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”
Last on
More episodes
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 09:30ѿý Radio 3