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Welcome in the evening with calming Christmas music.

Niall Breslin brings you a calming selection of well-known seasonal favourites and some surprises.

Three hours of calming classical music designed to light up the winter darkness, and 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 seasonal blend of radiant music. Plus, a chance to Press Pause, and some Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel, all about the benefits of going for a long walk after a big meal.

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

22 days left to listen

3 hours

Last on

Last Thursday17:00
BBC Radio 3 Unwind

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Happy Christmas Harmonies

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31/12/2025

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Music Played

  • Malcolm Arnold

    The Holly and the Ivy

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Barry Wordsworth.

  • Trad.

    Coventry Carol

    Music Arranger: Tim Allhoff. Performer: Anastasia Kobekina. Performer: Jean-Sélim Abdelmoula.
    • Sony Classical.

  • Joni Mitchell

    River (It's Coming on Christmas) [Arr. Lawson for Harp]

    • Decca Music Group Ltd..

  • Howard Goodall

    The Seasons - Suite for Strings and Cello, Winter: Snow carpet

    • Warner Classics.

  • Kim Porter

    Christmas Eve

    Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Owain Park.

  • Patrick Hamilton

    XII

    • Masterworks.

  • Martin Stadtfeld

    Krippelied "Es wird scho glei dumpa"

    • Sony Classical/Sony Music.

  • Trad.

    The Wexford Carol

    Conductor: Christopher Warren‐Green. Orchestra: London Chamber Orchestra.
    • Sony Classical.

  • John Rutter

    Carol of the Magi (Arr. for Brass Band by Luc Vertommen)

    Composer: Luc Vertommen.
    • Naxos Music UK Ltd.

  • Debbie Wiseman

    Summer's Long Gone (Orchestral Suite 1)

    • Silva Screen Records.

  • Alphonse Hasselmans

    Conte de Noël, Op. 33

    • Sony Classical/Sony Music.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Denn Er hat Seinen Engeln befohlen über dir

    • Santec Music.

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Oratorio de Noel

    • Richard Goldsworthy.

  • Thomas Hewitt Jones

    Lullay, my Liking

    Performer: Josh Cooter. Ensemble: Orazio Vecchi. Conductor: Suzi Digby.
    • harmonia mundi.

  • Franz Xaver Gruber

    Silent Night (Arr. for Violin, Cello & Orchestra)

    Music Arranger: Ēriks Ešenvalds.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..

  • Franz Xaver Gruber

    Silent Night (Arr. Aragón)

    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).

  • Ryuichi Sakamoto

    Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence

    • Delta Saxophone Quartet.

  • Elfrida Andrée

    Christmas Spirit

    Conductor: Jessica Cottis. Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields.
    • Popsical Music Group.

  • Rachel Portman

    Letter Box

    • Sony Music Entertainment UK Ltd.

  • Hugh Martin

    Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Arr. Simon for Piano)

    Composer: Ralph Blane.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..

  • Francesco Manfredini

    Concerto Grosso in C Major Op.3`12 'per il santissimo natale' (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Concerto Copenhagen. Conductor: Lars Ulrik Mortensen.
    • Naxos.

  • Bo Holten

    First Snow (from First Snow)

    Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Bo Holten.
    • DACAPO.

  • Trad.

    The First Nowell (Arr. R. Hayward for Guitar)

    • Naxos.

  • Steven Price

    And Now Snow (From 'The Aeronauts' Soundtrack)

    • Decca (UMO) (Classics).

  • Elliott Jack Sansom

    Winter Light (Christmas Morning Version)

    • Decca (UMO) (Classics).

  • Tim Garland

    Let The Light In This Christmas 4

    • Audio Network.

  • Michael Praetorius

    Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming

    • Apple Inc..

  • Peter Warlock

    Lullaby my Jesus

    Music Arranger: Andrew Carter. Choir: Polyphony. Conductor: Stephen Layton.
    • Hyperion.

  • Svante Henryson

    Melting Ice

    • ECM Records.

  • Eunike Tanzil

    A Quiet Light

    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).

  • Dylan Charbeneau

    The Holly And The Ivy

    • Score a Score.

  • Pyotr Tchaikovsky

    The Snow Maiden Op.12 (Prologue: Introduction)

    Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Alpesh Chauhan.
    • Chandos.

  • Trad.

    The Angel Gabriel (Arr. for Vocal Ensemble by Fraser Wilson)

    • VOCES8 Records.

  • Gustav Holst

    In the Bleak Midwinter, H.73, No.1 (Arr. for Violin & Ensemble by Max Knoth) (In

    • Sony Classical/Sony Music.

  • Harry Simeone

    Little Drummer Boy

    Composer: Henry Onorati. Composer: Katherine Davis.
    • Aragosta Piano.

  • Stephan Moccio

    The Sound of Snow

    • Decca (UMO) (Classics).

  • Anon.

    O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

    • This Is the Christ.
    • Covenant Communications, Inc..
    • 3.

  • Henri Büsser

    Le sommeil de l'enfant Jésus, Op. 3

    • Les Corps Glorieux: Music for Organ, Harp & Cello.
    • MSR Classics.
    • 1.

  • Pyotr Tchaikovsky

    The Nutcracker Suite: Pas De Deux

    • Bruton Classical Series.

  • Alexis Ffrench

    Footprints in the Snow

    • Sony Classical.

  • Lucy Walker

    The Christmas Life: I. The Christmas Life

    Composer: Wendy Cope. Conductor: Andrew Earis. Ensemble: St Martin’s Voices.
    • Resonus Classics.

  • Takashi Yoshimatsu

    White Landscapes, Op. 47a: III. Disappearance of Snow. Largo

    • Chandos.

  • Kristina Arakelyan

    Christmas Offering: VI. Interlude

    • Signum Records.

  • Henry John Gauntlett

    Once in Royal David's City (Arr. Gjeilo for Piano)

    • Decca Music Group Ltd..

  • Jake Runestad

    Sleep, Little Baby, Sleep

    Conductor: Paul Gameson. Ensemble: The Ebor Singers.
    • Resonus Classics.

  • Ernst Anschütz

    O Christmas Tree

    • naïve, a label of Believe Group.

Broadcasts

  • Sat 20 Dec 202517:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Tue 23 Dec 202517:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Last Thursday17:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind