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Relax into the day with classical

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 BBC Sounds to play Essential Classics”.

29 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Music Played

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Slavonic Dances, Series II, No. 1 in B Major [Slavonic Dance #9 in B major]

    Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • Dvořák: Slavonic Dances.
    • PENTATONE.
    • 9.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21: IV. Finale. Adagio - Allegro molto e vivace

    Performer: Leonidas Kavakos. Performer: Yo‐Yo Ma. Performer: Emanuel Ax. Music Arranger: Shai Wosner.
    • Beethoven for Three: Symphony No. 1 / Op. 70, No. 1 \"Ghost\" / Op. 11 \"Gassenh.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 4.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Missa in F Major, BWV 233: II. Gloria in excelsis Deo

    Ensemble: Kolner Akademie. Conductor: Michael Alexander Willens.
    • J.S. Bach: Lutheran Masses BWV 233-236.
    • Pentatone.
    • 102.
  • Dora Pejačević

    Piano Quartet in D Minor, Op. 25: III. Minuetto

    Ensemble: Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective.
    • Brahms & Contemporaries, Vol. 3.
    • Chandos.
    • 103.
  • Jean Sibelius

    Lemminkainen suite Op.22: No. 2 - The Swan of Tuonela

    Orchestra: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Santtu-Matias Rouvali.
    • Alpha.
  • Ignacio Figueredo

    El gavilán

    Singer: Vincenzo Capezzuto. Ensemble: L’Arpeggiata. Conductor: Christina Pluhar.
    • Erato.
  • Frédéric Chopin

    Nocturne No. 19 in E Minor, Op. Posth. 72 No. 1

    Performer: Elisabeth Leonskaja.
    • In the Quiet of the Piano.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 10.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Concerto in A Major Op. 7/2, HWV 307: IV Allegro

    Performer: Jeremy Joseph. Orchestra: Wiener Akademie. Conductor: Martin Haselböck.
    • Handel: Organ Concertos Op. 4 & Op. 7.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 36.
  • Johannes Brahms

    Clarinet Trio in A Minor Op.114 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Andreas Ottensamer. Performer: Gautier Capuçon. Performer: Yuja Wang.
    • Brahms: Clarinet Trio in A Minor, Op. 114: I. Allegro.
    • DG.
    • 1.
  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Danse macabre, Op. 40

    Orchestra: Sinfonia of London. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • French Orchestral Favourites.
    • Chandos.
    • 105.
  • Karl Goldmark

    Die Königin von Saba: Magische Töne, berauschender Duft

    Singer: Jonas Kaufmann. Orchestra: Magyar Állami Operaház zenekara. Conductor: Dirk Kaftan.
    • Sony.
  • Florence Price

    An Elf on a Moonbeam

    Performer: Anna Lapwood.
    • Sony Classical.
  • Arvo Pärt

    Tribute to Caesar

    Singer: Alexandra Kidgell. Singer: Ben Davies. Ensemble: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Angel of Peace.
    • CORO.
    • 2.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550: VI. Allegro assai

    Orchestra: Ensemble Resonanz. Conductor: Riccardo Minasi.
    • Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 39, 40 & 41 \"Jupiter\".
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 8.
  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Symphony No. 7 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 131: II. Allegretto

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Gianandrea Noseda.
    • Prokofiev: Symphony No. 7.
    • LSO Live.
    • 102.
  • Joaquín Turina

    Sinfonia Sevillana, Op. 23: II. Por el río Guadalquivir

    Conductor: Juanjo Mena. Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Turina: Danzas fantásticas.
    • Chandos.
    • 118.
  • Heraclio Fernández

    El Diablo suelto

    Performer: John Williams. Music Arranger: Alirio Díaz.
    • The Ultimate Guitar Collection.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 2.
  • Leonard Bernstein

    Mambo (West Side Story)

    Orchestra: Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Gustavo Dudamel.
    • 111 Years Of Deutsche Grammophon The Collector's Edition Vol.2.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
  • Fritz Kreisler

    Liebesleid

    Performer: Martin Fröst. Performer: Roland Pöntinen. Music Arranger: Roland Pöntinen. Music Arranger: Martin Fröst.
    • Frost and Friends.
    • BIS.
    • 107.
  • Giuseppe Torelli

    Sinfonia in C major G.33

    Ensemble: La Serenissima. Director: Adrian Chandler.
    • AVIE.
  • Paul Büttner

    Symphony No. 3 in D-Flat Major: II. Adagio. Einfach und innig

    Orchestra: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. Conductor: Christopher Ward.
    • Büttner: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4.
    • CapriccioNR.
    • 102.
  • Missy Mazzoli

    Song from the Uproar: You Are the Dust

    Music Arranger: Jarkko Riihimäki. Singer: Emily D’Angelo. Orchestra: das freie orchester Berlin. Conductor: Jarkko Riihimäki.
    • enargeia.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 5.
  • Edvard Grieg

    Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16: II. Adagio

    Performer: Alexandra Dariescu. Orchestra: Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Tianyi Lu.
    • Clara Schumann and Edvard Grieg Piano Concertos.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 105.
  • Richard Strauss

    Metamorphosen

    Orchestra: Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg. Conductor: Riccardo Minasi.
    • Berlin Classics.
  • Georges Bizet

    L'Arlésienne Suite No. 1, Op. 23a, GB 121a: IV. Carillon

    Orchestra: Ulster Orchestra. Conductor: Yan Pascal Tortelier.
    • Bizet: Carmen Suites.
    • Chandos.
    • 116.
  • Mel Bonis

    Ophélie

    Performer: Marie Vermeulin.
    • Compositrices: New Light on French Romantic Women Composers.
    • Bru Zane.
    • 6.
  • Reynaldo Hahn

    Piano Quintet in F minor (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Dania Tchalik. Ensemble: Quatuor Tchalik.
    • Alkonost Classic.
  • Pyotr Tchaikovsky

    Symphony no.6 in B Minor 'Pathétique' (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: MusicAeterna. Conductor: Teodor Currentzis.
    • Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 74 "Pathétique".
    • Sony Classical.
    • 3.

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