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Relax into the day with classical Celebrating classical greats

Ian Skelly plays the best in classical music, 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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27 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Wednesday09:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Edvard Grieg

    Wedding Day at Troldhaugen (Lyric Pieces - book 8 Op.65)

    Orchestrator: Franz Josef Breuer. Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jerzy Maksymiuk.
    • Grieg: Peer Gynt, Sigur Jorsalfar.
    • NAXOS.
    • 11.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Rinaldo (Overture)

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

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Piano Trio No 1 in F major, Op 18 (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: The Florestan Trio.
    • HYPERION.

  • Ruth Gipps

    Song for orchestra, Op 33

    Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
    • Ruth Gipps: Orchestral Works.
    • Chandos.
    • 14.

  • Max Bruch

    Violin Concerto No.1 in G minor, Op.26 (3rd movement: Finale)

    Performer: Renaud Capuçon. Orchestra: Orchestre de Paris – Philharmonie. Conductor: Paavo Järvi.
    • Erato.

  • Knudåge Riisager

    Fools' Paradise, Op. 33, Suite I: I. Prelude

    Conductor: Thomas Dausgaard. Orchestra: Helsingborgs Symfoniorkester.
    • Riisager: Suites Op. 33 / Tolv Med Posten / Darduse.
    • Dacapo.
    • 1.

  • Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

    Quintet in B flat major (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Eric Le Sage. Ensemble: Les Vents Français.
    • Warner.

  • Kodály Zoltán

    Este (evening)

    Choir: Danish National Vocal Ensemble. Conductor: Marcus Creed. Singer: Christine Nonbo Andersen.
    • Kodály & Ligeti: Choral Works.
    • OUR Recordings.
    • 601.

  • Dobrinka Tabakova

    Riddle Of The Barrel-Organ Player - Postlude: Hunting (Suite in Old Style)

    Performer: Maxim Rysanov. Performer: Vaiva Eidukaitytė-Storastienė. Orchestra: Lietuvos kamerinis orkestras.
    • ECM.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Slavonic Dance in E minor Op.72 no.2

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings.

  • Anonymous

    Convertime o signore

    Ensemble: Le Miroir de Musique. Conductor: Baptiste Romain.
    • Ubi caritas. Italian Laude in Early Renaissance.
    • Ricercar.
    • 13.

  • Alexander Glazunov

    Concert waltz no.2 in F major Op.51

    Orchestra: Bamberg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.
    • Orfeo.

  • Henry Mancini

    Moon River

    Music Arranger: Tom Poster. Performer: Elena Urioste. Performer: Magnus Johnston. Performer: Tom Poster.
    • Estrellita.
    • BIS.
    • 17.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Symphony no.4 in A major, Op.90 'Italian' (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
    • CHANDOS.

  • York Bowen

    Viola Sonata No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 18: II. Poco lento e cantabile

    Performer: Timothy Ridout. Performer: Frank Dupree.
    • A Lionel Tertis Celebration.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 102.

  • Dmitri Kabalevsky

    The Comedians, Op. 26: IX. Scherzo. Presto assai e molto leggiero

    Conductor: Vassily Sinaisky. Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Kabalevsky: Piano Concertos, Vol. 1.
    • Chandos.
    • 113.

  • Dmitri Kabalevsky

    The Comedians, Op. 26: X. Epilogue. Allegro molto e con brio

    Conductor: Vassily Sinaisky. Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Kabalevsky: Piano Concertos, Vol. 1.
    • Chandos.
    • 114.

  • Billy Mayerl

    April's Fool

    Performer: Leslie De’Ath.
    • Billy Mayerl: a Miscellany for Solo Piano.
    • Dutton Epoch.
    • 12.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    A Musical Joke, K.522: IV. Presto

    Orchestra: The English Concert. Director: Andrew Manze.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Brandenburg Concerto No 4 in G major, BWV 1049 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Trevor Pinnock. Ensemble: The English Concert. Conductor: Trevor Pinnock.
    • Bach: Works for Orchestra: The English Concert/Pinnock.
    • Archiv Produktion.
    • 1.

  • Enrique Granados

    Quejas o la Maja y el Ruiseñor (Goyescas)

    Performer: Garrick Ohlsson.
    • Granados: Goyescas: Ohlsson.
    • Hyperion.

  • Gustav Holst

    The Planets, Op. 32: III. Mercury, the Winged Messenger

    Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.
    • Holst: The Planets – Bax: Tintagel.
    • LSO Live.
    • 3.

  • Margaret Bonds

    Montgomery Variations: 2. Prayer Meeting

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Kellen Gray.
    • African American Voices II.
    • Linn Records.
    • 02.

  • Fritz Kreisler

    Liebesleid

    Orchestrator: Clark McAlister. Performer: Gil Shaham. Orchestra: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
    • Romances: Gil Shaham/Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 7.

  • Hildegard von Bingen

    O eterne deus

    Ensemble: Anonymous 4.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Piano Concerto No 1 in D flat major, Op 10

    Performer: Vladimir Ashkenazy. Conductor: André Previn. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.
    • Prokofiev: Piano Concertos 1 - 5: Ashkenazy, Previn.
    • Decca.

  • Francis Poulenc

    Rag-Mazurka (Les Biches - suite)

    Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Jun'ichi Hirokami.
    • RLPO LIVE.

  • Giacomo Puccini

    Mi chiamano Mimi (La bohème)

    Singer: Angela Gheorghiu. Orchestra: Orchestra of Teatro Regio, Turin. Conductor: John Mauceri.
    • Angela Gheorghiu: Arias.
    • Decca.
    • 10.

  • Robert Schumann

    Waldszenen, Op. 82: VIII. Jagdlied

    Performer: Can Çakmur.
    • Schubert + Schumann.
    • BIS.
    • 112.

  • Josquin des Prez

    Inviolata, integra et casta es, Maria

    Ensemble: SANSARA. Conductor: Benjamin Cunningham.
    • RESONUS.

  • Christoph Willibald Gluck

    Trio Sonata no.2 in G minor (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Aura Musicale. Director: Balázs Máté.
    • CHR. W. Gluck The Seven Trio Sonatas Aura Musicale.
    • Hungaroton Classic.
    • 5.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No 7 in A major, Op 92 (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. Conductor: Riccardo Chailly.
    • Beethoven - The Symphonies.
    • Decca.
    • 4.

Broadcast

  • Wednesday09:30
    BBC Radio 3