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A musical journey into calm

Ultimate CalmÓlafur Arnalds: Series 1
Episode 1 of 13

Escape with Icelandic composer and pianist Ólafur Arnalds for an hour-long sonic journey into calmness, with a selection of peaceful music and reflections.

Escape with Icelandic composer and pianist Ólafur Arnalds for an hour-long sonic journey seeking that all-too elusive feeling of calm.

In this first episode, Ólafur shares some of his go-to calming pieces of music from the likes of Dustin O’Halloran, Mary Lattimore and Hania Rani, alongside personal reflections on his own relationship with calmness.

Every episode of Ultimate Calm features a special guest who will transport listeners to the place they feel most calm - their own personal safe haven. Throughout the series we will be taken to safe havens all around the world, from guests including Sigrid, Jon Hopkins and Isobel Waller-Bridge. For this very first episode, Ólafur himself takes us to his own safe haven in the foothills of Battukaru, a dormant volcano in Indonesia.

Produced by Katie Callin
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds

10 months left to listen

59 minutes

Last on

Mon 8 Dec 202521:00
BBC Radio 3 Unwind

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Music Played

  • Ólafur Arnalds

    Saman (Sunrise Session II)

  • Magnús Jóhann & Skúli Sverrisson

    Án tillits

  • Dustin O’Halloran

    An Ending, a Beginning

  • Ana Roxanne

    Take the Thorn, Leave the Rose

  • Jóhann Jóhannsson

    A Sparrow Alighted upon our Shoulder

  • Mary Lattimore

    The Quiet At Night

  • Shida Shahabi

    Pretty In Plums

  • Dmitry Shostakovich & Eugenio Catone

    In the Forest

  • Hania Rani

    F Major

  • Nils Frahm

    Late

  • Grouper

    Clearing

  • Roberto Musci

    Claudia, Wilhelm R And Me

  • Sigur Rós

    Ekki Mukk

  • Emily A. Sprague

    Silken Pt. 2

  • Edward MacDowell & Michele Nobler

    To a Wild Rose, Op. 51, No. 1

  • Bonobo

    Second Sun

Broadcasts

  • Mon 10 Oct 202221:00
    BBC Radio 3
  • Sat 17 Dec 202201:00
    BBC Radio 3
  • Thu 20 Jul 202323:30
    BBC Radio 3
  • Mon 18 Nov 202421:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • New Year's Day 202521:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Mon 10 Feb 202521:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Mon 5 May 202521:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Mon 30 Jun 202521:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Mon 11 Aug 202521:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Mon 15 Sep 202521:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Mon 10 Nov 202521:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Mon 8 Dec 202521:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind