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Start the day right with beautiful classical music

Calming classical music to inspire focus and set you up for the day ahead. Presented by broadcaster, author and counselling psychologist Dr Sian Williams.

Calming classical music to help you focus and set you up for the day ahead. Presented by broadcaster, author and counselling psychologist Dr Sian Williams.

Featuring calming melodies to help you recharge for the day ahead from composers including Respighi, Farrenc, and Gregorio Allegri. Sian explores the scientific basis for the benefits of getting out into nature while out to Take a Breath, Professor Catherine Loveday explains why listening to music might make you complete a task quicker, and your daily chance to Find Your Focus comes courtesy of the music of Olivia Belli.

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3 hours

On radio

Sun 31 May 202609:00
BBC Radio 3 Unwind

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Music Played

  • Giacomo Puccini

    Suor Angelica (Intermezzo)

    Conductor: Gianandrea Noseda. Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Chandos.

  • Edward German

    Nell Gwyn Suite (Pastoral Dance)

    Conductor: Adrian Leaper. Orchestra: Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra.
    • Marco Polo.

  • Jasmin Reuter

    Salomea

    Orchestra: World Chamber Orchestra.
    • Naxos Special Projects.

  • Charles Villiers Stanford

    Cello Concerto in D minor (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Gemma Rosefield. Conductor: Andrew Manze. Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
    • Hyperion.

  • Johan Peter Emilius Hartmann

    Symphony No 2 in E major, Op 48b (2nd mvt)

    Conductor: Thomas Dausgaard. Orchestra: Danish National Symphony Orchestra.
    • Dacapo.

  • Philip Glass

    Glassworks arr for marimba (1st, 'Opening')

    Performer: Christoph Sietzen. Music Arranger: Christoph Sietzen.
    • Sony.

  • Alexis Ffrench

    Crystalline

    Performer: Alexis Ffrench.
    • Juice Music.

  • Gregorio Allegri

    Miserere (Its Evolution)

    Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Coro.

  • Engelbert Humperdinck

    Hansel & Gretel (Evening Prayer)

    Performer: Raphaela Gromes. Performer: Angela Chang. Ensemble: Arcis Saxophon Quartett.
    • Sony.

  • Antônio Carlos Gomes

    Sonata for Strings in D major, 'O burrico de pau' (3rd mvt)

    Conductor: Neil Thomson. Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra.
    • Naxos.

  • Jean‐Michel Damase

    Symphonie (2nd mvt)

    Conductor: Martin Yates. Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra.
    • Dutton Epoch.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Nocturne Op 9, No 3 in B major

    Performer: Jan Lisiecki.
    • DG.

  • JB Dunckel

    Melo Walk (Version for String Quintet)

    Performer: Shuichi Okada. Performer: Grégoire Vecchioni. Performer: Cécile Tête. Performer: Cyrille Lacrouts. Performer: Lorraine Campet. Performer: Harry Allouche.
    • Warner.

  • Domenico Cimarosa

    Le donne rivali (Overture: 2nd mvt)

    Conductor: Michael Halász. Orchestra: Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice.
    • Naxos.

  • Richard Strauss

    Four Symphonic Interludes from 'Intermezzo' (No 2, 'Dreaming by the Fireside')

    Conductor: Franz Welser‐Möst. Orchestra: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.
    • BR Klassik.

  • Olivia Belli

    Respiro 1

    Performer: Olivia Belli.
    • XXIM.

  • Maurice Duruflé

    Four Motets on Gregorian Themes, Op 10 (Ubi caritas)

    Choir: Houston Chamber Choir. Conductor: Robert Simpson.
    • Signum.

  • Louise Farrenc

    Symphony No 2 in D major, Op 35 (2nd mvt)

    Conductor: Laurence Equilbey. Orchestra: Insula Orchestra.
    • Erato.

  • Robin Milford

    The Darkling Thrush for Violin and Orchestra, Op 17

    Performer: Philippe Graffin. Conductor: David Lloyd‐Jones. Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
    • Dutton Epoch.

  • Rachel Portman

    Emma (Main Titles)

    Performer: Hugh Webb. Performer: Nicholas Bucknall. Performer: Lynda Coffin. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: Rachel Portman.
    • Hollywood.

  • Zenobia Powell Perry

    Piano Potpourri (No 12, 'Teeta')

    Performer: Deanne Tucker.
    • Cambria.

  • Peter Boyer

    Elegy for English Horn, Harp & String Orchestra

    Performer: Christine Pendrill. Performer: Bryn Lewis. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Peter Boyer.
    • Naxos.

  • Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

    Idyll, Op 44

    Conductor: Charles Peebles. Orchestra: Ulster Orchestra.
    • SOMM.

  • Emilia Giuliani-Guglielmi

    6 Preludi, Op 46 (No 5)

    Performer: Federica Artuso.
    • Tactus.

  • Trad.

    O can ye sew cushions

    Music Arranger: John Rutter. Choir: The Cambridge Singers. Conductor: John Rutter.
    • Collegium.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony No 84 in E flat major, Hob I 84, 'La Discrète' (2nd mvt)

    Conductor: Julien Chauvin. Orchestra: Le Concert de la Loge.
    • Aparte.

  • April Chung

    Picturesque

    Performer: April Chung.
    • enjou.

  • Ottorino Respighi

    Suite in E major, P 51 (2nd mvt)

    Conductor: Adriano. Orchestra: Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra.
    • Marco Polo.

  • Herbert Howells

    Requiem (Psalm 23)

    Choir: Tenebrae. Conductor: Nigel Short.
    • Signum.

  • Jeno Hubay

    Suite for Violin and Orchestra, Op 5 (2nd mvt, Idylle)

    Performer: Hagai Shaham. Conductor: Martyn Brabbins. Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
    • Hyperion.

  • Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

    Veni sancte spiritus

    Choir: Choir of Queen's College, Oxford. Conductor: Owen Rees.
    • Guild GmbH.

Broadcasts

  • Mon 4 May 202609:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Sun 31 May 202609:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind