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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 Florence Price, Aaron Copland and Ennio Morricone. Plus, a chance to Press Pause with meditation teacher Michael James Wong, and some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel on harnessing the dimmer switch.

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

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3 hours

Last on

Mon 15 Dec 202517:00
BBC Radio 3 Unwind

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Music Played

  • William Lloyd Webber

    The Moon

    Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Julian Lloyd Webber.
    • And the Bridge Is Love: English Music for Strings.
    • Naxos.
    • 1.

  • Maurice Ravel

    Menuet (Le tombeau de Couperin)

    Performer: Steven Osborne.
    • Hyperion.

  • Robert Schumann

    Du bist wie eine Blume (Myrthen, Op 25 No 24)

    Performer: Kian Soltani. Performer: Aaron Pilsan.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).

  • Sophie Hutchings

    Flowers In Snow

    • Mercury Classics.

  • Ruth Gipps

    Oboe Concerto, Op 20 (2nd mvt: Andante)

    Performer: Juliana Koch. Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
    • CHANDOS.

  • R. Nathaniel Dett

    Ave Maria

    • Marquis Classics.

  • Ole Bull

    Sæterjentens Søndag

    • Sony Classical/Sony Music.

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102: II. Andante

    Conductor: Hugh Wolff. Orchestra: Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.
    • Warner Classics International.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Komm, süßer Tod, komm selge Ruh, BWV 478 (Arr. Sheku Kanneh-Mason)

    Performer: Sheku Kanneh‐Mason. Performer: Max Ruisi. Performer: Ben Davies. Performer: Hannah Roberts. Performer: Desmond Neysmith. Music Arranger: Sheku Kanneh‐Mason.
    • Decca.

  • Henry Purcell

    Dido and Aeneas, Z. 626 / Act III: "When I Am Laid in Earth" Dido's Lam

    Conductor: Mathieu Herzog. Orchestra: Brussels Philharmonic.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).

  • Sergey Akhunov

    Adagio \"Prayer for Peace\"

    • Aparté.

  • Trad.

    The Lark in the Clear Air

    Ensemble: McGill / McHale Trio.
    • Cedille.

  • Reynaldo Hahn

    Le rossignol éperdu: No. 28, Matinée parisienne

    • Danacord Records.

  • Joseph Haydn

    String Quartet In D Major, Hob. III:63, Op. 64 No. 5 "The Lark" - 2. Adag

    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).

  • Erich Wolfgang Korngold

    Rose Garden (The Sea Hawk)

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
    • The Film Music of Erich Wolfgang Korngold: BBC Phil / Gamba.
    • Chandos.
    • 14.

  • Florence Price

    Adoration

    Music Arranger: Julian Riem. Performer: Raphaela Gromes. Orchestra: Lucerne Festival Strings. Conductor: Daniel Dodds.
    • Sony.

  • Brian Eno

    An Ending (Ascent)

    Music Arranger: David Le Page. Performer: David Le Page. Performer: Eleanor Turner. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Swan. Conductor: Daniele Rosina.
    • Signum Classics.

  • John Pickard

    O magnum mysterium

    Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Martyn Brabbins.
    • BIS.

  • Hélène de Montgeroult

    Étude No 38 in A Minor

    Performer: Clare Hammond.
    • BIS.

  • Aaron Copland

    3 Latin American Sketches: No. 2, Paisaje Mexicano

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

  • Harry Burleigh

    Southern Lullaby

    • Rising Sun Records.

  • Will Everitt

    Be Kind To Yourself

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra.

  • Edmund Finnis

    Parallel Colour: IV. -

    • NMC Recordings.

  • Peter Gregson

    Softly Falling

    • Decca Records US.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Cello Sonata in G minor Op.19 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Anastasia Kobekina. Performer: Tom Poster.

  • Claude Debussy

    Debussy: Rêverie, L. 68

    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).

  • Georgs Pelēcis

    Fiori Musicali: Vientula kalla

    • SKANI.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Moonlight Sonata

    Music Arranger: Edwin York Bowen. Performer: Timothy Ridout. Performer: James Baillieu.

  • Alexandra Stréliski

    Élégie

    • XXIM Records.

  • Hideyuki Hashimoto

    Song for Momjan

    Composer: Yuri Kawai.
    • h239.

  • Ola Gjeilo

    Sacred Heart (Ubi Caritas III)

    Choir: VOCES8. Performer: Ben Hancox. Performer: Hannah Dawson. Performer: Simone van der Giessen. Performer: Matthew Sharp.
    • Decca.

  • Keaton Henson

    Try

    • Mercury Classics.

  • Ennio Morricone

    Morricone, A. Morricone: Main Theme/Love Theme (Arr. for Guitar by Sérgio Assad)

    Composer: Andrea Morricone.
    • Decca Records US.

  • FINNEAS

    Catherine

    Composer: Aron Forbes.
    • Apple Video Programming LLC, under exclusive license to Interscope Records.

  • Isobel Waller-Bridge

    Maggie's First

    Composer: Andrea Balency.
    • Lakeshore Records.

  • Alexius Tschallener

    Meditative

    Performer: Dominik Luke Marsden Johnson. Performer: Alexius Tschallener.

  • Cristóbal de Morales

    Parce mihi Domine - improvisation (Officium defunctorum)

    Ensemble: The Hilliard Ensemble. Performer: Jan Garbarek.
    • ECM.

  • Clara Schumann

    Nocturne (Soirees musicales) arr. for harp

    Performer: Magdalena Hoffmann.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).

  • Ren Guang

    Coloured Clouds Chasing The Moon

    Music Arranger: Jianzhong Wang. Performer: Lang Lang.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).

Broadcasts

  • Sun 15 Dec 202418:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Wed 8 Jan 202518:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Mon 31 Mar 202518:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Sat 21 Jun 202518:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Mon 15 Dec 202517:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind