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The ideal mix of classical 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.

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3 hours, 30 minutes

Music Played

  • George Gershwin

    Walking the Dog (Shall we Dance)

    Orchestra: Los Angeles Philharmonic. Performer: Michael Tilson Thomas.
    • Gershwin: The 1920s & 1930s: Tilson Thomas.
    • CBS Masterworks.
    • 8.
  • Edward Elgar

    Mina

    Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vasily Petrenko.
    • Onyx.
  • Johann David Heinichen

    Dresden Concerto in F major, S 231

    Orchestra: Musica Antiqua Köln. Conductor: Reinhard Goebel.
    • Johann David Heinichen Dresden Concerti Musica Antiqua Koln Reinhard Goebel.
    • Archiv Produktion.
    • 11.
  • Elfrida Andrée

    Piano Quintet in E minor (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Lena Johnson McLin. Ensemble: The Stockholm Quartet.
    • Caprice.
  • Felix Mendelssohn

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

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: André Previn.
    • Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream: Previn.
    • EMI.
    • 8.
  • Heitor Villa‐Lobos

    The Little Train of the Caipira (Bachiana Brasileira no.2)

    Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Enrique Bátiz.
    • Villa-Lobos: Bachianas brasileiras etc.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 7.
  • Richard Strauss

    Morgen, Op 27 No 4 (transcribed for choir)

    Choir: Kammerchor Stuttgart. Conductor: Frieder Bernius.
    • R. Strauss: 4 Lieder, Op. 27: No. 4, Morgen! (Transcr. Gottwald for Choir).
    • Carus.
    • 1.
  • Joseph Haydn

    String Quartet in G Major Op.77 no.1 (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Consone Quartet.
    • Ambronay.
  • Johann Adolf Hasse

    Mandolin Concerto in G major, Op 3 No 11

    Performer: Theodoros Kitsos. Ensemble: Armonia Atenea. Director: George Petrou.
    • Decca.
  • Franz Schubert

    Marche militaire No 1 in D major, D 733

    Performer: Jenő Jandó. Performer: Zsuzsa Kollár.
    • Schubert: Piano Works for Four Hands vol. 2.
    • Naxos.
    • 1.
  • William Lawes

    Harp Consort No. 10 in G Minor: Paven on a them by Coprario

    Performer: Robin Pharo. Ensemble: Ensemble Près de votre Oreille.
    • William Lawes: Lighten mine eies.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 14.
  • Alexander Glazunov

    Mazurka-Oberek in D major

    Performer: Chloë Hanslip. Orchestra: Orchestra della Svizzera italiana. Conductor: Alexander Vedernikov.
    • Hyperion.
  • Cheryl Frances-Hoad

    Vocalise for flute, clarinet and harp

    Ensemble: Korros Ensemble.
    • Convivium.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony No 41 in C major, K 551, 'Jupiter' (1st mvt)

    Ensemble: The English Concert. Director: Trevor Pinnock.
    • Mozart: Late Symphonies: The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock.
    • Archiv Produktion.
    • 5.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto for 2 oboes, 2 recorders & 2 violins in C major, RV.557

    Ensemble: La Serenissima. Director: Adrian Chandler.
    • Vivaldi X22.
    • Signum.
    • 1-3.
  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Winter Bonfire (Departure)

    Orchestra: Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: José Serebrier.
    • ASV.
  • Charles‐Valentin Alkan

    Le chemin de fer, Op. 27

    Performer: Yui Morishita.
    • ALKAN Piano Collection 2 «Concerto».
    • ALM RECORDS.
    • 6.
  • Arthur Honegger

    Pacific 231

    Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Serge Baudo.
    • SUPRAPHON.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Brandenburg concerto no.3 in G major BWV.1048 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Isabelle Faust. Performer: Antoine Tamestit. Ensemble: Academy for Ancient Music Berlin.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
  • Mel Bonis

    Scenes de la foret, Op. 123

    Performer: Tatjana Ruhland. Performer: Florian Wiek.
    • äԲ.
  • Arvo Pärt

    Nunc Dimittis (Proms 2016)

    Ensemble: The Sixteen. Director: Harry Christophers.
    • The Deer's Cry.
    • Coro.
    • 11.
  • Joseph Haydn

    Trumpet Concerto in E flat major, H.7e.1 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Alison Balsom. Orchestra: The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. Conductor: Thomas Klug.
    • Haydn/Hummel/Neruda/Torelli: Trumpet Concertos: Alison Balsom.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 6.
  • Samuel Barber

    Violin Concerto

    Performer: Johan Dalene. Orchestra: Norrköpings Symfoniorkester. Conductor: Daniel Blendulf.
    • Tchaikovsky & Barber: Violin Concertos.
    • BIS.
    • 201-203.
  • Franz Liszt

    3 Etudes de Concert studies S.144 for piano:No.3 Un Sospiro

    Performer: Daniil Trifonov.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
  • Maurice Ravel

    Le Tombeau de Couperin (Prélude)

    Orchestra: Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Sakari Oramo.
    • Ravel: La valse, M. 72 & Other Works.
    • BIS.
    • 101.
  • Antonio Bertali

    Chiacona

    Music Arranger: Christina Pluhar. Ensemble: L’Arpeggiata. Director: Christina Pluhar.
    • All' Improvviso: Ciaccone, Bergamasche, & un po' di Follie....
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 9.
  • Arvo Pärt

    Alleluia-Tropus

    Ensemble: Vox Clamantis. Orchestra: Sinfonietta Rīga.
    • Arvo Pärt: Adam's Lament: Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Tonu Kaljuste.
    • ECM.
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Symphony no.4 in F minor Op.36 (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vasily Petrenko.
    • ONYX.
  • Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

    Nonet Op.2 'Gradus ad Parnassum' (4th mvt)

    Ensemble: Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective.
    • Chandos.

Broadcast

  • Thu 11 Sep 2025 09:30