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Ease into the evening with classical music

Take time out with a 30-minute soundscape of classical music, including works by JS Bach, Ravel, Rita Strohl and Cole Porter.

Half an hour of back-to-back classical music to help wind down at the end of a busy day. Today's sequence begins with Bach and ends with Cole Porter. In between, there's an enchanted flute from Ravel's Shéhérazade, a sparkling glacier from Vaughan Williams' score to the film Scott of the Antarctic, and a very familiar string piece many have mistaken for Haydn but actually composed by Roman Hoffstetter. Also in the mix is a poignant choral anthem by Will Todd and an exquisitely beautiful romance for septet by Rita Strohl, little known today but whose music is said to have been admired by many of her contemporaries, including Fauré and Saint-Saens.

Producer: Helen Garrison

24 days left to listen

30 minutes

Music Played

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Concerto in C minor for violin and oboe, BWV.1060 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Rachel Podger. Performer: Alexandra Bellamy. Orchestra: Brecon Baroque.
    • Channel Classics.
  • Maurice Ravel

    La flute enchantée (Shéhérazade)

    Singer: Anne Sofie von Otter. Orchestra: The Cleveland Orchestra. Conductor: Pierre Boulez.
    • DG.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Distant Glacier (Scott of the Antarctic)

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
    • CHANDOS.
  • Will Todd

    The Call of Wisdom

    Choir: Tenebrae. Performer: James Sherlock. Conductor: Nigel Short.
    • Signum Classics.
  • Roman Hoffstetter

    String Quartet in F major Op.3`5 (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Guildhall String Ensemble. Director: Robert Salter.
    • RCA.
  • Rita Strohl

    Septet in C minor (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Shuichi Okada. Performer: Alexandre Pascal. Performer: Léa Hennino. Performer: Claudine Legras. Performer: Héloïse Luzzati. Performer: Lorraine Campet. Performer: Célia Oneto Bensaid.
    • La Boîte à Pépites.
  • Cole Porter

    So in love (Kiss Me, Kate)

    Singer: Simon Keenlyside. Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: David Charles Abell.
    • Chandos.
  • Arvo Pärt

    Fratres

    Performer: Johan Dalene. Performer: Charles Owen.
  • Antonín Dvořák

    Gypsy Melodies

    Performer: Jamie Barton. Performer: Brian Zeger.
    • All Who Wander.
    • Delos.
    • 503.
  • Antonín Dvořák

    Gypsy Melodies

    Performer: Brian Zeger. Singer: Jamie Barton.
    • All Who Wander.
    • Delos.
    • 505.

Broadcasts

  • Wed 21 Jan 202619:00
  • Last Thursday21:10

Music to help you focus

Music to help you focus

Discover the best classical music for study, inspiration and relaxation.