Main content

Slow down 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 Mark Knopfler, Jessica Curry and Takashi Yoshimatsu. Plus, a chance to Press Pause with meditation teacher Michael James Wong and some Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel on the calming benefits of drawing.

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

6 days left to listen

3 hours

Last on

Thu 18 Dec 202517:00
BBC Radio 3 Unwind

More episodes

Previous

Ease into the evening with restorative sounds

Next

Soundtrack your evening with soothing festive music

See all episodes from Classical Wind Down

Music Played

  • Jules Massenet

    Poëme pastoral: V. Crépuscule

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough.
    • Hyperion.

  • B. E. Boykin

    Music of Life

    Choir: London Voices.
    • Oxford University Press Music.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Cello Sonata No 2 in F major, Op 99 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Alisa Weilerstein. Performer: Inon Barnatan.
    • Pentatone.

  • Marin Marais

    [Suite en sol majeur]: VI. Sarabande grave (99)

    Performer: François Joubert‐Caillet. Ensemble: L’Achéron.
    • Ricercar.

  • Mark Knopfler

    Farewell To Altamira

    Performer: Mark Knopfler. Performer: Evelyn Glennie. Performer: Christine Pendrill.
    • EMI.

  • Eric Sigurd

    The Glade

    Performer: Eric Sigurd.

  • Louise Farrenc

    Cello Sonata in B flat major, Op 46 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: David Berlin. Performer: Benjamin Martin.
    • ABC Classic.

  • Oliver Davis

    Water Variations and Theme: Variation II

    Performer: Beth & Flo.
    • Signum Records.

  • Henning Sommerro

    Vårsøg (Arr for Violin and Orchestra)

    Performer: Eldbjørg Hemsing. Music Arranger: Ben Palmer. Orchestra: Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Sony Classical/Sony Music.

  • Takashi Yoshimatsu

    Two Little Pieces: II. Noël

    Performer: Craig Ogden.
    • Chandos.

  • John Field

    Nocturne No 10 in E Minor, H 46B

    Performer: Benjamin Frith.
    • Naxos.

  • Jessica Curry

    An Early Harvest from Everybody's Gone to the Rapture

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Eímear Noone.

  • R. Nathaniel Dett

    O Holy Lord

    Choir: Nathaniel Dett Chorale.
    • Marquis Classics.

  • Georges Ivanovitch Gurdjieff

    Woman´s Prayer

    Performer: Anja Lechner. Performer: Vassilis Tsabropoulos.
    • ECM New Series.

  • Tom Ashbrook

    Dusk

    • The Other Songs.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Prelude No 10 in G flat major, Op 23

    Performer: Nikolai Lugansky.
    • Harmonia Mundi UK Limited.

  • Rebecca Dale

    Paradisum Interlude (Materna Requiem)

    Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Clark Rundell.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..

  • Edmund Jolliffe

    Lives in History

    Performer: Edmund Jolliffe.

  • Alexander Scriabin

    Prelude No 3 in D flat major, Op 17

    Performer: Barron Ryan.
    • Charles Patrick Records.

  • Massive Attack

    Teardrop

    Lyricist: Elizabeth Fraser. Music Arranger: Geoff Lawson. Choir: VOCES8.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Songs without Words Book 6 Op.67 (no.3)

    Music Arranger: Andreas Ottensamer. Performer: Andreas Ottensamer. Performer: Yuja Wang.
    • DG.

  • Rosey Chan

    Solstice

    • Platoon.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Humoresques Op.89 for violin and orchestra; no.2 in G minor

    Performer: Fenella Humphreys. Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: George Vass.
    • Resonus.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Flute Sonata in E Minor, BWV 1034 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Petri Alanko. Performer: Anssi Mattila.
    • Naxos.

  • Jordan Seigel

    San Miguel

    • Back Lot Music.

  • Alexis Ffrench

    Crest of a Wave

    • Sony Classical.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    String Quintet in G minor K516 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: John Crockatt. Ensemble: Consone Quartet.

  • Lloyd Coleman

    Luminescence

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Ben Palmer.

  • Sally Greenaway

    Poem I

    Performer: Gillian Pereira. Performer: Sally Greenaway.
    • Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC).

  • Douglas Guest

    For the Fallen

    Choir: Gesualdo Six. Conductor: Owain Park.
    • Hyperion.

  • Bryce Dessner

    Lullaby (Song for Octave)

    Performer: Vanessa Wagner.
    • THE BACK OFFICE.

  • Philip Sheppard

    Frost Flowers

    Performer: Evelyn Glennie.
    • KPM Main Series.

  • Ernst Bacon

    Moonlight on the Savannah (Ford's Theater)

    Orchestra: Nashville Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Leonard Slatkin.
    • Naxos.

  • River Camille, The Wong Janice & Little Symphony

    Ikigai

    • Little Symphony Records.

  • Lara Somogyi

    instead

    • Mercury Classics.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    4 Mazurkas (No 1 in G sharp minor, Op 3 No 1)

    Performer: Pavel Kolesnikov.

  • Jon Hopkins

    Dawn Chorus

    • Domino Recording Co.

  • Leonard Bernstein

    Symphonic Dances from West Side Story: Finale

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Amy Elise Horrocks

    Twilight (Rêverie)

    Performer: Alexandra Mackenzie. Performer: Ingrid Sawers.
    • Delphian Records.

  • Jeremy Birchall

    Mirroring

    • Manners McDade.

  • Frederick Delius

    By the River (Florida Suite)

    Orchestra: Ulster Orchestra. Conductor: Vernon Handley.
    • Chandos.

  • Erland Cooper

    St. Magnus of Hamnavoe

    Performer: Erland Cooper. Performer: Daniel Pioro.
    • Believe International.

  • Manuel Ponce

    Estrellita

    Music Arranger: Jascha Heifetz. Performer: Ray Chen. Performer: Julien Quentin.
    • DECCA.

  • Alaskan Tapes

    Oh, Sleeper

    • Nettwerk Music (UK) Limited.

  • S.J. Bray

    Falling, Fallen, Fell

    Performer: S.J. Bray.

  • Arcangelo Corelli

    Adagio from Violin Sonata in G Minor, Op 5 No 5 (Arr for orchestra)

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Matthias Bamert.
    • Chandos.

  • Wayne Hill

    Left Bank Two

    Performer: Wayne Hill.

  • B O D I E S

    Wonder

    Composer: Kat Frankie. Choir: B O D I E S. Singer: Kat Frankie.
    • GRÖNLAND.

  • Erik Satie

    3 Gymnopedies: No. 2, Lent et triste

    Performer: Bertrand Chamayou.
    • Warner Music UK Limited.

  • Trad.

    Danny Boy

    Performer: Fumito Nunoya.
    • Ars Produktion.

Broadcasts

  • Thu 19 Dec 202418:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Mon 6 Jan 202518:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Thu 3 Apr 202518:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Tue 24 Jun 202518:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Thu 18 Dec 202517:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind