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Switch off with calming classical 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 Henry Mancini, Hans Zimmer and Bach. Plus, a chance to Press Pause with meditation teacher Michael James Wong, and some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel on how having a set mealtime can help you to unwind.
To listen on most smart speakers just ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Wind Down.

3 hours

On radio

Saturday 18:00
BBC Radio 3 Unwind

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Let go of the day with soothing music

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Restore calm with classical music

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Music Played

  • Alessandro Marcello

    Concerto for Oboe, Strings and Basso continuo in D minor: II. Adagio

    Performer: Miloš Karadaglić. Ensemble: Arcangelo. Director: Jonathan Cohen.
    • Baroque.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 10.

  • Louise Farrenc

    25 Piano études faciles, Op 50: No 2

    Performer: Maria Stratigou.
    • Farrenc: Complete Piano Works, Vol. 1 - Études.
    • Grand Piano.
    • 234.

  • Evelyn Glennie & Philip Sheppard

    Celestial Aurora

    • KPM Main Series.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony No 29 in A major, K 201

    Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jiří Bělohlávek.

  • Marie Awadis

    Étude No 10: Void

    • Études Mélodiques (Deluxe).
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 10.

  • Trad.

    Still, still, still weils Kindlein schlafen will

    Music Arranger: Mack Wilberg. Singer: Bryn Terfel. Choir: London Voices. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Barry Wordsworth.
    • Simple Gifts.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 6.

  • John Jenkins

    Fantasia III a 6

    Ensemble: L’Achéron. Conductor: François Joubert-Caillet.
    • A Consort’s Monument.
    • Ricercar.
    • 12.

  • Fabrizio Paterlini

    Waltz

    • Believe International.

  • Harold Arlen

    Over the Rainbow (Arr for Marimba)

    Performer: Fumito Nunoya. Music Arranger: Robert Oetomo.
    • Marimba Prayers.
    • Ars Produktion.
    • 10.

  • Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges

    Violin concerto in D major, Op.3`1 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Zhou Qian. Orchestra: Toronto Camerata. Conductor: Kevin Mallon.
    • Saint-George: Complete Violin Concertos, Vol.2.
    • NAXOS.
    • 8.

  • Bernat Vivancos

    Aeternam

    Choir: Latvian Radio Choir. Conductor: Sigvards Kļava.
    • Neu Records.

  • Clara Schumann

    3 Preludes & Fugues, Op 16: No 2 in B flat major

    Performer: Jean-Pierre Armengaud.
    • Clara Schumann: Piano Music, Vol. 1.
    • Grand Piano.
    • 105.

  • Julie Cooper

    LULLABY in Valley Green

    Performer: Cara Berridge. Performer: Camilla Pay. Performer: Julie Cooper. Performer: Julie Cooper. Ensemble: Her Ensemble.
    • Julie Cooper: Oculus.
    • Signum Records.
    • 13.

  • Helen Leach

    Diary of the Bee: III. Wild Rose

    Performer: John Bradbury. Ensemble: Victoria String Quartet.
    • Diary of the Bee: Chamber Works by Helen Leach.
    • Divine Art.
    • 504.

  • Henry Mancini

    Moon River (Arr for Guitar)

    Performer: Plínio Fernandes. Music Arranger: Sérgio Assad.
    • Cinema.
    • Decca Records US.
    • 3.

  • John Foulds

    A Lament (Keltic Suite, Op 29)

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Ronald Corp.
    • GBBBC.

  • Taku Matsushiba

    Passacaille in Barcelona

    Performer: Taku Matsushiba.
    • avex pictures.

  • Luigi Boccherini

    String Quartet Op2 no1 in E flat G159

    Ensemble: Chaos String Quartet.

  • Hans Zimmer

    Interstellar Suite: Part 1, Day One

    Composer: Alexander Gibson. Composer: Ryan Rubin. Performer: Aleksandra Suklar. Singer: Gan-Ya Ben-Gur Akselrod. Orchestra: Odessa Orchestra & Friends. Conductor: Gavin Greenaway.
    • The World of Hans Zimmer - Part II: A New Dimension.
    • Sony Classical/Sony Music.
    • 6.

