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Great classical music for your morning

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, featuring new discoveries, some musical surprises and plenty of 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.

1200 “25 for 25: Sounds of the Century” – a series of brand new commissions celebrating and commemorating some of the biggest events of the 21st century so far.

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

Thu 26 Jun 2025 09:30

Music Played

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Dance of the Knights (Romeo and Juliet)

    Orchestra: Philharmonia Zürich. Conductor: Michail Jurowski.
    • Accentus.
  • Muzio Clementi

    Capriccio in B flat major Op.17

    Performer: Howard Shelley.
    • Clementi: Capriccios & Variations.
    • Hyperion.
    • 1.
  • Erich Wolfgang Korngold

    Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Major, op.35: I Moderato Nobile

    Performer: James Ehnes. Orchestra: Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Bramwell Tovey.
    • Barber, Korngold, Walton: Violin Concertos.
    • ONYX.
    • 1.
  • William Walton

    Spitfire Prelude and Fugue arr Fernie - Fugue

    Performer: Black Dyke Band. Conductor: Nicholas Childs.
    • Symphonic Brass.
    • Naxos.
    • 12.
  • Eric Whitacre

    A Boy and a Girl

    Ensemble: Polyphony. Conductor: Stephen Layton.
    • Eric Whitacre - Cloudburst.
    • Hyperion.
  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony No 103 in E flat major, 'Drum Roll' (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Les Musiciens du Louvre. Conductor: Marc Minkowski.
    • Haydn, 12 London Symphonies: Marc Minkowski, Les Musiciens du Louvre-Grenobles.
    • Naive.
    • 5.
  • Louis Spohr

    Nonet in F major, Op.31 (4th mvt)

    Ensemble: Nash Ensemble.
    • Spohr: Nonet and Octet: Nash Ensemble.
    • CRD.
  • Amy Beach

    Piano Concerto in C Sharp Minor Op.45 (4th mvt)

    Performer: Danny Driver. Orchestra: ѿý Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Rebecca Miller.
    • Hyperion.
  • Fritz Kreisler

    Praeludium and Allegro

    Performer: Jack Liebeck. Performer: Katya Apekisheva.
    • Hyperion.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Silent Noon (The House of Life)

    Orchestrator: Roderick Williams. Singer: Roderick Williams. Orchestra: Hallé. Conductor: Mark Elder.
    • A Shropshire Lad: English Songs Orchestrated by Roderick Williams.
    • Halle Concerts Society.
    • 13.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Overture, Occasional Oratorio

    Orchestra: Academy for Ancient Music Berlin. Conductor: Howard Arman.
    • BR KLASSIK.
  • Ruth Gipps

    Horn Concerto, Op. 58: II. Scherzo

    Performer: Martin Owen. Orchestra: ѿý Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
    • Gipps: Orchestral Works Vol. 3.
    • Chandos Records Limited.
    • 04.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Egmont (Overture)

    Orchestra: European Soloists, Luxembourg. Conductor: Christoph König.
    • Beethoven: The Symphonies.
    • Rubicon.
    • 401.
  • Mons Leidvin Takle

    Yes!

    Performer: Christopher Herrick.
    • Northern Lights.
    • Hyperion.
    • 01.
  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Brindisi (La Traviata)

    Singer: Angela Gheorghiu. Singer: Roberto Alagna. Choir: London Voices. Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Claudio Abbado.
    • Verdi per due.
    • EMI CLASSICS.
    • 19.
  • Georges Delerue

    Jules et Jim (From 'Jules et Jim')

    Orchestra: Georges Delerue Orchestra. Conductor: Georges Delerue.
    • Jules et Jim (Bande originale du film de François Truffaut).
    • Milan.
    • 2.
  • George Butterworth

    Is my team ploughing? (A Shropshire Lad)

    Performer: Malcolm Martineau. Singer: Bryn Terfel.
    • DG.
  • Maurice Ravel

    Daphnis et Chloe (conclusion)

    Orchestra: Sinfonia of London. Choir: Sinfonia of London Chorus. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • CHANDOS.
  • Jerome Kern

    The Folks Who Live On The Hill (Remastered 2001)

    Composer: Oscar Hammerstein II. Lyricist: Jerome Kern. Lyricist: Oscar Hammerstein II. Singer: Peggy Lee. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: Frank Sinatra.
    • Sings The Standards.
    • Capitol Records.
    • 8.
  • Gerald Finzi

    Clarinet Concerto, Op.31: ii) Adagio, ma senza rigore

    Performer: Michael Collins. Orchestra: ѿý Symphony Orchestra.
    • Chandos.
  • Karl Jenkins

    Cantate Domino

    Choir: Polyphony. Conductor: Stephen Layton.
    • Karl Jenkins: Motets.
    • DG.
    • 2.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Sonata no.3 in G minor, BWV.1029 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Mischa Maisky. Performer: Martha Argerich.
    • J S Bach, Cello Sonatas BWV.1027-1029.
    • DG.
    • 10.
  • Cassie Kinoshi

    Whalesong

    Singer: Elizabeth Llewellyn. Ensemble: Kleio Quartet.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Piano Concerto No. 24 in C Minor, K. 491

    Performer: Lars Vogt. Orchestra: Paris Chamber Orchestra.
    • Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-Flat Major, K. 271 "Jeunehomme" & Piano Concer.
    • Ondine.
    • 4.
  • Johann Strauss

    Radetzky March

    Orchestra: Concentus Musicus Wien. Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt.
    • Walzer Revolution.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 10.
  • Claude Debussy

    3 Chansons de Bilitis, L. 90: No. 1, La flûte de pan

    Performer: Edwige Herchenroder. Lyricist: Pierre Louÿs. Singer: Kitty Whately.
    • Horizons: French Mélodies.
    • Chandos.
    • 110.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto in A minor 'con due violini obligati', RV 522

    Performer: Rachel Podger. Performer: Johannes Pramsohler. Ensemble: Brecon Baroque.
    • CHANNEL CLASSICS.
  • Robert Schumann

    Symphony no.1 in B flat major Op.38 'Spring' (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Conductor: Yannick Nézet‐Séguin.
    • Schumann - The Symphonies.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 003.

Broadcast

  • Thu 26 Jun 2025 09:30