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”
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Music Played
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Sergey Prokofiev
Dance of the Knights (Romeo and Juliet)
Orchestra: Philharmonia Zürich. Conductor: Michail Jurowski.- Accentus.
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Muzio Clementi
Capriccio in B flat major Op.17
Performer: Howard Shelley.- Clementi: Capriccios & Variations.
- Hyperion.
- 1.
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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.
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William Walton
Spitfire Prelude and Fugue arr Fernie - Fugue
Performer: Black Dyke Band. Conductor: Nicholas Childs.- Symphonic Brass.
- Naxos.
- 12.
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Eric Whitacre
A Boy and a Girl
Ensemble: Polyphony. Conductor: Stephen Layton.- Eric Whitacre - Cloudburst.
- Hyperion.
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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.
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Louis Spohr
Nonet in F major, Op.31 (4th mvt)
Ensemble: Nash Ensemble.- Spohr: Nonet and Octet: Nash Ensemble.
- CRD.
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Amy Beach
Piano Concerto in C Sharp Minor Op.45 (4th mvt)
Performer: Danny Driver. Orchestra: ѿý Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Rebecca Miller.- Hyperion.
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Fritz Kreisler
Praeludium and Allegro
Performer: Jack Liebeck. Performer: Katya Apekisheva.- Hyperion.
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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.
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George Frideric Handel
Overture, Occasional Oratorio
Orchestra: Academy for Ancient Music Berlin. Conductor: Howard Arman.- BR KLASSIK.
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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.
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Ludwig van Beethoven
Egmont (Overture)
Orchestra: European Soloists, Luxembourg. Conductor: Christoph König.- Beethoven: The Symphonies.
- Rubicon.
- 401.
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Mons Leidvin Takle
Yes!
Performer: Christopher Herrick.- Northern Lights.
- Hyperion.
- 01.
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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.
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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.
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George Butterworth
Is my team ploughing? (A Shropshire Lad)
Performer: Malcolm Martineau. Singer: Bryn Terfel.- DG.
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Maurice Ravel
Daphnis et Chloe (conclusion)
Orchestra: Sinfonia of London. Choir: Sinfonia of London Chorus. Conductor: John Wilson.- CHANDOS.
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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.
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Gerald Finzi
Clarinet Concerto, Op.31: ii) Adagio, ma senza rigore
Performer: Michael Collins. Orchestra: ѿý Symphony Orchestra.- Chandos.
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Karl Jenkins
Cantate Domino
Choir: Polyphony. Conductor: Stephen Layton.- Karl Jenkins: Motets.
- DG.
- 2.
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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.
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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.
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Johann Strauss
Radetzky March
Orchestra: Concentus Musicus Wien. Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt.- Walzer Revolution.
- Sony Classical.
- 10.
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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.
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Antonio Vivaldi
Concerto in A minor 'con due violini obligati', RV 522
Performer: Rachel Podger. Performer: Johannes Pramsohler. Ensemble: Brecon Baroque.- CHANNEL CLASSICS.
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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 09:30ѿý Radio 3