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The best classical morning music

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

Georgia Mann plays the best classical music for your morning, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites. Including the Playlister challenge: our regular listener-created sequence inspired by a different piece of music each day. Plus a new classical release in focus for Album of the Week.

1000 Playlister starter: listen and send us your ideas for the next step in today's musical journey. Text 83111 or email essentialclassics@bbc.co.uk.

1030 Album of the Week: an exciting new classical release in focus throughout the week.

1115 Playlister reveal: an uninterrupted sequence of music suggested by you in response to today's starter piece.

1200 Feast of a Piece: indulge your ears with an orchestral masterpiece.

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

3 hours, 30 minutes

Music Played

  • Edward Elgar

    Chanson de matin Op.15`2

    Orchestra: Hallé. Conductor: Sir Mark Elder.
    • HALLE.
  • Joseph Haydn

    Notturno no.6 in G major, H.2.30

    Ensemble: Mozzafiato. Ensemble: L’Archibudelli.
    • Haydn: 8 Notturni for the King of Naples: Mozzafiato, L'Archibudelli.
    • Sony Classical.
  • Cécile Chaminade

    Concert piece Op.40

    Performer: Danny Driver. Orchestra: ѿý Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Rebecca Miller.
    • The Romantic Piano Concerto 70 - Beach, Chaminade & Howell.
    • HYPERION.
    • 6.
  • Fritz Kreisler

    Praeludium and Allegro in the style of Pugnani

    Performer: Midori. Performer: Robert McDonald.
    • SONY.
  • Malcolm Arnold

    Grand Concerto Gastronomique, Op. 76: III. Roast Beef

    Conductor: John Gibbons. Orchestra: Liepāja Symphony Orchestra.
    • Arnold: Orchestral Music.
    • Toccata Classics.
    • 3.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony No 36 in C major, K 425, 'Linz' (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Jeffrey Tate.
    • Mozart The Collectors Edition 50 CDs The Masterpieces The Greatest Artists.
    • EMI Classics.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Mass in B Minor, BWV 232: Christe eleison

    • J. S. Bach: Mass in B Minor, BWV 232.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 2.
  • Felix Mendelssohn

    A Midsummer Night's Dream Op.61 (Scherzo)

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
    • Chandos.
  • Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

    Ballade in D Minor for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 4

    Conductor: Michael Repper. Orchestra: National Philharmonic.
    • Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Toussaint L’Ouverture, Op. 46 - Ballade Op. 4 - Suites.
    • AVIE Records.
    • 2.
  • Amy Beach

    Masked Ball, Op.22

    Orchestra: Moravská filharmonie Olomouc. Conductor: Hector Valdivia.
    • CENTAUR.
  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Suite No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 5 "Fantaisie-tableaux": No. 1, Barcarolle

    Performer: Charles Owen. Performer: Katya Apekisheva.
    • Rachmaninov: Two-Piano Suites / Six Morceaux, Op. 11.
    • AVIE Records.
    • 1.
  • Jean Sibelius

    At the castle gate (Pelleas and Melisande)

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Herbert von Karajan.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
  • Georg Philipp Telemann

    Concerto polonois in G major

    Orchestra: Academy of Ancient Music. Conductor: Christopher Hogwood.
    • L'Oiseau-Lyre.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    March Past of the Kitchen Utensils (The Wasps)

    Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: James Judd.
    • Vaughan Williams: Piano Concerto.
    • Naxos.
    • 3.
  • Gioachino Rossini

    Péchés de vieillesse, Quatre hors d'œuvres: 6. Les anchois

    • Rossini: Potpourri Dai "Péchés de Vieillesse".
    • NAR International.
    • 9.
  • Bohuslav Martinů

    La revue de cuisine, H. 161: 'Danse du moulinet autour du chaudron'

    Ensemble: Holst-Sinfonietta. Conductor: Klaus Simon.
    • NAXOS.
  • 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.
  • Maurice Ravel

    Rigaudon (Le tombeau de Couperin)

    Orchestra: Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich. Conductor: Lionel Bringuier.
    • Deutsche Grammophon 479 5524.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 6.
  • Rebecca Dale

    Materna Requiem: 4. Lacrimosa

    Performer: Thelma Handy. Singer: Hannah Dienes-Williams. Choir: Kantos Chamber Choir. Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Clark Rundell.
    • Dale: Requiem For My Mother.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 4.
  • Robert Schumann

    Adagio and Allegro in A flat major, Op 70

    Performer: Ben Goldscheider. Performer: Daniel Hill.
    • Debut.
    • Willowhayne Records.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Giulio Cesare: Va tacito (go silently)

    Singer: Barnaby Smith. Ensemble: Illyria Consort.
    • Voces8 Records.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Choral Fantasy in C minor, Op 80

    Performer: Alfred Brendel. Choir: London Philharmonic Choir. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Bernard Haitink.
    • Beethoven: The Piano Concertos: Brendel/Chicago Symphony Orch/Levine.
    • Philips.
    • 4.
  • Florence Price

    Symphony no.1 in E Minor (3rd & 4th mvts)

    Orchestra: The Philadelphia Orchestra. Conductor: Yannick Nézet‐Séguin.
    • Florence Price: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 3.
  • Carl Maria von Weber

    Clarinet Quintet in B flat major Op.34 (4th mvt)

    Ensemble: Carducci String Quartet.
    • Mozart: Clarinet Quintet in Major, K. 581 - Weber: Clarinet Quintet in B-Flat Ma.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 4.
  • Cipriano de Rore

    Descendi in hortum meum

    Choir: Tallis Scholars. Conductor: Peter Phillips.
    • Gimell.
  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Sarabande and rigaudon, Op 93

    Orchestra: Orchestre national de Lille. Conductor: Jun Märkl.
    • Saint-Saens: Symphonic Poems.
    • NAXOS.
    • 5-6.
  • Max Bruch

    Violin Concerto No.1 in G minor, Op.26 (3rd movement: Finale)

    Performer: Renaud Capuçon. Orchestra: Orchestre de Paris – Philharmonie. Conductor: Paavo Järvi.
    • Erato.

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  • Tue 12 Aug 2025 09:30

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