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Forget the cares of the day with a soothing classical playlist

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 Mahler, Olivia Belli and Kris Bowers. Plus, a chance to Press Pause with meditation teacher Maude Hirst, and some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel on what happens to us when we watch the light fade, and how it helps us to wind down.

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

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3 hours

On radio

Saturday17:00
BBC Radio 3 Unwind

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Music Played

  • Edward Elgar

    Chanson de matin, Op 15 No 2

    Performer: Geneviève Laurenceau. Performer: Jean-Frédéric Neuburger.
    • An English Violin.
    • NoMadMusic.
    • 4.

  • Inocente Carreño

    Pequena cancion

    Performer: Kristhyan Benitez.
    • Latin American Classics, Vol. 2.
    • Steinway and Sons.
    • 108.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    String trio in C minor, Op 9 No 3 (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Trio Sypniewski.
    • Beethoven: String Trio in C Minor, Op. 9 No. 3: II. Adagio con espressione.
    • Aparté.
    • 1.

  • Ottorino Respighi

    La nascita di Venere (Trittico Botticelliano, No 3)

    Orchestra: Bamberg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Riccardo Frizza.
    • Italian Perspectives.
    • Pentatone.
    • 108.

  • Ola Gjeilo

    Ubi Caritas

    Choir: Pembroke College Chapel Choir. Conductor: Anna Lapwood.
    • Ubi Caritas (Duruflé) & Ubi Caritas (Gjeilo).
    • Sony Classical.
    • 2.

  • Luke Faulkner

    Dawn

    Performer: Emma Arizza. Performer: Martha Mitu. Performer: Caleb Sibley. Performer: Tom Huet. Performer: Luke Faulkner.
    • Dawn.
    • Curly Records.
    • 1.

  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony No 7 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Ilan Volkov.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Waltz in C sharp minor, Op 64 No 2

    Performer: Weiyin Chen.
    • Chopin: Waltz in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 64 No. 2: Tempo giusto.
    • Claves Records.
    • 1.

  • Rosey Chan

    Jasmine Flower

    Performer: Rosey Chan.
    • Jasmine Flower.
    • Platoon.
    • 1.

  • Cecil Armstrong Gibbs

    Windflower (A Spring Garland, Op 84 No 4)

    Ensemble: Guildhall String Ensemble. Conductor: Robert Salter.
    • Cecil Armstrong Gibbs: Dale and Fell & Other Chamber Music.
    • Hyperion.
    • 11.

  • Martin Martyn

    vagga

    • si ki.

  • Peteris Vasks

    The Fruit of Silence (Arr. for Accordion, Vibraphone and String Orchestra)

    Performer: Ksenija Sidorova. Music Arranger: George Morton. Orchestra: Estonian Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Paavo Järvi.
    • Prophecy.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 6.

  • Giacomo Puccini

    E lucevan le stelle (Tosca)

    Music Arranger: Wolfgang Renz. Performer: Felix Klieser. Orchestra: I Solisti di Pavia.
    • Senza Parole.
    • Berlin Classics.

  • Camille Thomas

    Reflection No 2

    Composer: Julien Brocal. Performer: Camille Thomas. Performer: Julien Brocal.
    • RENDEZ-VOUS - CHIMERA.
    • Universal Music Distribution France.
    • 2.

  • Olivia Belli

    Concerto for piano & string orchestra, 'Daimon' (3rd mvt: The Return)

    Performer: Olivia Belli. Orchestra: Deutsches Kammerorchester Berlin. Conductor: John Metcalfe.
    • Daimon: Piano Concerto, Ithaca Suite & Sonatina for Nausicaa.
    • Sony Classical.

  • John Tavener

    Love bade me welcome

    Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Rupert Gough.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    String quartet No 21 in D major, K 575 (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Barbican Quartet.
    • Berlin Classics.

  • Jóhann Jóhannsson

    Flight from the City (on piano)

    Performer: Alice Sara Ott.
    • Jóhannsson: Flight from the City (Performed on Piano).
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 1.

  • Pietro Mascagni

    Cavalleria rusticana: Intermezzo

    Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Domingo Hindoyan.
    • Verismo.
    • Onyx Classics.
    • 4.

  • RIOPY

    Law of One

    Performer: RIOPY.
    • Be Love.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 12.

  • Matilda Brown

    Moving Through Emotions

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gabriella Teychenné.

  • Josef Suk

    Elegy for Violin, Cello and Piano, Op. 23

    • Dumky.
    • La Musica.
    • 7.

  • Claude Debussy

    Jardins sous la pluie (Estampes)

    Performer: Anne‐Sophie Bertrand. Music Arranger: Alys Lautemann.
    • Amalie's Cosmos.
    • Pentatone.
    • 14.

  • Reinhard Mey

    In meinem Garten

    Performer: Julius Asal. Music Arranger: Julius Asal.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Florence Price

    The Deserted Garden

    Performer: Tommy Mesa. Performer: Yoon Lee.
    • 17(67).
    • Azica.
    • 5.

  • Gustav Holst

    The Planets, Op. 32: II. Venus, the Bringer of Peace

    Music Arranger: George Morton. Ensemble: Ensemble K. Conductor: Simone Menezes.
    • Cosmos.
    • Menezes Records.
    • 2.

  • Lauren Finch

    Negentropy

    Performer: Lauren Finch.

  • Mel Bonis

    3 Femmes de legende, No 2: Ophelie

    Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.

  • Rolando Marchesini, Alanna Crouch, Roshko Brothers

    Breathing

    • Breathing (single).
    • almanova.
    • 1.

  • Callum Au

    Point of Ness

    Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

  • Francisco Tárrega

    Recuerdos de la Alhambra

    Performer: Vassilis Mastorakis. Performer: Μανώλης Καραντίνης.
    • Recuerdos de la Alhambra.
    • FM Records.
    • 1.

  • Michael Torke

    Last Year

    Orchestra: East Coast Chamber Orchestra. Director: Siwoo Kim.
    • Last.
    • Ecstatic Records.
    • 5.

  • Lloyd Coleman

    Luminescence

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Ben Palmer.

  • Dario Marianelli

    The Secret Life of Daydreams from Pride & Prejudice (arr. for guitar)

    Performer: Plínio Fernandes. Music Arranger: Sérgio Assad.
    • Decca.

  • Rebecca Clarke

    Ave Maria

    Conductor: Owen Rees. Choir: Choir of The Queen's College, Oxford.
    • Ave Maria.
    • Signum Records.
    • 1.

  • François Couperin

    Troisieme lecon de tenebres a 2 voix: Lamed (arr. for cello & electic guitar by Sonia Wieder-Atherton)

    Performer: Sonia Wieder‐Atherton. Performer: Marius Atherton. Music Arranger: Sonia Wieder‐Atherton.
    • Or. Couperin & Vivaldi.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 9.

  • Kris Bowers

    Fold in Turn

    Performer: Kris Bowers.
    • Eagle Rock, March 21st.
    • et al. music.
    • 8.

  • Hélène de Montgeroult

    Etude No 38 in A Minor

    Performer: Pierpaola Porqueddu.
    • Halidon.

Broadcasts

  • Tue 10 Mar 202617:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Saturday17:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind