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Let go of the day with soothing music

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 Samuel Barber, George Gershwin and Agnes Obel. Plus, a chance to Press Pause with meditation teacher Maude Hirst, and some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel on showering can help you get ready for sleep.
To listen on most smart speakers just ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Wind Down.

3 hours

On radio

Friday 18:00
BBC Radio 3 Unwind

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Music Played

  • Alexander Borodin

    Nocturne (From String Quartet No 2)

    Music Arranger: Malcolm Sargent. Orchestra: The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
    • British By Arrangement.
    • Decca (UMO).
    • 9.

  • Ben Crosland

    The Hourglass

    • Bigo & Twigetti.

  • Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

    Salve Regina a 5: I. Salve Regina

    Lyricist: Anonymous. Choir: Stile Antico.
    • The Golden Renaissance: Palestrina.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 20.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Nocturne in B major, Op.62 no.1

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough.
    • Chopin: Late Masterpieces, Stephen Hough.
    • Hyperion.
    • 7.

  • Angus James William Macrae

    Camera Obscura

    • Camera Obscura.
    • 1631 Recordings.
    • 1.

  • Edward Elgar

    Sérénade lyrique in C Major

    Orchestra: Northern Sinfonia Orchestra. Conductor: Neville Marriner.
    • British Composers - Elgar, Stanford & Parry.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 14.

  • Agnes Obel

    Chord Left

    • Aventine.
    • Play It Again Sam.
    • 1.

  • Robert A. Harris

    April Rain Song

    Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Sofi Jeannin.

  • Nancy Dalberg

    String Quartet No 1 in D Minor (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Nordic String Quartet.
    • Dalberg: The String Quartets.
    • Dacapo.
    • 3.

  • Harry Thacker Burleigh

    From the Southland Suite: III. In de Col' Moonlight

    Performer: Rochelle Sennet.
    • Bach To Black: Suites for Piano, Vol. II.
    • Albany Records.
    • 25.

  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony No 6 in A minor

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Gianandrea Noseda.

  • Robert Schumann

    Kinderszenen Op.15

    Performer: Elisabeth Brauss.

  • Erland Cooper

    Skreevar (feat. Marta Salogni)

    • Phases.

  • Gabriel Fauré

    Shylock Suite, Op 57: V. Nocturne

    Conductor: Jean-Luc Tingaud. Orchestra: RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra.
    • Naxos.

  • Ólafur Arnalds & Hania Rani

    Woven Song - piano reworks

    • Woven Song — piano reworks.
    • Mercury Classics.
    • 1.

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Calme des Nuits

    Music Arranger: Chris Foss. Choir: Cantus.
    • Alone Together.
    • Signum Records.
    • 14.

  • Nat Yontararak

    Piano Sonata, "Glory to Our Great Kings" (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Nat Yontararak.
    • Glory To Our Great Kings (Thai Piano Music).
    • Marco-Polo.
    • 3.

  • George Gershwin

    Lullaby (Version for String Orchestra)

    Orchestra: SWR Rundfunkorchester Kaiserslautern. Conductor: Klaus Arp.
    • From the New World.
    • SWR Classic.
    • 2.

  • Marianna Martines

    Sinfonia in C major (1770)

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Johannes Wildner.

  • Ludovico Einaudi

    Berlin Song

    Performer: Martin Jacoby.
    • 50 Lullabies for Babies.
    • Silent Star Music.
    • 17.

  • Jeremiah Fraites & Oleg Kondratenko

    Arrival

    • Piano Piano.
    • Mercury Classics.
    • 11.

  • Undine Smith Moore

    Afro American Suite for flute, cello and piano: Andante

    Performer: Laurel Zucker. Performer: John Cozza. Performer: Jia-Mo Chen.
    • Flute and Piano Music By Composers of African Descent. Vol. 2.
    • Cantilena Records.
    • 18.

  • Masayoshi Fujita

    Ocean Flow

    • Migratory.
    • Erased Tapes.
    • 6.

  • John Cage

    In a Landscape

    Performer: Sarah Rothenberg.
    • Rothko Chapel - Morton Feldman / Erik Satie / John Cage.
    • ECM New Series.
    • 10.

  • Nitin Sawhney

    Bishnoi (Human Planet OST)

    Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
    • Human Planet (Soundtrack from the TV Series).
    • Silva Screen Records Ltd.
    • 13.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Water Music, Suite No 2, HWV 349 (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: B’Rock Orchestra. Conductor: Dmitry Sinkovsky.
    • Handel: Water & Fire.
    • PENTATONE.
    • 3.

  • Ryuichi Sakamoto

    MUJI2020

    • KAB America Inc..

  • Aleksandra Vrebalov

    The Sea Ranch Songs: No 9, Starry Night

    Ensemble: Kronos Quartet.
    • Aleksandra Vrebalov: The Sea Ranch Songs.
    • Cantaloupe Music.
    • 9.

  • Jane Antonia Cornish

    Into Silence I

    Performer: Anna Elashvili. Performer: Caitlin Sullivan. Performer: Claire Bryant. Performer: Hamilton Berry. Performer: Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir. Performer: Vicky Chow. Conductor: Jane Antonia Cornish.
    • Into Silence.
    • Innova.
    • 2.

  • Alexandre Desplat

    Elisa's Theme (The Shape of Water)

    Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: Alexandre Desplat.
    • The Shape of Water - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.
    • Decca.
    • 4.

  • Max Richter

    Colour Wheel

    Performer: Max Richter. Performer: Mari Samuelsen. Conductor: Robert Ziegler. Choir: Tenebrae.
    • Voices (Pt. 1 & 2).
    • Decca (UMO) (Classics).
    • 17.

  • The Cinematic Orchestra

    Arrival of the Birds

    Performer: The Cinematic Orchestra. Orchestra: London Metropolitan Orchestra.
    • The Crimson Wing: Mystery Of The Flamingos.
    • Walt Disney Records.
    • 2.

  • Alexis Ffrench

    Miracles

    • Memories.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 2.

Broadcasts

  • Thu 27 Feb 2025 18:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Friday 18:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind