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Refresh your morning with classical music

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 [email protected].

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.

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

29 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Music Played

  • Frédéric Chopin

    2 Nocturnes Op.27 (no.2 in D flat major)

    Performer: Nelson Freire.
    • Nelson Freire: Chopin, The Nocturnes.
    • Decca.
    • 8.
  • Ruth Gipps

    Pan and Apollo Op.78 for 2 oboes, cor anglais and harp

    Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Jonathan Bloxham.
  • Thomas Tallis

    O Sacrum Convivium (for 5 voices)

    Choir: Stile Antico.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    The Abduction from the Seraglio (Overture)

    Orchestra: Academy for Ancient Music Berlin. Conductor: René Jacobs.
    • Mozart: Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 1.
  • Johannes Brahms

    Piano Concerto no.2 in B flat major Op.83 ( 4th mvt)

    Performer: Emanuel Ax. Orchestra: Boston Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Bernard Haitink.
    • Sony.
  • Nigel Hess

    Congestion Charge (New London Pictures)

    Ensemble: RAF Central Band. Conductor: Nigel Hess.
    • Hess: New London Pictures: Royal Air Force Central Band/Hess.
    • Chandos.
    • 3.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Concerto in C minor for violin and oboe, BWV.1060 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Rachel Podger. Performer: Alexandra Bellamy. Orchestra: Brecon Baroque.
    • Channel Classics.
  • Jean Sibelius

    Lemminkainen's Return (Lemminkainen Suite, Op 22)

    Orchestra: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.
    • Sibelius Encore!: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra/Jarvi.
    • BIS.
    • 10.
  • Jean‐Philippe Rameau

    Les Indes Galantes, RCT 44, New Entrance "Les Sauvages" Scene 6: Chaconne (Versi

    • Le Violon de Rameau.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 132.
  • Franz Schubert

    Piano Sonata in A major, D 959 (4th mvt)

    Performer: Paul Lewis.
    • Schubert, The Late Piano sonatas D.784,958, 959 960.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • 4.
  • Nigel Hess

    Congestion Charge (New London Pictures)

    Ensemble: RAF Central Band. Conductor: Nigel Hess.
    • Hess: New London Pictures: Royal Air Force Central Band/Hess.
    • Chandos.
    • 3.
  • Philip Glass

    Violin Concerto no.1 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Gidon Kremer. Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Christoph von Dohnányi.
    • 111 Years Of Deutsche Grammophon The Collector's Edition Vol.2.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 2.
  • Caroline Shaw

    And the swallow

    Choir: VOCES8.
    • Nightfall.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 8.
  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony No 59 in A major, 'Fire' (3rd & 4th mvts)

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Conductor: Frans Brüggen.
    • Sturm und Drang Symphonies.
    • Philips.
    • 15-16.
  • Strayhorn

    Take The A Train

    • After All.
    • Documents.
    • 7.
  • George Gershwin

    An American in Paris - Main Title

    Orchestra: John Wilson Orchestra. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • Warner Classics.
  • Percy Grainger

    Handel in the Strand

    Ensemble: Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble.
    • The Grainger Edition, Vol. 13 - Works for Chamber Ensemble 1.
    • Chandos.
    • 6.
  • Josef Strauss

    Velocipede Polka, Op.259

    Orchestra: Vienna Johann Strauss Orchestra. Conductor: Alfred Eschwé.
    • Wiener Johann Strauss Orchestra.
  • Henryk Górecki

    Totus Tuus

    Choir: The Sixteen. Director: Harry Christophers.
    • Universal.
  • Edvard Grieg

    Lyric Pieces, Book IV, Op. 47: No. 3, Melodi

    • Grieg: Lyric Pieces, Volume 2.
    • Chandos Records Ltd.
    • 7.
  • Edvard Grieg

    Lyric Pieces, Book VI, Op. 57: No. 3, Illusjon

    • Grieg: Lyric Pieces, Volume 2.
    • Chandos Records Ltd.
    • 13.
  • Gioachino Rossini

    The Barber of Seville (Overture)

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Academy of Santa Cecilia, Rome. Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano.
    • Rossini: opera arie e sinfonie.
    • Naive.
    • 3.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Violin Sonata no.5 in F major, Op.24 'Spring' (1st mvt)

    Performer: Alina Ibragimova. Performer: Cédric Tiberghien.
    • Wigmore Hall Live.
  • Frank Bridge

    Summer

    Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Charles Groves.
    • EMI.
  • Charlotte Bray

    Agnus Dei (a reflection on Byrd's Agnus Dei from the Mass for 5 voices)

    Choir: ORA. Conductor: Suzi Digby.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
  • Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

    Symphony in D major Wq.183`1

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Conductor: Rebecca Miller.
    • SIGNUM.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    The Assault on Beautiful Gorky (The Unforgettable Year 1919 - Suite Op. 89a)

    Performer: Dmitri Alexeev. Conductor: Jerzy Maksymiuk. Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra.
    • Shostakovich: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 etc.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 115.

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