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Switch off with sumptuous 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 Karl Jenkins, Robert Schumann and Cécile Chaminade. Plus, a chance to Press Pause with meditation teacher Maude Hirst, and some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel on how being around water can aid relaxation.

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

3 hours

Last on

Mon 3 Nov 202517:00
BBC Radio 3 Unwind

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Music Played

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV.645

    Music Arranger: Ferruccio Busoni. Performer: Murray Perahia.
    • Sony Classical.

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Serenade for string orchestra in C major, Op 48 (3rd mvt - Elegy)

    Orchestra: Australian Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Richard Tognetti.
    • ABC Classic.

  • Ruth Gipps

    Song for orchestra, Op 33

    Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
    • Ruth Gipps: Orchestral Works.
    • Chandos.
    • 14.

  • Eydís Evensen

    Deep Under

    Performer: Eydís Evensen.
    • XXIM Records.

  • Claude Debussy

    Symphony in B minor (2nd mvt)

    Music Arranger: Tony Finno. Orchestra: Orchestre national de Lyon. Conductor: Jun Märkl.
    • Naxos.

  • Daniel Kidane

    Aria Antica

    Performer: Hyeyoon Park. Performer: Benjamin Grosvenor.
    • NMC Recordings.

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Aquarium (Carnival of the Animals)

    Performer: Martha Argerich. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Academy of Santa Cecilia, Rome. Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano.
    • Warner Classics.

  • Hans Haug

    Alba

    Performer: Carlotta Dalia.
    • Berlin Classics.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Symphony No 6 in D major, Op 60 (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Jaime Martín.

  • Anoushka Shankar

    Fathers

    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Karl Jenkins

    The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace - Benedictus

    Performer: Christian Forshaw. Ensemble: VOCES8.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Symphony No 1 in D major, Op 25, 'Classical' (2nd mvt, Larghetto)

    Performer: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Thomas Søndergård.
    • Linn.

  • Amy Beach

    A Hermit thrush at morn

    Performer: Cécile Licad.
    • DANACORD.

  • Joseph Tawadros

    Truth Seeker Suite In A, part 2: Lover

    Performer: Joseph Tawadros. Performer: James Crabb. Performer: James Greening. Performer: Matt McMahon.
    • Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC).

  • Lambert

    Be Quiet

    Performer: Lambert.
    • Mercury Classics.

  • Agathe Backer-Grøndahl

    Allegretto tranquillo (6 Idylles, Op 24 No 5)

    Performer: Sara Aimée Smiseth.
    • Grand Piano.

  • Max Bruch

    Violin concerto No 1 in G minor, Op 26 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Johan Dalene. Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Fabien Gabel.

  • Matilda Brown

    Moving Through Emotions

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gabriella Teychenné.

  • Dan Forrest

    Good Night, Dear Heart

    • Seraphic Fire Media.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony No 39 in E flat major, K 543 (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Manze.

  • Robert Schumann

    String quartet in A major, Op 41 No 1 (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Takács Quartet.
    • SWR Digital.

  • Manav Paul

    Oculi omnium

    Choir: The Choir of Jesus College Cambridge. Conductor: Benjamin Sheen.
    • CRD.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony No 26 in D minor (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Northern Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Nicholas Ward.
    • Naxos.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Eternal source of light - birthday ode for Queen Anne

    Ensemble: Music Lab Collective.
    • Decca (UMO) (Classics).

  • Dobrinka Tabakova

    Kynance Cove

    Choir: Truro Cathedral Choir. Conductor: Christopher Gray.
    • Regent Records.

  • John Tavener

    The Lamb

    Ensemble: 12 Ensemble.
    • Sancho Panza Records.

  • Bo Holten

    A Cradle Song (from The Marriage of Heaven and Hell)

    Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Bo Holten.
    • DACAPO.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Serenade in D major, Op 69 No 1

    Performer: James Ehnes. Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
    • Chandos Records Limited.

  • Leo Brouwer

    An Idea (Passacaglia for Eli)

    Performer: Andres Madariaga.
    • Etymology Classics.

  • Cécile Chaminade

    Piece romantique, Op 9 No 1

    Performer: Isabel Gehweiler. Performer: Fiona Hengartner.
    • Solo Musica.

  • Marc Fortier

    En Bateau-mouche

  • Patrick Lenk

    O Filii et Filiae (Chant of the Mystics)

    Performer: Patrick Lenk.
    • Audio Sanctum.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Keyboard concerto No 5 in F minor, BWV 1056 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Beatrice Rana. Orchestra: Amsterdam Sinfonietta.
    • Warner Classics.

  • Nobuo Uematsu

    Aerith's Theme - Home again (acoustic version)

    Performer: Kenta Higashiohji. Performer: Atsuki Yoshida.
    • Square Enix Co..

  • Dawn Chorus and the Infallible Sea

    Aufero

    • Sonic Cathedral.

  • Hildegard von Bingen

    O splendidissima gemma

    Music Arranger: Stef Conner. Singer: Hannah Lawrance. Choir: The Blossom Street Singers. Conductor: Hilary Campbell.
    • Naxos.

Broadcasts

  • Wed 16 Apr 202518:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Sun 11 May 202518:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Sat 16 Aug 202518:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Mon 3 Nov 202517:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind