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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.

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27 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Wednesday09:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Claude Debussy

    Arabesque no.1 in E major

    Performer: Jean‐Yves Thibaudet.
    • Debussy, Preludes etc.: Jean-Yves Thibaudet.
    • Decca.
    • 16.

  • Edvard Grieg

    Symphonic Dance No 2

    Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
    • Grieg: Symphonic Dances.
    • Chandos.
    • 2.

  • Alissa Firsova

    Stabat Mater

    Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Spirit, Strength & Sorrow.
    • Coro.
    • 2.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Piano Trio No.1 in B Major, Op.8: 2nd movt Scherzo

    Performer: Geoffroy Couteau. Performer: Amaury Coeytaux. Performer: Raphaël Perraud.
    • Brahms: Trios Nos. 1-3 for Piano, Violin & Cello.
    • La Dolce Volta.
    • 2.

  • Gabriel Fauré

    Sicilienne (Pelléas et Mélisande)

    Orchestra: Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: David Zinman.
    • PHILIPS.

  • Amy Beach

    Fairy Lullaby

    Performer: Joseph Middleton. Lyricist: William Shakespeare. Singer: Carolyn Sampson.
    • Sounds and Sweet Airs - A Shakespeare Songbook.
    • BIS.
    • 27.

  • Jean‐Philippe Rameau

    6 Concertos for six-part strings; No. 3

    Conductor: Christophe Rousset. Ensemble: Les Talens Lyriques.
    • Rameau: Six Concerts en sextuor.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 8.

  • Aram Khachaturian

    Sword Dance of the Young Thracians (Spartacus Suite)

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.
    • Khachaturian: Spartacus Suites: SNO, Jarvi.
    • Chandos.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Scherzo capriccioso Op.66

    Orchestra: Oslo Philharmonic. Conductor: Mariss Jansons.
    • Dvorak: Symphony No. 5, Scherzo Capriccioso etc..
    • EMI.
    • 6.

  • Thora Marteinsdottir

    Nú legg ég þér í lófa

    Lyricist: Jakob Jóhann Smári. Choir: Meridian. Conductor: Irene Messoloras.
    • Finding Light.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 8.

  • Leoš Janáček

    Adagio

    Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
    • Chandos.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Concerto for two violins in D minor, BWV1043

    Performer: Petra Müllejans. Performer: Gottfried von der Goltz. Orchestra: Freiburg Baroque Orchestra. Director: Gottfried von der Goltz.
    • Bach: Violin Concertos.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 1-3.

  • Richard Wagner

    Spinning Chorus (The Flying Dutchman)

    Music Arranger: Franz Liszt. Performer: Louis Lortie.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Pyotr Tchaikovsky

    Pezzo Capriccioso, Op.62

    Performer: Sol Gabetta. Orchestra: Munich Radio Orchestra. Conductor: Ari Rasilainen.
    • RCA.

  • Jaakko Mäntyjärvi

    Double, double, toil and trouble (4 Shakespeare Songs)

    Choir: Phoenix Bach Choir. Conductor: Charles Bruffy.
    • Shakespeare in Song.
    • Chandos.
    • 3.

  • Paul Hindemith

    "A Frog He Went A-Courting" Variations on an Old English Nursery Song

    Performer: Fred Steiner. Performer: David Berfield.
    • BAROQUE.

  • Stephen Foster

    Slumber My Darling

    Music Arranger: Edgar Meyer. Performer: Yo‐Yo Ma. Performer: Alison Krauss. Performer: Mark O'Connor. Performer: Edgar Meyer.
    • SONY CLASSICAL.

  • Edward Elgar

    Chanson de Matin Op.15 no.2

    Music Arranger: Paul Bateman. Performer: Daniel Hope. Performer: Jane Berthe. Orchestra: Zürcher Kammerorchester.
    • Belle Époque.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 13.

  • César Franck

    Prelude, fugue and variation in B minor

    Performer: Ryan Corbett. Performer: Fergus McCreadie.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-flat major, K271 "Jeunehomme": III. Rondeau. Presto

    Performer: Jan Lisiecki. Orchestra: Bamberg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Manfred Honeck.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Aaron Copland

    4 dance episodes from Rodeo

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • Chandos.

  • Karen Tanaka

    Water Dance No.3: Very lightly, like a harp

    Performer: Signe Bakke.
    • Crystalline.
    • 2L.
    • 4.

  • Louis Spohr

    Concertante in C Major, WoO 11

    Performer: Antje Weithaas. Performer: Michael Sanderling. Orchestra: Thüringen Philharmonie Gotha-Eisenach. Conductor: Hermann Breuer.
    • Es-Dur.

  • Léo Delibes

    Sous le dôme épais (Lakmé)

    Singer: Renée Fleming. Singer: Susan Graham. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Sebastian Lang-Lessing.
    • Guilty Pleasures.
    • Decca.
    • 9.

  • Rebecca Clarke

    Passacaglia on an Old English Tune

    Performer: Philip Dukes. Performer: Sophia Rahman.
    • Rebecca Clarke: Violin Sonata, Dumka.
    • Naxos.
    • 4.

  • Roger Quilter

    As You Like It - suite: No. 3; Merry Pranks

    Orchestra: Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Adrian Leaper.
    • British Light Music: Roger Quilter.
    • Marco Polo.
    • 9.

  • Manuel de Falla

    Jota (La vida breve)

    Orchestra: Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Eduardo Mata.
    • De Falla - Orchestral Works.
    • Brilliant Classics.
    • 9.

Broadcast

  • Wednesday09:30
    BBC Radio 3