.
    • 18.
  • Antonín Dvořák

    Symphony no.9 in E minor Op.95 'From the New World' (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: Seattle Symphony. Conductor: Ludovic Morlot.
    • Seattle Symphony Media.
  • Lupus Hellinck

    Missa Surrexit pastor bonus: Agnus Dei

    Ensemble: Brabant Ensemble. Director: Stephen Rice.
    • HYPERION.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Horn Concerto No 4 in E flat major, K.495 (3rd mvmt, Rondo)

    Performer: Louis‐Philippe Marsolais. Ensemble: Les Violons du Roy. Director: Mathieu Lussier.
    • ATMA Classique.
  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Piano Sonata No. 8 in B flat major, Op. 84 - II. Andante sognando

    Performer: Steven Osborne.
    • Hyperion.
  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony No 2 'Resurrection' (conclusion)

    Singer: Arleen Augér. Singer: Janet Baker. Choir: CBSO Chorus. Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • Mahler: Symphony No.2 'Resurrection'.
    • Warner Classics.
  • Edvard Grieg

    Piano Concerto in A minor, Op 16 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Radu Lupu. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: André Previn.
    • Grieg: Piano Music: Lupu, LSO, Previn.
    • Decca.
  • Georg Philipp Telemann

    Trio Sonata in G minor, TWV:g9

    Ensemble: Ensemble Hesperi.
    • BIS.
  • Jacques Ibert

    Circus Parade (Suite symphonique, 'Paris')

    Orchestra: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.
    • CHANDOS.
  • Amy Beach

    Romance for violin and piano Op 23

    Performer: Augustin Hadelich. Performer: Orion Weiss.
    • Warner Classics.
  • Hans Rott

    Symphony no.1 in E major (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Paavo Järvi.
    • RCA.

Broadcast

  • Wed 19 Feb 2025 09:30

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