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The very best of classical music

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

Ian Skelly plays the best in classical music, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with 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.

1100 Playlist reveal – a sequence of music suggested by you in response to our starter today.

1130 Slow Moment – time to take a break for a moment's musical reflection.

1230 Album of the Week

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Wed 22 May 2024 09:30

Music Played

  • Hector Berlioz

    Symphonie fantastique (A Ball)

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • EMI.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Ave verum corpus K.618

    Choir: The Sixteen. Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Mozart: Vespers and Faure: Requiem.
    • Coro.
    • 1.
  • Edward Elgar

    Symphony No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Op. 63: III. Rondo (Presto)

    Orchestra: Hallé. Conductor: Sir Mark Elder.
    • Elgar: Symphonies No. 1 & No. 2.
    • Halle Concerts Society.
    • 7.
  • James M. Stephenson

    Colors (Green)

    Performer: John Bruce Yeh. Performer: Alex Klein. Ensemble: Chicago Pro Musica.
    • Liquid Melancholy: Clarinet Music of James M Stephenson.
    • Cedille.
    • 203.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Sinfonia (Cantata No 42, 'Am Abend aber desselbigen Sabbats')

    Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Orchestra: English Baroque Soloists.
    • Bach Cantatas: Gardiner.
    • SDG.
    • 15.
  • Édouard Lalo

    Guitare, Op.28

    Orchestrator: Gabriel Pierné. Performer: Philippe Graffin. Orchestra: Ulster Orchestra. Conductor: Thierry Fischer.
    • Rare French works for violin & orchestra.
    • Hyperion.
  • Frédéric Chopin

    Waltz in C sharp minor (3 Waltzes Op.64)

    Performer: Ingrid Fliter.
    • Chopin: Piano Sonata No.3 etc: Ingrid Fliter.
    • EMI.
    • 11.
  • Percy Grainger

    The Lads of Wamphray

    Ensemble: Royal Northern College of Music Wind Orchestra. Conductor: Clark Rundell.
    • Grainger: Works for Wind Orchestra vol. 4: Reynish/Rundell.
    • Chandos.
    • 4.
  • John Ireland

    In a May Morning (Sarnia)

    Orchestrator: Graham Parlett. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Swan. Conductor: David Curtis.
    • Ireland: Music for String Orchestra.
    • Naxos.
    • 301.
  • Johann Friedrich Fasch

    Trumpet Concerto in D major

    Performer: Alison Balsom. Orchestra: Academy of Ancient Music.
    • Jubilo.
    • WARNER.
    • 1.
  • George Frideric Handel

    As steals the morn (L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato)

    Singer: Mary Bevan. Singer: Allan Clayton. Orchestra: Orchestra of Classical Opera. Conductor: Ian Page.
    • 'Where're You Walk' - Aria's for Handel's Favourite Tenor.
    • Signum.
    • 10.
  • Alexander Borodin

    In the Steppes of Central Asia

    Orchestra: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.
    • Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture, Rimsky-Korsakov, Borodin: Neeme Jarvi.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 3.
  • Robert Schumann

    Introduction and Allegro, Op.134

    Performer: Jan Lisiecki. Orchestra: Santa Cecilia Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
  • Philip Glass

    Truman Sleeps (The Truman Show)

    Performer: Jess Gillam. Ensemble: Jess Gillam Ensemble.
    • Decca.
  • Gioachino Rossini

    La Cenerentola (Overture)

    Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Conductor: Claudio Abbado.
    • Rossini: Overtures: Chamber Orchestra of Europe/Abbado.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 5.
  • Elmer Bernstein

    To kill a mockingbird - music for the film: Main Title

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Elmer Bernstein.
    • Varese Sarabande.
  • Joseph Canteloube

    Chants d'Auvergne: Set 4 No. 6; Lou Coucut [Le coucou]

    Singer: Mari Eriksmoen. Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
    • Chandos.
  • Louis Moreau Gottschalk

    Le banjo

    Performer: Cécile Licad.
    • Gottschalk: Piano Music.
    • Naxos.
    • 1.
  • Malcolm Arnold

    The Padstow Lifeboat

    Ensemble: Grimethorpe Colliery Band. Conductor: Malcolm Arnold.
    • Arnold on Brass.
    • Conifer.
    • 24.
  • Eric Coates

    London Suite: III. Knightsbridge (March)

    Orchestra: The New London Orchestra. Conductor: Ronald Corp.
    • British Light Music Classics 2: New London Orchestra/Corp.
    • Hyperion.
  • Antonín Dvořák

    Piano Trio no.1 in B flat major Op.21 (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Tempest Trio.
    • Dvořák: Piano Trios, Vol. 2 – Nos. 1 & 2.
    • Naxos.
    • 103.
  • Max Richter

    Journey [CP1919]

    Orchestra: Aurora Orchestra. Conductor: Nicholas Collon.
    • Music of the Spheres.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 5.
  • Gerald Finzi

    God is gone up (3 Anthems Op.27)

    Choir: The Choir Of Trinity College, Cambridge. Ensemble: Trinity Brass Ensemble. Performer: Asher Oliver. Conductor: Stephen Layton.
    • HYPERION.
  • Franz Schubert

    Ständchen (Schwanengesang)

    Music Arranger: Franz Liszt. Performer: Murray Perahia.
    • Sony.
  • Benjamin Britten

    The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, Op.34 (Variations and fugue on a theme of Purcell)

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • EMI.
  • Evelyn Glennie

    Light in darkness for marimba

    Performer: Evelyn Glennie.
    • RCA Victor.
  • Gustav Holst

    Jupiter from The Planets, Op 32

    Music Arranger: Thomas Trotter.
    • A Celebration.
    • Regent Records.
  • Germaine Tailleferre

    Pastorale

    Performer: Emily Beynon. Performer: Andrew West.
    • HYPERION.
  • Joseph Haydn

    String Quartet in B flat major, Op.71`1 (4th mvt)

    Ensemble: Maxwell String Quartet.
    • LINN.
  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Symphony no.3 in A minor 'Scottish' (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Swedish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Thomas Dausgaard.
    • Mendelssohn: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3.
    • BIS.
    • 204.

Broadcast

  • Wed 22 May 2024 09:30

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