  • Takashi Yoshimatsu

    Digital Bird Suite, Op 15: II. A Bird in the Twilight

    Performer: Manuela Wiesler. Performer: Noriko Ogawa.
    • Naxos Music UK Ltd.

  • Jeremy Birchall

    Listening

    • Everything InBetween.
    • Manners McDade.
    • 6.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cello Suite No 1 in G major: Sarabande

    Performer: Santiago Cañón-Valencia.

  • Ava Rasti

    Music For The Motion Picture Double Life

    • RooBeRoo Mansion.

  • Sam Rapley

    Ease

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Ben Palmer.

  • Anna Lapwood

    O Nata Lux

    Choir: Pembroke College Girls' Choir. Conductor: Anna Lapwood.
    • Signum.

  • Harold Budd & Brian Eno

    A Stream With Bright Fish

    • The Pearl.
    • Virgin Catalogue.
    • 2.

  • Guillaume Dufay

    Saltarello

    Music Arranger: Jordi Savall. Conductor: Jordi Savall. Orchestra: Hespèrion XXI. Ensemble: La Capella Reial de Catalunya.
    • The Borgia Dynasty.
    • Alia Vox.
    • 3.

  • Eleni Karaindrou

    Eternity And A Day: 2. By The Sea

    • Eternity And A Day.
    • ECM New Series.
    • 2.

  • Jóhann Jóhannsson

    The Wedding (The Theory of Everything OST)

    Conductor: Anthony Weeden. Conductor: Ben Foster. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.
    • The Theory of Everything (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).
    • Back Lot Music.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Romance in F major Op 118 no 5

    Performer: Eric Lu.

  • Sally Greenaway

    Resonance

    Lyricist: Kirsten Duncan. Choir: Luminescence Chamber Singers. Conductor: Roland Peelman.
    • Modern Classical X.

  • Christina Vantzou & John Also Bennett

    Dwelling

    • Editions Basilic.

  • Mary Lattimore

    Pine Trees

    • Collected Pieces: 2015-2020.
    • Ghostly International.
    • 6.

  • Franz Schubert

    String Quartet in G minor D173 (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Leonkoro Quartet.

  • Shin Suzuma

    Always

    Performer: Shin Suzuma.

  • Georgs Pelēcis

    Fiori Musicali: Vientula kalla

    Orchestra: Kremerata Baltica.
    • SKANI.

  • Johann Ludwig Krebs

    Concerto for Guitar and Streichorchester in G Major: Satz 2

    Performer: Jozef Zsapka. Performer: Dagmar Zsapkova. Music Arranger: Ruggero Chiesa. Orchestra: Slovenský komorný orchester Bohdana Warchala. Conductor: Bohdan Warchal.
    • Vivaldi - Fasch - Krebs: Guitar Concertos.
    • Denon.
    • 8.

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Shostakovich Jazz Waltz Variation (After Jazz Suite No 2)

    Performer: Louis Philippson. Music Arranger: Jan-Peter Klöpfel.
    • Exposition.
    • Masterworks/Sony Music.
    • 6.

  • Balmorhea

    Rose in Abstract

    Performer: Balmorhea. Performer: Morris Kliphuis. Performer: Clarice Jensen. Singer: Lisa Morgenstern.
    • The Wind.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 2.

  • William Shield

    String Trio No 1 in E flat major (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Trio Szabadi.
    • Hungaroton.

  • Alexis Ffrench

    Hummingbird

    • AFM.

  • James Bassi

    Quem pastores laudavere

    Ensemble: ORA. Conductor: Suzi Digby.
    • Advent Calendar.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 112.

  • Peter Broderick

    Earnest Leslye

    • Earnest Leslye.
    • HUSH.
    • 1.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 2 Mar 2025 18:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Saturday 18:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind