Your perfect classical playlist
Ian Skelly plays the best in classical music, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favorites.
Ian Skelly plays the best in classical music, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favorites.
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”
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Music Played
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Maurice Ravel
Alborada del gracioso
Orchestra: Sinfonia of London. Conductor: John Wilson.- Maurice Ravel: Ma Mère L’oye; Boléro; Valses Nobles Et Sentimentales; Pavane Pou.
- Chandos.
- 9.
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Antonín Dvořák
Humoresque in G flat major, Op. 101 No. 7
Performer: Itzhak Perlman. Performer: Yo‐Yo Ma. Orchestra: Boston Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Seiji Ozawa.- Dvorák In Prague: A Celebration (Remastered).
- Sony.
- 4.
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Johann Sebastian Bach
Prelude and Fugue in F minor, BWV.881
Performer: Sir András Schiff.- ECM New Series.
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Doreen Carwithen
Bishop Rock
Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Richard Hickox.- Chandos.
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Hubert Léonard
Donkey and Driver
Performer: Steven Isserlis. Performer: Thomas Adès.- RCA.
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Gabriel Fauré
Cantique de Jean Racine, Op 11
Choir: Choir of New College Oxford. Performer: Matthew Halls. Performer: Christopher Hughes. Ensemble: Capricorn. Conductor: Edward Higginbottom.- Agnus Dei: Choir of New College, Oxford/Higginbottom.
- Erato.
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Johann Friedrich Fasch
Concerto in C minor for two oboes, bassoon and continuo
Performer: Alberto Grazzi. Performer: Paul Goodwin. Performer: Lorraine Wood. Ensemble: The English Concert. Conductor: Trevor Pinnock.- Fasch: Concertos/Orchestral suite: The English Concert/Pinnock.
- Archiv Produktion.
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Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Symphony in A minor, Op 8 (3rd mvmt, Scherzo)
Orchestra: Aarhus Symfoniorkester. Conductor: Douglas Bostock.- ALTO.
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Antonio Vivaldi
Mandolin Concerto in C major RV.425 (1st mvt)
Performer: Duilio Galfetti. Performer: Luca Pianca. Performer: Enrico Onofri. Orchestra: Il Giardino Armonico. Director: Giovanni Antonini.- Vivaldi: Lute & Mandolin Concertos: Giovanni Antonini.
- Teldec.
- 7.
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Ottorino Respighi
Leggenda
Performer: Francesco de Angelis. Orchestra: La Scala Philharmonic. Conductor: Riccardo Chailly.- Decca.
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Robert Schumann
Faschingsschwank aus Wien, Op. 26: No. 5, Finale
Performer: Alasdair Beatson.- Aus Wien.
- PENTATONE.
- 5.
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Bedrich Smetana
Vltava (Ma Vlast)
Orchestra: Symfonický orchestr hlavního města Prahy FOK. Conductor: Libor Pešek.- Dvorak: New World Symphony: Prague Symphony Orchestra/Pesek.
- Sony.
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Elfrida Andrée
String Quartet in D minor (3rd mvt)
Ensemble: The Stockholm Quartet.- Caprice.
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Johannes Brahms
9 Lieder and Songs, Op. 32: No. 9, Wie bist du, meine Königin
Lyricist: Georg Friedrich Daumer.- For Dieter: Hommage à Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau.
- Alpha Classics.
- 5.
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Elisabetta Brusa
Favole: The Donkey in the Lion's Skin
Orchestra: National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. Conductor: Fabio Mastrangelo.- Brusa: Orchestral Works, Vol. 2.
- Naxos.
- 1.
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Camille Saint‐Saëns
Wild Asses: Swift Animals (Carnival of the Animals)
Performer: Martha Argerich. Performer: Lilya Zilberstein.- Martha Argerich and Friends Live from the Lugano Festival 2013.
- WARNER CLASSICS.
- 12.
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George Butterworth
Is my team ploughing? (A Shropshire Lad)
Performer: Malcolm Martineau. Singer: Bryn Terfel.- DG.
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Felix Mendelssohn
A Midsummer Night's Dream suite (Intermezzo)
Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Claudio Abbado.- Berlin Philharmoniker.
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Giacomo Puccini
Vissi d'arte (Tosca)
Singer: Aleksandra Kurzak. Orchestra: Morphing Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Frédéric Chaslin.- Sony.
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Dieterich Buxtehude
Trio Sonata in B Flat Major, BuxWV.255
Ensemble: Arcangelo.- Alpha.
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Alexander Scriabin
Symphony No.1 Op.26 - Lento (first movement)
Orchestra: Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vasily Petrenko.- Lawo Classics.
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Domenico Scarlatti
Sonata in A major Kk.322
Music Arranger: Peter Batchelar. Music Arranger: Richard Wright. Performer: Craig Ogden.- Chandos.
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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.
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Antonín Dvořák
The Wild Dove, Op 110
Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.- Dvorak; Symphonic Poems; Mackerras.
- Supraphon.
- 4.
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Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Concerto No 4 in G major, Op 58 (3rd mvt)
Performer: Murray Perahia. Orchestra: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Conductor: Bernard Haitink.- Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos 3 & 4: Perahia/Haitink.
- CBS.
- 6.
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Madeleine Dring
Trio for Oboe, Bassoon & Harpsichord: III. Allegro con brio
Performer: Nicholas Daniel. Performer: Amy Harman. Performer: Antonio Oyarzabal.- Dring: Complete Works for Oboe.
- Chandos.
- 106.
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Cipriano de Rore
Descendi in hortum meum
Choir: Tallis Scholars. Conductor: Peter Phillips.- Gimell.
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Joseph Haydn
String Quartet in G major Op.77`1 (4th mvt)
Ensemble: Alban Berg Quartett.- EMI.
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Sergey Rachmaninov
Symphony no.2 in E minor Op.27 (2nd mvt)
Orchestra: Sinfonia of London. Conductor: John Wilson.- Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2, Prelude in C# Minor.
- Chandos.
- 103.
Broadcast
- Wed 28 May 2025 09:30ѿý Radio 3