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Ease your cares with a soothing soundtrack

Niall Breslin brings you calming classical music to help you release the stresses of the day, recharge and prepare to rest.

Three hours of calming classical music to help you release the stresses of the day, recharge and prepare to rest - presented by Irish musician and mindfulness expert Niall Breslin.

This episode features a rich blend of music from the likes of Eric Whitacre, Brahms and Kara-Lis Coverdale. Plus, a chance to Press Pause with meditation teacher Michael James Wong, and some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel on the potential benefits of playing video games.

To listen on most smart speakers just ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Wind Down.

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3 hours

Last on

Wednesday17:00
BBC Radio 3 Unwind

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Music Played

  • Frederick Delius

    Berceuse (Orchestral suite No 1)

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: John Andrews.
    • EMF Endeavours.

  • Agathe Backer-Grøndahl

    Sommervise (5 Fantasy pieces, Op 45 No 3)

    Performer: Benjamin Engeli.
    • Prospero Classical.

  • Eric Whitacre

    Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

    Ensemble: VOCES8.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..

  • John Lenehan

    Intent to Dream

    Performer: John Lenehan.
    • Platoon.

  • Dobrinka Tabakova

    Dawn (Sun Triptych, No 1)

    Performer: Roman Mints. Performer: Kristina Blaumane. Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Dobrinka Tabakova.
    • ECM New Series.

  • Francis Poulenc

    Improvisation No 7 in C major (10 Improvisations)

    Performer: Paul Berkowitz.
    • Meridian Records.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Sleepers awake, arr. Bantock

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Leonard Slatkin.
    • Chandos.

  • Edward Elgar

    String Quartet, Op 83 (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Kleio Quartet.

  • Jordane Tumarinson

    Sans regrets

    Performer: Jordane Tumarinson.
    • Jorson Records.

  • Ruth Gipps

    Symphony No 5, Op 64 (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
    • Chandos Records Limited.

  • Claude Debussy

    Arabesque No 1

    Performer: Tiffany Poon.
    • Pentatone.

  • Luise Adolpha Le Beau

    Cello sonata in D major, Op 17 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Raphaela Gromes. Performer: Julian Riem.
    • Sony Classical/Sony Music.

  • Justus Rümenapp

    Forgotten Shore

    Performer: Justus Rümenapp.
    • Justus Rümenapp.

  • Alessandro Marcello

    Adagio from Oboe concerto in D minor

    Ensemble: Gli Incogniti. Director: Amandine Beyer.
    • harmonia mundi.

  • Alexander Litvinovsky

    La foret et la riviere (Le grand cahier suite)

    Orchestra: Metamorphose String Orchestra. Conductor: Pavel Lyubomudrov.
    • Halidon.

  • Errollyn Wallen

    Tender (Piano concerto, 3rd mvt)

    Performer: Rebeca Omordia. Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: John Andrews.
    • Resonus Classics.

  • Jeremy Dibble

    Dormi, Jesu! (A Lullaby)

    Singer: Alexandra Kidgell. Conductor: Harry Christophers. Ensemble: The Sixteen.
    • CORO.

  • Ólafur Arnalds

    We Contain Multitudes - Yiruma piano rework

    Performer: Yiruma. Performer: Ólafur Arnalds.
    • Mercury Classics.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Symphony No 5 (3rd mvt - Romanza)

    Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Martyn Brabbins.

  • Scott Joplin

    Solace - A Mexican serenade

    Ensemble: Brodsky Quartet.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Robert Johnson

    Une piece sans titre

    Performer: Anders Miolin. Performer: Ji Wei.
    • Prima Classic.

  • Zoe Dixon

    Be More Present

    Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Clarinet sonata No 1 in F minor, Op 120 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Anthony McGill. Performer: Gloria Chien.
    • Cedille.

  • Erland Cooper

    Birds of Paradise

    Performer: Freya Goldmark. Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Prelude in E minor Op 28, No 4

    Performer: Alexander Gadjiev.

  • Andrea Casarrubios

    Lullaby (Piano quintet, 2nd mvt)

    Performer: Andrea Casarrubios. Ensemble: Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
    • Odradek Records.

  • Kara‐Lis Coverdale

    Daze

    Performer: Kara‐Lis Coverdale.
    • Smalltown Supersound.

  • Eric Coates

    Spring time in Angus - Elizabeth of Glamis (The Three Elizabeths, No 2)

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • Chandos.

  • Yasuharu Takanashi

    Always Watching

    Performer: Niklas Liepe. Music Arranger: Jan-Peter Klöpfel. Ensemble: Pop-Up. Orchestra: NDR Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Michael England.
    • Masterworks/Sony Music.

  • Leon Wolf

    Noctilucent

    Composer: Robin Kallenberger. Performer: Louis Philippson.
    • Masterworks/Sony Music.

  • Snorri Hallgrímsson

    From a Convenient Grass

    Orchestra: Budapest Art Orchestra. Conductor: Péter Pejtsik.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).

  • Maurice Ravel

    Piano concerto in G major (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Anna Fedorova. Orchestra: Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León. Conductor: Pablo González.
    • Channel Classics.

  • Laurie Spiegel

    The Unquestioned Answer

    Performer: Laurie Spiegel.
    • Unseen Worlds.

  • Sarah Davachi

    Rushes Recede

    Performer: Sarah Davachi.
    • Late Music.

  • Joep Beving

    Midwayer (redux)

    Performer: Joep Beving.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).

  • Kevin Day

    Cello sonata (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Thomas Mesa. Performer: Michelle Cann.
    • Navona Records.

Broadcasts

  • Tue 28 Oct 202517:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Sat 22 Nov 202517:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Wednesday17:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind