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The best classical morning 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 91福利社 Sounds to play Essential Classics鈥

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Wed 28 Jan 2026 09:30

Music Played

  • Claudio Monteverdi

    L'Orfeo (Toccata)

    Ensemble: Le Concert d鈥橝str茅e. Ensemble: Les Sacqueboutiers. Conductor: Emmanuelle Ha茂m.
    • Virgin.
  • Hector Berlioz

    B茅atrice et B茅n茅dict (Overture)

    Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Davis.
    • CHANDOS.
  • Louis Couperin

    Pavanne in F sharp minor B`D.121 (Pieces de clavecin)

    Performer: Pavel Kolesnikov.
    • Couperin: Dances From The Bauyn Manuscript.
    • Hyperion.
    • 22.
  • Aram Khachaturian

    Lezghinka (Gayaneh)

    Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Kirill Karabits.
    • ONYX.
  • Hildegard von Bingen

    Ave generosa

    Conductor: Jeremy Summerly. Choir: Oxford Camerata.
    • Hildegard Von Bingen: Heavenly Revelations.
    • Naxos.
    • 1.
  • George Gershwin

    'It ain't necessarily so' (Porgy and Bess)

    Performer: Oscar Peterson.
    • Pablo.
  • Jean鈥怞oseph de Mondonville

    Sonates en symphonies: Sonate No.6

    Ensemble: Les Musiciens du Louvre. Director: Marc Minkowski.
    • MBF.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Symphony No 6 in B minor, Op 54 (3rd mvt)

    Conductor: Paavo J盲rvi. Orchestra: Estonian Festival Orchestra.
    • Alpha.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Horn Concerto No. 3 in E-Flat Major, K. 447: III. Allegro

    Performer: Alec Frank-Gemmill. Conductor: Nicholas McGegan. Orchestra: Swedish Chamber Orchestra.
    • Mozart: Horn Concertos.
    • BIS.
    • 9.
  • Havergal Brian

    The Tinker's Wedding - comedy overture

    Orchestra: 91福利社 Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
    • Overtures from the British Isles, Vol. 3.
    • Chandos.
  • George Gershwin

    'It ain't necessarily so' (Porgy and Bess)

    Performer: Oscar Peterson.
    • Pablo.
  • C茅sar Franck

    Prelude, Fugue and Variation Op.18

    Performer: Mariam Batsashvili. Music Arranger: Harold Bauer.
    • Warner Classics.
  • Hamish MacCunn

    The Land of the Mountain and the Flood (Overture)

    Orchestra: 91福利社 Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Martyn Brabbins.
    • MacCunn - Land of the Mountain and the Flood.
    • Hyperion.
    • 001.
  • Louise Farrenc

    Nonet in E flat major, Op.38 (4th mvt)

    Ensemble: Consortium Classicum.
    • Farrenc: Nonet & Clarinet Trio.
    • Divox.
    • 4.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Pianger貌 la sorte mia (Giulio Cesare)

    Singer: Natalie Dessay. Orchestra: Le Concert d鈥橝str茅e. Director: Emmanuelle Ha茂m.
    • G. F. Handel: Cleopatra: Arias from Giulio Cesare: Natalie Dessay/Emmanuelle Hai.
    • Virgin Classics.
    • 12.
  • Herbert Howells

    Lambert's Clavichord, Op. 41: No. 5. Sargent's Fantastic Sprite

    • Howells: Lambert's Clavichord - Howells' Clavichord (Herbert Howells).
    • Centaur Records, Inc..
    • 05.
  • Arvo P盲rt

    ...which was the Son of...

    Choir: Polyphony. Conductor: Stephen Layton.
    • Arvo Part: Triodion, Nunc Dimittis, Salve Regina.
    • Hyperion.
    • 3.
  • George Gershwin

    Summertime (Arr. Harris)

    • Yehudi Menuhin & St茅phane Grappelli.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 3.
  • Franz Schubert

    The Magic Harp (overture)

    Orchestra: L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra. Conductor: Michi Gaigg.
    • DHM.
  • Crist贸bal de Morales

    Parce mihi Domine (Officium Defunctorum)

    Ensemble: The Gesualdo Six. Director: Owain Park.
    • Lux Aeterna.
    • Hyperion.
    • 6.
  • Gavin Bryars

    In Nomine

    Ensemble: Fretwork.
    • In Nomine II.
    • Signum Records.
    • 11.
  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Fruhlingslied (Spring Song) in A major, Op 62 No 6

    Performer: Lucy Parham.
    • I, Clara: Clara Schumann, A Life In Music.
    • Deux-Elles Limited.
    • 15.
  • Luigi Boccherini

    Symphony No 26 in C minor, G 519

    Orchestra: Kammerorchester Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. Conductor: Hartmut Haenchen.
    • Christmas Concertos - Kammerochestrer Carl Phillip Emanuel Bach.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 24.
  • Traditional Scottish Gaelic

    D霉thaich MhicAoidh (MacKay Country)

    Performer: Donald Shaw. Author: Ewan Robertson. Singer: Kathleen MacInnes.
    • Greentrax records.
  • Michael Nyman

    The Heart Asks Pleasure First / The Promise

    Performer: Michael Nyman. Ensemble: Michael Nyman Band.
    • The Composer's Cut Series, Vol. III: The Piano.
    • Michael Nyman Records.
    • 14.
  • Maddalena Laura Sirmen

    String Quartet no.2 in B flat major (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Allegri String Quartet.
    • Maddalena Lombardini Sirmen - The Six String Quartets.
    • CALA.
    • 12.
  • Sergey Prokofiev

    March in B flat major Op.99

    Ensemble: Kristiansand Bl氓seensemble. Conductor: Bj酶rn Sagstad.
    • Over the Hills and Far Away.
    • 2L.
    • 4.
  • Luigi Cherubini

    Faniska (Overture)

    Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Neville Marriner.
    • Cherubini - Overtures.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 006.
  • Fr茅d茅ric Chopin

    Mazurka in A flat major, Op 59 No 2

    Performer: Martha Argerich.
    • Argerich Plays Chopin.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 11.
  • Arturo M谩rquez

    Conga del fuego nuevo

    Orchestra: Sim贸n Bol铆var Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Gustavo Dudamel.
    • Gustavo Dudamel: Discoveries.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 12.

Broadcast

  • Wed 28 Jan 2026 09:30