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The very best 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.

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

3 hours, 30 minutes

Music Played

  • Max Bruch

    Violin Concerto No 1 in G minor (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Nicola Benedetti. Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Jakub Hrůša.
    • Tchaikovsky/Bruch: Violin Concertos: Nicola Benedetti.
    • Decca.
    • 6.
  • Johann David Heinichen

    Concerto for 3/4 recorders, strings & continuo (S.211)

    Performer: Pieter Brulleman. Performer: Baldrick Deerenberg. Performer: Sabine d'Hont. Performer: Barbara Karst. Orchestra: Kammerorchester Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. Conductor: Hartmut Haenchen.
    • Christmas Concertos - Kammerochestrer Carl Phillip Emanuel Bach.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 1.
  • Traditional Catalan

    Song of the Birds

    Music Arranger: Pau Casals. Performer: Sheku Kanneh‐Mason. Ensemble: Cellos of the City of Birmingham Orchestra.
    • DECCA.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No.6 in F "Pastoral" (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Danish National Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Ádám Fischer.
    • Beethoven: Complete Symphonies.
    • Naxos.
    • 301.
  • Cécile Chaminade

    La Lisonjera, Op. 50 for piano solo

    Performer: Joanne Polk.
    • The Flatterer.
    • Steinway & Sons.
    • 1.
  • William Byrd

    Domine, praestolamur

    Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Ceremony and Devotion: Music for the Tudors.
    • Coro.
    • 7.
  • Kurt Weill

    Quodlibet Suite, Op. 9: I. Andante non troppo

    Orchestra: The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. Conductor: Antony Beaumont.
    • Weill: Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2 & Quodlibet.
    • Chandos Records Limited.
    • 08.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Piano Concerto no.9 in E flat major, K.271 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Mitsuko Uchida. Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Jeffrey Tate.
    • Mozart Piano Concertos nos. 8 & 9.
    • Philips.
    • 3.
  • Cesar Cui

    Scherzo, Op.82 no.1

    Orchestra: Russian State Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Valery Kuzmich Polyansky.
    • A Feast In Time Of Plague.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 2.
  • Philip Glass

    Glass: Études: No. 2

    • Your Night & Music 40th Anniversary.
    • Universal Music Ltd..
    • 11.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis

    Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Bryden Thomson.
    • Chandos.
  • Hildegard von Bingen

    Instrumental piece

    Ensemble: Ensemble for Medieval Music.
    • deutsche harmonia mundi.
  • Jean‐Baptiste Lully

    Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme: Air: di Rigori Armata Il Seno

    Ensemble: La Risonanza. Singer: Emanuela Galli. Director: Fabio Bonizzoni.
    • Glossa.
  • Igor Stravinsky

    Dumbarton Oaks (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Columbia Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Igor Stravinsky.
    • Sony Classical.
  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony No. 94 in G Major, Hob. I:94 "The Surprise": II. Andante

    Orchestra: Danish National Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Ádám Fischer.
    • Haydn: Symphony No. 94 "The Surprise": II. Andante.
    • NAXOS.
    • 101.
  • Christian Sinding

    Symphony no. 3 in F major Op.121: 2nd movement; Andante

    Orchestra: Norrköpings Symfoniorkester. Conductor: Karl‐Heinz Steffens.
    • Sinding: Symphonies.
    • CapriccioNR.
    • 202.
  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Octet in E flat major, Op 20: 4th Movement, Presto

    Performer: Daniel Hope. Performer: Lucy Gould. Performer: Sophie Besançon. Performer: Christian Eisenberger. Performer: Pascal Siffert. Performer: Stewart Eaton. Performer: William Conway. Performer: Kate Gould.
    • Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto: Daniel Hope, COE, Thomas Hengelbrock.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 7.
  • Frank Bridge

    The Sea

    Orchestra: ѿý National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Richard Hickox.
    • Frank Bridge: Orchestral Works Vol.2.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 9-12.
  • Antonín Dvořák

    String Quartet no.12 in F major Op.96 'American' (1st mvt)

    Ensemble: Pavel Haas Quartet.
    • Dvorak String Quartets - Pavel Haas Quartet.
    • Supraphon.
    • 5.
  • Johann Friedrich Fasch

    Concerto in B minor for flute, oboe, strings and continuo (FWV.L:h1)

    Performer: Lisa Beznosiuk. Performer: Andreas Helm. Orchestra: Irish Baroque Orchestra. Conductor: Monica Huggett.
    • Linn.
  • Germaine Tailleferre

    Concertino (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Nicanor Zabaleta. Orchestra: Orchestre national de France. Conductor: Jean Martinon.
    • DG.
  • Alice Mary Smith

    Impromptu

    Performer: Hiroaki Takenouchi.
  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Mon coeur s'ouvre à ta voix (Samson et Dalila)

    Singer: Angela Gheorghiu. Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Marco Armiliato.
    • EMI.

Broadcast

  • Tue 30 Sep 2025 09:30