Classic FM playlist, 20 May 2026

Last Updated on May 25, 2026

By the numbers

227 pieces aired on Classic FM on 20 May 2026, captured live as each track changed.

Most-played composers

Plays by presenter

Classic FM Playlist: 20 May 2026

The Classic FM playlist for 20 May 2026 presented a broad selection of classical music, totalling 227 pieces throughout the day. The programming featured a mix of well-known compositions and some lesser-heard works, spanning various eras from Baroque to contemporary. The day began with Frederic Chopin’s ‘Nocturne in C# minor Opus Posth.’, followed by Luigi Boccherini’s ‘Cello Concerto No.4 in C major (2)’ and Alberto Giurioli’s ‘Tutto e Bellissimo’.

Johann Sebastian Bach was the most-played composer with nine pieces, including ‘Sheep may Safely Graze” appearing multiple times. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven each had eight works featured, highlighting their enduring presence in classical radio programming. Other frequently played composers included Felix Mendelssohn with seven pieces and Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky with six. The playlist demonstrated a consistent flow between different styles, ensuring variety for listeners.

The day concluded with a diverse trio of pieces: Bach’s ‘Sheep may Safely Graze”, Karl Jenkins’ ‘The Armed Man – Benedictus’, and Maurice Ravel’s ‘Piano Concerto in G major (2)’. This blend of familiar and more modern works provided a fitting end to the day’s broadcast, reflecting the overall character of the playlist.

The full playlist

1. Nocturne in C# minor Opus Posth., Frederic Chopin
2. Cello Concerto No.4 in C major (2), Luigi Boccherini
3. Tutto e Bellissimo, Alberto Giurioli
4. Le roi s'amuse – Pavane, Leo Delibes
5. Clarinet Quintet in A major (2), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
6. Ave Maria D.839, Franz Schubert
7. Edgar – Prelude to Act 1, Giacomo Puccini
8. Symphony No.6 in B minor Opus 74 (4), Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
9. Agua e Vinho, Egberto Gismonti
10. Folk Songs of the Four Seasons (3), Ralph Vaughan Williams
11. Symphony No.9 in E minor Opus 95 (2), Antonin Dvorak
12. The Piano – The Heart Asks Pleasure First, Michael Nyman
13. 2 Aquarelles (1), Frederick Delius
14. By the Beautiful Blue Danube Opus 314, Johann Strauss (II)
15. Concerto in D minor for 2 Violins (2), Johann Sebastian Bach
16. Piano Concerto No.5 in Eb major Opus 73 (2), Ludwig van Beethoven
17. Carmen – Act III En'tracte, Georges Bizet
18. Oboe Concerto in D minor (2), Alessandro Marcello
19. Adoration, Florence Price
20. Clarinet Concerto in A major (2), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
21. Pie Jesu, John Brunning
22. Ladies in Lavender – Main Theme, Nigel Hess
23. Serenade., William Grant Still
24. The Silken Ladder – Overture, Gioachino Rossini
25. Pavane opus 50, Gabriel Faure
26. A Midsummer Night's Dream – Nocturne, Felix Mendelssohn
27. Melodie Opus 42 No.3, Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
28. Songs of the Auvergne – Bailero, Joseph Canteloube
29. Piano Concerto in A minor Opus 16 (1), Edvard Grieg
30. E lucevan le stelle', Giacomo Puccini
31. The Ashokan Farewell, Jay Ungar
32. Variations on a theme of Haydn – Theme, Johannes Brahms
33. Karelia Suite Opus 11 (1), Jean Sibelius
34. Piano Sonata No.14 in C# minor Opus 27 (1), Ludwig van Beethoven
35. Guitar Concerto in D major RV.93 (2), Antonio Vivaldi
36. Serenade Opus 25 (2), Arthur Foote
37. The Lord of the Rings – Breaking of the Fellowship, Howard Shore
38. The Land of the Mountain & the Flood, Hamish MacCunn
39. The Sound Of Silence, Paul Simon
40. Adagio for Strings, Samuel Barber
41. Piano Concerto in D minor Opus 73 (2), Jacob Rosenhain
42. The Banks of Green Willow, George Butterworth
43. Simple Gifts', Aaron Copland
44. Violin Concerto No.1 in G minor Opus 26 (2), Max Bruch
45. A Midsummer Night's Dream – Intermezzo, Felix Mendelssohn
46. Prelude & Fugue No.1 in C major BWV.846 (1), Johann Sebastian Bach
47. Trumpet Concerto in Eb major Hob.VIIe:1 (2), Joseph Haydn
48. Piano Concerto No.2 in F minor Opus 21 (2), Frederic Chopin
49. String Quartet No.2 in D major (3), Alexander Borodin
50. A Gaelic Blessing, John Rutter
51. La Fille Mal Gardee – Clog Dance, Ferdinand Herold
52. Danse Profane, Claude Debussy
53. The Planets Opus 32 (2), Gustav Holst
54. Clarinet Concerto No.1 in C minor Opus 26 (2), Louis Spohr
55. Spiegel im Spiegel, Arvo Part
56. The Godfather – Love Theme, Nino Rota
57. Meditation, Florence Price
58. Florida Suite (2), Frederick Delius
59. I Giorni, Ludovico Einaudi
60. 49th Parallel – Prelude, Ralph Vaughan Williams
61. Symphony No.3 in F major Opus 90 (3), Johannes Brahms
62. Gymnopedie No.3, Erik Satie
63. Sheep may Safely Graze', Johann Sebastian Bach
64. Impromptu in Gb major D.899 No.3 Opus 90, Franz Schubert
65. Hook – Flight to Neverland, John Williams
66. Carnival of the Animals (13), Camille Saint-Saens
67. Carmen – Act III En'tracte, Georges Bizet
68. Consolation No.3, Franz Liszt
69. Bagatelle No.25 in A minor WoO.59, Ludwig van Beethoven
70. Song to the Moon, Antonin Dvorak
71. Howl's Moving Castle – Merry-Go-Round of Life, Joe Hisaishi
72. Music for the Royal Fireworks (2), George Frideric Handel
73. Piano Sonata No.16 in C major (1), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
74. Othello Opus 79 – Children's Intermezzo, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
75. Swan Lake – Scene (Act II), Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
