Main content

The very best of classical music

Georgia Mann plays the best in classical music, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favorites.

Georgia Mann plays the best in classical music, featuring new discoveries, some musical surprises and plenty of familiar favourites.

1000 Playlist starter – listen and send us your ideas for the next step in our musical journey today.

1030 Song of the Day – harnessing the magic of words, music and the human voice.

1115 Playlist reveal – a sequence of music suggested by you in response to our starter today.

1145 Slow Moment – time to take a break for a moment's musical reflection.

1200 “25 for 25: Sounds of the Century” – a series of brand new commissions celebrating and commemorating some of the biggest events of the 21st century so far.

1230 Album of the Week.

To listen on most smart speakers say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Essential Classics”

27 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Thursday 09:30
BBC Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

A classical soundtrack for your morning

Next

Relax into the day with classical

See all episodes from Essential Classics

Music Played

  • Émile Waldteufel

    Les Patineurs, Op 183

    Orchestra: The New London Orchestra. Conductor: Ronald Corp.
    • European light music classics: New London Orchestra/Corp.
    • Hyperion.
    • 8.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Stabat mater, RV 621

    Singer: Andreas Scholl. Ensemble: Ensemble 415. Director: Chiara Banchini.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

  • William Grant Still

    Prelude (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Alexa Still. Performer: Michael Steer. Performer: Susan DeWitt Smith. Ensemble: New Zealand String Quartet.
    • KOCH.

  • Derek Bourgeois

    Serenade Op.22

    Ensemble: Black Dyke Band. Conductor: Michael Antrobus.
    • Chandos.

  • Claude Debussy

    Sirènes (Nocturnes)

    Orchestra: The Cleveland Orchestra. Orchestra: The Cleveland Orchestra. Choir: The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus. Choir: The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus. Conductor: Pierre Boulez. Conductor: Pierre Boulez.
    • Debussy: Nocturnes/La Mer/Jeux: Boulez.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 3.

  • Thomas Weelkes

    As Vesta was from Latmos hill descending

    Choir: The King’s Singers.
    • The Triumphs of Oriana: The King's Singers.
    • Signum.
    • 18.

  • Arthur Sullivan

    The Yeomen of the Guard (Overture)

    Orchestra: D'Oyly Carte Opera Orchestra. Conductor: John Pryce-Jones.
    • Gilbert and Sullivan Overtures: Various performers.
    • TER.
    • 8.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Piano Trio in C major, H.15.27 (1st mvt)

    Performer: The Florestan Trio.
    • Haydn: Piano Trios, Vol.1: The Florestan Trio.
    • Hyperion.
    • 10.

  • Jean‐Philippe Rameau

    Nais: Rigaudons

    Orchestra: Les Musiciens du Louvre. Conductor: Marc Minkowski.
    • ARCHIV.

  • Aram Khachaturian

    Spartacus; Ballet Suite No. 3: Dance of the Egyptian Maidens

    Conductor: Loris Tjeknavorian. Orchestra: Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Khachaturian: Spartacus Ballet Suites Nos.1-3.
    • ASV.
    • 12.

  • Aram Khachaturian

    Spartacus; Ballet Suite No 3: Sword dance of the young Thracians

    Conductor: Loris Tjeknavorian. Orchestra: Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Khachaturian: Spartacus Ballet Suites Nos.1-3.
    • ASV.
    • 14.

  • Henry Purcell

    O Solitude, my sweetest choice, Z. 406

    Ensemble: Sounds Baroque. Singer: Helen Charlston.
    • If the Fates allow.
    • BIS.
    • 1401.

  • William Walton

    Orb and Sceptre coronation march

    Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: André Previn.
    • Walton: Symphony no. 1: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Andre Previn.
    • Telarc.

  • Thomas Weelkes

    As Vesta was from Latmos hill descending

    Choir: The King’s Singers.
    • The Triumphs of Oriana: The King's Singers.
    • Signum.
    • 18.

