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A feast of great 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 a masterpiece.

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26 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Monday 09:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Franz Schubert

    4 Impromptus D.899 (no.3 in G flat major)

    Performer: Krystian Zimerman.
    • DG.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Oboe Concerto in A minor (1st mvt)

    Performer: Nicholas Daniel. Orchestra: Britten Sinfonia.
    • Oboe Concertos/Nicholas Daniel.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 1.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Credo in unum Deum (Mass in C minor, K 427)

    Conductor: Paul McCreesh. Singer: Camilla Tilling. Singer: Dame Sarah Connolly. Singer: Timothy Robinson. Singer: Neal Davies. Orchestra: Gabrieli Consort.
    • 111 Years Of Deutsche Grammophon The Collector's Edition Vol.2.
    • Deutshe Grammophon.
    • 10.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Double Concerto in D minor, BWV.1043

    Performer: Rachel Podger. Performer: Andrew Manze. Orchestra: Academy of Ancient Music. Director: Andrew Manze.
    • J.S.Bach, Solo & Double Violin Concertos.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 1.

  • Franz Schubert

    Der Schmetterling, Op. 57 No. 1, D. 633

    Performer: Leif Ove Andsnes.
    • Schubert: Piano Sonata, Op. 53, D. 850 & Lieder.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 13.

  • Benjamin Britten

    The Young person's guide to the orchestra (Op.34) (Variations and fugue on a theme of Purcell)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Benjamin Britten.
    • Britten: Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra: LSO.
    • Decca.
    • 1.

  • Maria Theresia von Paradis

    Sicilienne

    Music Arranger: Chris Hazell. Performer: Sheku Kanneh‐Mason. Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Christopher Warren‐Green.
    • Decca.

  • Anonymous

    Introit Gaudeamus

    Choir: Buckfast Abbey Choir. Director: Matthew Searles.
    • Ad Fontes.

  • Jehan Alain

    Messe modale en septuor, JA 136, AWV 110: Kyrie

    Choir: Buckfast Abbey Choir. Director: Matthew Searles.
    • Ad Fontes.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Mandolin Concerto in C Major RV 425: I. Allegro

    Performer: Raffaele La Ragione. Ensemble: Il Pomo d’Oro. Conductor: Francesco Corti.
    • Mandolin on Stage.
    • Arcana.
    • 1.

  • Clara Schumann

    Scherzo no.2 in C minor Op.14

    Performer: Isata Kanneh‐Mason.
    • Romance.
    • Decca.
    • 7.

  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony no.7 (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • Mahler: Symphony No. 7.
    • Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • 2.

  • Cecilia McDowall

    Standing as I do before God

    Choir: Tenebrae. Conductor: Nigel Short. Singer: Emma Walshe.
    • Standing as I do before God.
    • Signum Records.
    • 1.

  • Eric Coates

    The Merrymakers

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • Coates: Orchestral Works Vol. 1.
    • Chandos.
    • 1.

  • Edvard Grieg

    Butterfly, Op 43 No 1 (Lyric Pieces)

    Performer: Emil Grigoryevich Gilels.
    • Grieg: Lyric Pieces: Emil Gilels.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Giacomo Puccini

    The Humming Chorus (Madama Butterfly)

    Choir: Ambrosian Singers. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Giuseppe Sinopoli.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

    The Flight of the Bumblebee (The Tale of Tsar Saltan)

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.
    • Rimsky-Korsakov: Overture and Suites from the Operas: Scottish National Orch/Jar.
    • Chandos.
    • 4.

  • Gabriel Fauré

    Le papillon et la fleur, Op 1 No 1

    Performer: Joseph Middleton. Singer: Carolyn Sampson.
    • Fleurs.
    • BIS.
    • 19.

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Piano Concerto No 2 in F major, Op 102 (2nd mvt, Andante)

    Performer: Yuja Wang. Orchestra: Boston Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andris Nelsons.
    • Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102: II. Andante.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 6.

  • Louise Farrenc

    Nonet in E flat major Op.38 (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Intercontinental Ensemble.
    • TRPTK.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Bassoon Concerto in C Major, RV 478

    Performer: Sergio Azzolini. Ensemble: L’Onda Armonica.
    • Naive.

  • Arvo Pärt

    Spiegel im Spiegel

    Performer: Nicola Benedetti. Performer: Alexei Grynyuk.
    • Nicola Benedetti: Fantasie.
    • Deutsche Grammaphon.
    • 6.

  • Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

    Cello concerto in A minor, Wq.170 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Nicolas Altstaedt. Ensemble: Arcangelo. Conductor: Jonathan Cohen.
    • C P E Bach, Cello concertos.
    • HYPERION.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    String Quartet in F major, Op 96, 'American' (Finale)

    Ensemble: Takács Quartet.
    • Dvorak: String Quartets: Takacs Quartet.
    • Decca.
    • 9.

  • Moondog

    High on a Rocky Ledge (H'Art Songs Op.82)

    Performer: Sean Shibe.
    • PENTATONE.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Serenade in B flat major, K.361 'Gran Partita' (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Maurice Bourgue Wind Ensemble.
    • Pierre Verany.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano Concerto No 5 in E flat major, Op 73, 'Emperor' (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Alfred Brendel. Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • Beethoven: Piano Concertos 1-5: Alfred Brendel, Simon Rattle.
    • Philips.
    • 3.

Broadcast

  • Monday 09:30
    BBC Radio 3