76. Polonaise Brillante No.1 in D major Opus 4, Henryk Wieniawski
77. Adagio of Spartacus & Phrygia, Aram Khachaturian
78. St.Paul's Suite Opus 29 No.2 (4), Gustav Holst
79. Thais – meditation, Jules Massenet
80. Petite Suite (1), Claude Debussy
81. Balcony Scene (Romeo + Juliet), Craig Armstrong
82. Pavane opus 50, Gabriel Faure
83. The Lark Ascending, Ralph Vaughan Williams
84. Symphony No.6 in F major Opus 68 (1), Ludwig van Beethoven
85. Jerusalem, Hubert Parry
86. Piano Concerto No.21 in C major (2), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
87. Violin Concerto in E minor Opus 64 (1), Felix Mendelssohn
88. Trumpet Concerto in Eb major Hob.VIIe:1 (1), Joseph Haydn
89. Holberg Suite Opus 40 (1), Edvard Grieg
90. Star Wars – Main Theme, John Williams
91. Largo al factotum', Gioachino Rossini
92. Die Fledermaus – Overture, Johann Strauss (II)
93. Elizabethan Serenade, Ronald Binge
94. Waltz in C# minor Opus 64 No.2, Frederic Chopin
95. Legend No.6 in C# minor Opus 59, Antonin Dvorak
96. Adagio in G minor, Tomaso Albinoni
97. Masquerade Suite (1), Aram Khachaturian
98. Zemire et Azor – Pantomime, Andre Gretry
99. Finlandia Opus 26, Jean Sibelius
100. How To Train Your Dragon – Romantic Flight, John Powell
101. Brandenburg Concerto No.6 in Bb major (3), Johann Sebastian Bach
102. Vltava, Bedrich Smetana
103. Hymne a l'amour, Marguerite Monnot
104. Symphony No.5 in E minor Opus 64 (3), Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
105. Horn Concerto No.1 in D major (1), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
106. Symphony No.4 'Autochthonous' (3), William Grant Still
107. Suite Bergamasque (3), Claude Debussy
108. Ave Maria., Giulio Caccini
109. The Mastersingers of Nuremberg – Prelude, Richard Wagner
110. Carmen – Aragonaise, Georges Bizet
111. Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, George Frideric Handel
112. Sylvia – Pizzicati, Leo Delibes
113. Cello Concerto No.1 in C major (3), Joseph Haydn
114. Cavatina, Stanley Myers
115. Requiem – Pie Jesu…, John Rutter
116. Symphony No.8 in B minor D.759 (1), Franz Schubert
117. Bring Him Home, Claude-Michel Schonberg
118. Songs without word in C Opus 67 No.4, Felix Mendelssohn
119. Libiamo ne'lieti calici', Giuseppe Verdi
120. Symphony No.1 in C major Opus 21 (3), Ludwig van Beethoven
121. Pomp & Circumstance March No.1 in D major Opus 39, Edward Elgar
122. Concerto in G major for 2 Oboes Opus 9 No.6 (3), Tomaso Albinoni
123. Homeward Bound, Marta Keen Thompson
124. Trumpet Voluntary Opus 6 No.5, John Stanley
125. The Planets Opus 32 (4), Gustav Holst
126. Elegia, Karl Jenkins
127. Mazurka in Bb major Opus 7 No.1, Frederic Chopin
128. Harry Potter – Harry's Wondrous World, John Williams
129. Romeo & Juliet – Dance of the Knights, Sergei Prokofiev
130. Wachet auf' (4), Johann Sebastian Bach
131. Farewell to Stromness, Peter Maxwell Davies
132. Espada – Suite (4), Jules Massenet
133. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Opus 43 (18), Sergei Rachmaninov
134. Symphony No.1 in Bb major (1), William Boyce
135. The Flying Dutchman – Overture, Richard Wagner
136. Barcarolle, Jacques Offenbach
137. Symphony No.41 in C major (3), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
138. The Mountain King (4), Hugo Alfven
139. Canon in D major, Johann Pachelbel
140. Simple Gifts', Aaron Copland
141. Pirates of the Caribbean – Main Theme, Klaus Badelt
142. Concerto in D major TWV 44:2 (4), Georg-Philipp Telemann
143. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, Ryuichi Sakamoto
144. Danzas espanolas (Spanish Dances) Opus 37 (5), Enrique Granados
145. Variations on an Original Theme Opus 36 (14), Edward Elgar
146. Anvil Chorus, Giuseppe Verdi
147. Concerto in C major for 2 Oboes Opus 9 No.9 (3), Tomaso Albinoni
148. Symphony No.3 in A minor Opus 56 (4), Felix Mendelssohn
149. Jazz Suite No.2 (6), Dmitri Shostakovich
150. E lucevan le stelle', Giacomo Puccini
151. Violin Concerto No.1 in G minor Opus 26 (3), Max Bruch
152. Faust – Les Troyennes, Charles Gounod
153. Piano Sonata No.8 in C minor Opus 13 (2), Ludwig van Beethoven
154. Etude Opus 76 No.2, Jean Sibelius
155. Atonement – Main Theme, Dario Marianelli
156. Brandenburg Concerto No.3 in G major (1), Johann Sebastian Bach
157. Piano Sonata No.9 in F minor (1), Baldassare Galuppi
158. In the Steppes of Central Asia, Alexander Borodin
159. Carmen – Habanera, Georges Bizet
160. Trojan March, Hector Berlioz
161. Swan Lake – Waltz, Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
162. Symphony No.100 in G major (2), Joseph Haydn
163. Pur ti miro', Claudio Monteverdi
164. Sylvia – Les Chasseresses (Fanfare), Leo Delibes
165. Les Beautes du Diable, Francois Dompierre
166. Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair, Stephen Foster
167. Gymnopedie No.1, Erik Satie
168. Captain Corelli's Mandolin – Pelagia's Song, Stephen Warbeck
169. Marietta's Lied, Erich Wolfgang Korngold
170. Music for the Royal Fireworks (4), George Frideric Handel
171. 4 Songs Opus 82 No.1, Antonin Dvorak
172. Chanson de matin Opus 15 No.2, Edward Elgar
173. Trumpet Tune, Jeremiah Clarke/Henry Purcell
174. A Midsummer Night's Dream – Scherzo, Felix Mendelssohn
175. Violin Concerto No.1 in C major Opus 5 (1), Chevalier de Saint-Georges
176. Va pensiero', Giuseppe Verdi
177. You Only Live Twice – Main Theme, John Barry
178. Karelia Suite Opus 11 (1), Jean Sibelius
179. Hours of the Day – Andante Tranquillo, Lars-Erik Larsson
180. Jurassic Park – Theme, John Williams
181. Symphony No.2 in E minor Opus 27 (3), Sergei Rachmaninov
182. Nefeli, Ludovico Einaudi
183. Guitar Concerto in D major RV.93 (2), Antonio Vivaldi
184. Ghost – Unchained Melody, Alex North / Maurice Jarre
185. Ballet Suite No.3 (4), Dmitri Shostakovich
186. Carnival of the Animals (7), Camille Saint-Saens
187. O Waly Waly', John Rutter
188. Goldberg Variations – Aria, Johann Sebastian Bach
189. Peer Gynt Suite No.1 (1), Edvard Grieg
190. Balade, Richard Harvey
191. Romance No.2 in F major Opus 50, Ludwig van Beethoven
192. Gocce di notte, Alberto Giurioli
193. A Midsummer Night's Dream – Nocturne, Felix Mendelssohn
194. Lullaby Chante No.1, Paul Coles
195. Serenade for Strings in C major Opus 48 (2), Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
196. Ave Verum Corpus K.618, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
197. Crisantemi, Giacomo Puccini
198. Serenade for Strings Opus 22 (2), Antonin Dvorak
199. Concierto de Aranjuez (2), Joaquin Rodrigo
200. Ghost – Main Theme, Maurice Jarre
201. Penelopeia, Olivia Belli
202. Minuet in G WoO.10 No.2, Ludwig van Beethoven
203. Symphony No.5 in Bb major D.485 (2), Franz Schubert
204. Cello Suite No.1 in G major (1), Johann Sebastian Bach
205. The Sound Of Silence, Paul Simon
206. Little Serenade, Ernest Tomlinson
207. Symphony No.3 in G minor Opus 36 (2), Louise Farrenc
208. Adagio for Strings, Samuel Barber
209. Christine’s Theme, Patrick Hamilton
210. Organ Concerto in F major HWV.293 (4), George Frideric Handel
211. Piano Concerto No.24 in C minor (2), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
212. String Quintet in E major Opus 13 No.5 – Minuet, Luigi Boccherini
213. Liebestraum No.3, Franz Liszt
214. Symphony No.1 in C minor Opus 68 (2), Johannes Brahms
215. Good Morning, Alexis Ffrench
216. Ancient Airs & Dances – Suite No.3 (1), Ottorino Respighi
217. Violin Concerto in F major (2), Thomas Linley
218. Slavonic Dance in E minor Opus 72 No.2, Antonin Dvorak
219. Nocturne in Eb major Opus 9 No.2, Frederic Chopin
220. Ballet Suite No.1 (3), Dmitri Shostakovich
221. Violin Concerto in G minor Opus 80 (2), Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
222. Preludes Book 1 (8), Claude Debussy
223. The Lord is my Shepherd., John Rutter
224. The Moon, William Lloyd Webber
225. Sheep may Safely Graze', Johann Sebastian Bach
226. The Armed Man – Benedictus, Karl Jenkins
227. Piano Concerto in G major (2), Maurice Ravel