  • Fanny Mendelssohn

    Trio in D minor (4th mvt)

    Ensemble: Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective.
    • Chandos.

  • Domenico Zipoli

    Elevazione for oboe, cello and strings

    Performer: Julia Girdwood. Performer: Robert Truman. Ensemble: Consort of London. Conductor: Robert Haydon Clark.
    • Collins Classics.

  • Franz Schubert

    Der Leiermann (Winterreise, D.911)

    Singer: Dietrich Fischer‐Dieskau. Performer: Alfred Brendel.
    • Philips.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Violin Concerto in A minor, BWV 1041

    Performer: Rachel Podger. Orchestra: Brecon Baroque.
    • Rachel Podger, Brecon Baroque - J.S. Bach violin concertos.
    • Channel Classics.
    • 1.

  • Henry Purcell

    Nymphs and shepherds (The Libertine)

    Singer: Judith Nelson. Orchestra: Academy of Ancient Music. Conductor: Christopher Hogwood.
    • DECCA.

  • Duke Ellington

    The Single Petal Of A Rose (The Queen's Suite)

    Performer: Duke Ellington and His Orchestra.
    • Original Jazz Classics.

  • Orlando Gibbons

    The Silver Swan

    Choir: Apollo5.
    • O Radiant Dawn.
    • VCM Records.
    • 11.

  • Benjamin Britten

    Courtly Dances: March & Coranto (Gloriana Suite Op.53a)

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
    • Benjamin Britten: Works for Orchestra.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 3.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Waltz in D flat major, Op 64 No 1, 'Minute'

    Performer: Maria João Pires.
    • Chopin: Maria Joao Pires, Pavel Gomziakov.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 5.

  • Arnold Bax

    4 Orchestral Sketches (Dance in the Sun)

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Davis.
    • Bax: Orchestral Works.
    • Chandos.
    • 2.

  • Herbert Howells

    Requiem aeternam I

    Conductor: Paul McCreesh. Choir: Gabrieli Consort.
    • A Song of Farewell: Music of Mourning and Consolation.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 903.

  • Louise Farrenc

    Symphony no.3 in G minor Op.36 (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: NDR Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Johannes Goritzki.
    • Louise Farrenc: Symphonies 1 and 3.
    • O.
    • 7.

  • John Williams

    Jurassic Park (main theme)

    Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: John Williams.
    • MCA Records.

  • Anselm McDonnell

    A Taste of Trapped Sun

    Choir: BBC Singers.

  • John Ireland

    A Downland Suite

    Orchestra: Sinfonia of London. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • Chandos.

  • Johannes Pullois

    Globus ignaeus (Pour prison)

    Conductor: Anna Danilevskaia. Ensemble: Sollazzo Ensemble.
    • Ni Dufay, NI Binchois - The Works of Johannes Pullois.
    • acaille.
    • 3.

  • Fritz Kreisler

    Schön Rosmarin

    Performer: Joshua Bell. Performer: Paul Coker.
    • The Romantic Violin: Joshua Bell.
    • Decca.
    • 5.

  • Edward Elgar

    The Kingdom, Op. 51: Prelude

    Orchestra: London Mozart Players. Conductor: David Temple.
    • Elgar: The Kingdom.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 101.

  • Annie Fortescue Harrison

    In the Gloaming

    Singer: Anthony Rolfe Johnson. Performer: Graham Johnson.
    • HYPERION.

  • Daniel Bacheler

    Galliard

    Performer: Paul O’Dette.
    • Daniel Bacheler: The Bachelar's Delight: Paul O'Dette.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 3.

  • John Barry

    The Beyondness of Things

    Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: John Barry.
    • Decca.

Broadcast

  • Thursday 09:30
    BBC Radio 3

Our Classical Century

Our Classical Century

Radio 3 explores 100 key musical moments that shaped us, from 1918 to the present day.

Time Travellers: the podcast

Time Travellers: the podcast

Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough presents quirky tales gathered from the corners of history.