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Colour the evening 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 Satie, Alexis Ffrench and Alexandra Hamilton-Ayres. Plus, a chance to Press Pause with meditation teacher Maude Hirst, and some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel on the wellbeing benefits of silence.

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

5 weeks left to listen

3 hours

On radio

Sunday 18:00
BBC Radio 3 Unwind

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Music Played

  • Claude Debussy

    Clair de lune (from Suite Bergamasque)

    Performer: Alice Sara Ott.
    • Debussy: Suite bergamasque, L. 75, 3. Clair de lune.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 1.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony No 102 in B flat major (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.
    • Haydn: Symphony Collection.
    • The Classical Label.
    • 37.

  • Jef Martens

    OOIOI

    Performer: Zeppi.
    • OOIOI.
    • avondmusik.
    • 1.

  • Dame Ethel Mary Smyth

    Komm susser Tod

    Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: David Hill.

  • Javi Lobe

    Lost Time - Strings Version

    Performer: Javi Lobe. Performer: Francois Mathian.
    • Bigo & Twigetti.

  • Hajime Komatsu

    Nanbu Ushioi Uta (Four Japanese Folk Songs, Suite No 2, No 2)

    Ensemble: Apollo Chamber Players.
    • Blurred Boundaries.
    • Navona.
    • 11.

  • Max Richter

    On The Nature Of Daylight (Orchestra Version)

    Orchestra: Baltic Sea Philharmonic. Conductor: Kristjan Järvi.
    • Exiles.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 2.

  • Erik Satie

    Gnossienne in F minor (Set 1, No 1)

    • Satie - Gymnopédies & Gnossiennes.
    • Koka Classic.
    • 16.

  • Gordon Jacob

    Largo from Concert piece for viola & orchestra

    Performer: Helen Callus. Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Stephen Bell.
    • Gordon Jacob - Complete Music for Viola and Orchestra.
    • Dutton Epoch.
    • 6.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano concerto No 2 in B flat major, Op 19 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough. Orchestra: Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Hannu Lintu.
    • Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 1-5.
    • Hyperion.
    • 5.

  • ABBOTT

    Begin Again

    Performer: ABBOTT.
    • 2WEI.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Andante Festivo

    Conductor: Neeme Järvi. Orchestra: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra.
    • Neeme Järvi & Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 68.

  • Niccolò Paganini

    Cantabile, Op 17

    Performer: María Dueñas. Performer: Julien Quentin.

  • Ola Gjeilo

    Northern Lights

    Choir: Apollo5.
    • Gjeilo: Northern Lights.
    • VOCES8 Records.
    • 1.

  • Leonora Duarte

    Sinfonia No 1

    Ensemble: Sonnambula.
    • Centaur Records, Inc..

  • John Foulds

    Lament from A Keltic Suite, Op 29

    Performer: Katharine Wood. Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Ronald Corp.

  • Hubert Parry

    Symphony No 3 in C major, 'English' (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Matthias Bamert.
    • Parry: Complete Symphonies.
    • Chandos.
    • 206.

  • Florence Price

    Piano quintet in A minor (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Marc-André Hamelin. Ensemble: Takács Quartet.
    • Price: Piano Quintet in A Minor: II. Andante con moto.
    • Hyperion.
    • 1.

  • Ennio Morricone

    Cinema Paradiso (Main Theme)

    Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: Ennio Morricone.
    • Reel Chill The Cinematic Chillout Album CD1.
    • EMI.
    • 12.

  • Ghislaine Reece-Trapp

    Gratitude

    Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Sarah Latto.

  • Arvo Pärt

    Magnificat

    Singer: Alexandra Kidgell. Ensemble: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Angel of Peace.
    • CORO.
    • 8.

  • Alexis Ffrench

    Music Box

    Performer: Alexis Ffrench.
    • The Piano Whisperer.
    • AFM.
    • 2.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Adagio for Violin and Orchestra in E Major, K 261

    Performer: Bilal Alnemr. Conductor: Thomas Zehetmair. Orchestra: Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra.
    • Mozart: Concerto for Two Pianos KV 365, Sinfonia concertante for Four Winds KV 2.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 3.

  • Henry Walford Davies

    God be in my head

    Choir: The Cambridge Singers. Conductor: John Rutter.
    • This is the Day.
    • Collegium Records.
    • 13.

  • Rachel Portman

    Hannah's Song

    Performer: Martin Frost. Performer: Rachel Portman.
    • Hannah's Song.
    • Sony Classical/Sony Music.
    • 1.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Winter from the Four Seasons (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Théotime Langlois de Swarte. Ensemble: Le Consort.
    • Vivaldi: Le quattro stagioni (The Four Seasons).
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 12.

  • Albéric Magnard

    Symphony No 3 in B flat minor, Op 11 (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: Philharmonisches Orchester Freiburg. Conductor: Fabrice Bollon.
    • Magnard: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4.
    • Naxos.
    • 103.

  • Eleanor Daley

    The Cloths of Heaven

    Choir: Brigham Young University Women's Chorus. Conductor: Jean Applonie.
    • Wondrous Love.
    • Tantara.
    • 8.

  • Yoko Shimomura

    Lazy Afternoons (from Kingdom Hearts)

    Performer: Yoko Shimomura.
    • KINGDOM HEARTS -HD 2.5 ReMIX- (Original Soundtrack).
    • Walt Disney Records.
    • 3.

  • Jessie Montgomery

    Peace (Version for Clarinet & Piano)

    Performer: Anthony McGill. Performer: Gloria Chien.
    • Here with You.
    • Cedille.
    • 301.

  • Sam Rapley

    Ease

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Ben Palmer.

  • Erland Cooper

    Music For Growing Flowers, Part 7

    Performer: Erland Cooper.
    • Music For Growing Flowers.
    • Mercury Classics.
    • 7.

  • Alexandra Hamilton‐Ayres

    Understanding Now

    Performer: Alexandra Hamilton‐Ayres. Ensemble: Her Ensemble.
    • Play Echoes.
    • LEITER Verlag GmbH & Co. KG.
    • 5.

  • William Grant Still

    Symphony No 1, 'Afro-American' (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Kellen Gray.
    • African American Voices.
    • Linn Records.
    • 2.

  • Nico Muhly

    Mercury

    Composer: Bryce Dessner. Composer: Sufjan Stevens. Composer: James McAlister.
    • Planetarium.
    • 4AD/ XL.
    • 17.

  • Will Todd

    No More Sorrow

    Performer: James Sherlock. Choir: Tenebrae. Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Nigel Short.
    • Will Todd: Lux Et Veritas - Music for Peace and Reflection.
    • Signum Records.
    • 2.

Broadcasts

  • Wed 9 Apr 2025 18:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Sunday 18:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind