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Celebrating classical greats

Ian Skelly plays the best in classical music for your morning, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites.

Ian Skelly 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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16 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Thu 28 May 2026 09:30
91福利社 Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Brandenburg Concerto no.6 in B flat major BWV.1051 (1st mvt)

    Ensemble: Il Giardino Armonico. Conductor: Giovanni Antonini.
    • J.S. Bach: The Brandenburg Concertos; Il Giardino Armonico.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 7.

  • Anna Lapwood

    O Nata Lux

    Choir: Pembroke College Girls' Choir. Conductor: Anna Lapwood.
    • Signum.

  • Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

    Scheherazade, Op. 35: IV. Festival at Baghdad - The Sea - The Shipwreck

    Conductor: Vasily Petrenko. Orchestra: Oslo Philharmonic.
    • Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol, Op. 34, Russian Easter Festival Ove.
    • Lawo Classics.
    • 10.

  • Edvard Grieg

    Holberg Suite for strings, Op 40 (Air)

    Orchestra: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
    • Grieg: Holberg Suite/Tchaikovsky: String Serenade: Orheus Chamber Orchestra.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 4.

  • Bernard Herrmann

    Vertigo Suite (Prelude)

    Orchestra: Los Angeles Philharmonic. Conductor: Esa鈥怭ekka Salonen.
    • Herrmann - The Film Scores.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 16.

  • Louis Spohr

    Nonet in F major Op.31 (1st mvt)

    Ensemble: Nash Ensemble.
    • Spohr: Nonet and Octet: Nash Ensemble.
    • CRD.

  • Jean鈥怭hilippe Rameau

    Chaconne (Les Indes galantes)

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century. Conductor: Frans Br眉ggen.
    • Rameau: Les Indes Galantes Suite: Orchestra of the 18th Century, Bruggen.
    • Philips.

  • Heitor Villa鈥怢obos

    Aria (Bachiana brasileira no.5)

    Singer: Ren茅e Fleming. Orchestra: New World Symphony. Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas.
    • Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras: Michael Tilson Thomas.
    • RCA.
    • 5.

  • Aaron Copland

    Dance Symphony: 3rd movt - Allegro vivo

    Orchestra: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Barbara Hannigan.
    • An American Dream?.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 10.

  • Clara Schumann

    Piano Trio in G minor Op.17 (4th mvt)

    Performer: Anne鈥怱ophie Mutter. Performer: Pablo Ferr谩ndez. Performer: Lambert Orkis.
    • Sony Masterworks.

  • Anton铆n Dvo艡谩k

    My 91福利社land Op.62

    Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Libor Pe拧ek.
    • Dvorak: American Suite, Czech Suite; Overtures and Tone Poems.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 204.

  • Fr茅d茅ric Chopin

    Prelude in D flat major, Op 28 No 15, 'Raindrop'

    Performer: Roland P枚ntinen.
    • BIS.

  • Giuseppe Torelli

    Sinfonia in C major G.33

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

  • Gy枚rgy Ligeti

    脡tudes, Book 2: No. 9, Vertige

    Performer: Pierre鈥怢aurent Aimard.
    • Gy枚rgy Ligeti Edition, Vol. 3.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 9.

  • Modest Mussorgsky

    Catacombs (Pictures at an Exhibition)

    Music Arranger: Maurice Ravel. Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • Mussorgsky / Borodin: Berliner Philharmoniker / Rattle.
    • EMI.
    • 12.

  • Joseph-Nicolas-Pancrace Royer

    Le Vertigo (Pi猫ces de clavecin, Book 1, 1746)

    Performer: Jean Rondeau.
    • Vertigo.
    • Erato/Warner Classics.
    • 8.

  • Ottorino Respighi

    La Primavera (Trittico Botticelliano)

    Orchestra: Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Li猫ge. Conductor: John Neschling.
    • Respighi: Vetrate di chiesa, Il tramonto & Trittico botticelliano.
    • BIS.
    • 1.

  • Nadia Boulanger

    3 Pieces

    Performer: Nicolas Altstaedt. Performer: Jos茅 Gallardo.
    • French Cello Sonatas.
    • Naxos.
    • 2-4.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto in C Major in C Major, RV 555

    Orchestra: Les Musiciens du Prince鈥怣onaco. Director: Gianluca Capuano.
    • Vivaldi: Concerti per vari strumenti II.
    • Na茂ve, a Label of Believe Group.
    • 18.

  • Maurice Ravel

    Menuet antique

    Performer: Marielle Lab猫que.
    • Maurice Ravel Katia Et Marielle Labeque.
    • KML.
    • 10.

  • Edward Elgar

    The Wand of youth - suite no. 1 (Sun Dance)

    Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Adrian Boult.
    • Elgar: The Wand of Youth etc.: LPO/Boult.
    • EMI.
    • 4.

  • Robert Schumann

    Symphony No 1 in B flat major, Op 38, 'Spring'

    Orchestra: Tonhalle-Orchester Z眉rich. Conductor: David Zinman.
    • ARTE NOVA.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Ombra mai fu (Serse)

    Singer: Lorraine Hunt Lieberson. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Conductor: Harry Bicket.
    • Handel Arias.
    • AVIE Records.
    • 20.

  • Peggy Glanville-Hicks

    Concertino da camera

    Ensemble: Tall Poppies Orchestra.
    • TALL POPPIES.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Rondo in G major, Op.129 'Rage over a lost penny'

    Performer: Evgeny Kissin.
    • Bach-Bussoni - Chaconne, Beethoven - Rondos: Evgeny Kissin.
    • RCA Red Seal.
    • 3.

  • Pyotr Tchaikovsky

    Swan Lake (Waltz)

    Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Gustavo Dudamel.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

Broadcast

  • Thu 28 May 2026 09:30
    91福利社 Radio 3