
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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Music Played
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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.
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Edward Elgar
Mina
Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vasily Petrenko.- Onyx.
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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.
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Elfrida Andrée
Piano Quintet in E minor (3rd mvt)
Performer: Lena Johnson McLin. Ensemble: The Stockholm Quartet.- Caprice.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Joseph Haydn
String Quartet in G Major Op.77 no.1 (3rd mvt)
Ensemble: Consone Quartet.- Ambronay.
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Johann Adolf Hasse
Mandolin Concerto in G major, Op 3 No 11
Performer: Theodoros Kitsos. Ensemble: Armonia Atenea. Director: George Petrou.- Decca.
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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.
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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.
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Alexander Glazunov
Mazurka-Oberek in D major
Performer: Chloë Hanslip. Orchestra: Orchestra della Svizzera italiana. Conductor: Alexander Vedernikov.- Hyperion.
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Cheryl Frances-Hoad
Vocalise for flute, clarinet and harp
Ensemble: Korros Ensemble.- Convivium.
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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.
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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.
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Sergey Prokofiev
Winter Bonfire (Departure)
Orchestra: Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: José Serebrier.- ASV.
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Charles‐Valentin Alkan
Le chemin de fer, Op. 27
Performer: Yui Morishita.- ALKAN Piano Collection 2 «Concerto».
- ALM RECORDS.
- 6.
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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.
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Mel Bonis
Scenes de la foret, Op. 123
Performer: Tatjana Ruhland. Performer: Florian Wiek.- äԲ.
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Arvo Pärt
Nunc Dimittis (Proms 2016)
Ensemble: The Sixteen. Director: Harry Christophers.- The Deer's Cry.
- Coro.
- 11.
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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.
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Samuel Barber
Violin Concerto
Performer: Johan Dalene. Orchestra: Norrköpings Symfoniorkester. Conductor: Daniel Blendulf.- Tchaikovsky & Barber: Violin Concertos.
- BIS.
- 201-203.
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Franz Liszt
3 Etudes de Concert studies S.144 for piano:No.3 Un Sospiro
Performer: Daniil Trifonov.- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
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Maurice Ravel
Le Tombeau de Couperin (Prélude)
Orchestra: Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Sakari Oramo.- Ravel: La valse, M. 72 & Other Works.
- BIS.
- 101.
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Antonio Bertali
Chiacona
Music Arranger: Christina Pluhar. Ensemble: L’Arpeggiata. Director: Christina Pluhar.- All' Improvviso: Ciaccone, Bergamasche, & un po' di Follie....
- Alpha Classics.
- 9.
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Arvo Pärt
Alleluia-Tropus
Ensemble: Vox Clamantis. Orchestra: Sinfonietta Rīga.- Arvo Pärt: Adam's Lament: Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Tonu Kaljuste.
- ECM.
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Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Symphony no.4 in F minor Op.36 (3rd mvt)
Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vasily Petrenko.- ONYX.
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Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Nonet Op.2 'Gradus ad Parnassum' (4th mvt)
Ensemble: Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective.- Chandos.
Broadcast
- Thu 11 Sep 2025 09:30ѿý Radio 3