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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.

3 hours

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.
    • The Classical Label.
  • Jef Martens

    OOIOI

    Performer: Zeppi.
    • avondmusik.
  • Ethel 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 Ensemble.
    • Navona.
  • Max Richter

    On The Nature Of Daylight

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

    Gnossienne in F minor (Set 1, No 1)

    • Koka Classic.
  • Gordon Jacob

    Largo from Concert piece for viola & orchestra

    Performer: Helen Callus. Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Stephen Bell.
    • Dutton Epoch.
  • 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.
    • Hyperion.
  • ABBOTT

    Begin Again

    Performer: ABBOTT.
    • 2WEI.
  • Jean Sibelius

    Andante Festivo

    Conductor: Neeme Järvi. Orchestra: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
  • 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.
    • Chandos.
  • Florence Price

    Piano quintet in A minor (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Marc‐André Hamelin. Ensemble: Takács Quartet.
    • Hyperion.
  • Ennio Morricone

    Cinema Paradiso (Main Theme)

    Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: Ennio Morricone.
    • EMI.
  • Ghislaine Reece‐Trapp

    Gratitude

    Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Sarah Latto.
  • Arvo Pärt

    Magnificat

    Singer: Alexandra Kidgell. Ensemble: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • CORO.
  • Alexis Ffrench

    Music Box

    Performer: Alexis Ffrench.
    • AFM.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Adagio for Violin and Orchestra in E Major, K 261

    Performer: Bilal Alnemr. Conductor: Thomas Zehetmair. Orchestra: Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra.
    • Alpha Classics.
  • Henry Walford Davies

    God be in my head

    Choir: The Cambridge Singers. Conductor: John Rutter.
    • Collegium Records.
  • Rachel Portman

    Hannah's Song

    Performer: Martin Fröst. Performer: Rachel Portman.
    • Sony Classical/Sony Music.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Winter from the Four Seasons (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Théotime Langlois de Swarte. Ensemble: Le Consort.
    • harmonia mundi.
  • Albéric Magnard

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

    Orchestra: Philharmonisches Orchester Freiburg. Conductor: Fabrice Bollon.
    • Naxos.
  • Eleanor Daley

    The Cloths of Heaven

    Choir: Brigham Young University Women's Chorus. Conductor: Jean Applonie.
    • Tantara.
  • Yoko Shimomura

    Lazy Afternoons (from Kingdom Hearts)

    Performer: Yoko Shimomura.
    • Walt Disney Records.
  • Jessie Montgomery

    Peace (Version for Clarinet & Piano)

    Performer: Anthony McGill. Performer: Gloria Chien.
    • Cedille.
  • Sam Rapley

    Ease

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Ben Palmer.
  • Erland Cooper

    Music For Growing Flowers, Part 7

    Performer: Erland Cooper.
    • Mercury Classics.
  • Alexandra Hamilton‐Ayres

    Understanding Now

    Performer: Alexandra Hamilton‐Ayres. Ensemble: Her Ensemble.
    • LEITER Verlag GmbH & Co. KG.
  • William Grant Still

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

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Kellen Gray.
    • Linn Records.
  • Nico Muhly

    Mercury

    Composer: Bryce Dessner. Composer: Sufjan Stevens. Composer: James McAlister.
    • 4AD/ XL.
  • Will Todd

    No More Sorrow

    Performer: James Sherlock. Choir: Tenebrae. Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Nigel Short.
    • Signum Records.

Broadcasts

  • Wed 9 Apr 202518:00
  • Sun 4 May 202518:00
  • Fri 15 Aug 202518:00
  • Fri 31 Oct 202517:00