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Wind down for the evening with a calming classical playlist

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 Nobuo Uematsu, Anoushka Shankar and Haydn. Plus a chance to Press Pause with meditation teacher Michael James Wong and some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel on orthosomnia: what it is, how it affects our sleep, and suggestions to deal with it.

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

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3 hours

Last on

Tue 19 May 202617:00
BBC Radio 3 Unwind

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Music Played

  • Helen Hopekirk

    The Seal-Woman's Sea-joy (2 Tone pictures, No 2)

    Performer: Vanessa Wagner.
    • Helen Hopekirk: The Seal-woman's Sea-joy.
    • La Boîte à Pépites.
    • 1.

  • Jules Massenet

    Meditation from Thais

    Performer: Koji Morishita.
    • Stereo Arts Classics.

  • Ola Gjeilo

    hurt

    Performer: Ola Gjeilo.
    • hurt.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 1.

  • Nobuo Uematsu

    Frozen Tears (Merregnon: Heart of Ice)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Eckehard Stier.
    • Uematsu: Merregnon: Heart of Ice: Frozen Tears.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 1.

  • Kerensa Briggs

    Stabat Mater

    Choir: Byrd Ensemble.
    • Scribe Records.

  • Max Bruch

    Scottish Fantasy, Op 46 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Hana Chang. Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Ryan Bancroft.

  • Kaori Muraji

    Snowdrop

    Performer: Kaori Muraji.
    • Rhapsody Japan.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 14.

  • Ramin Djawadi

    I Am Hers, She Is Mine (From Game Thrones)

    Performer: Ramin Djawadi.
    • Game Of Thrones: Season 2 (Music From The HBO Series).
    • Varese Sarabande.
    • 9.

  • Joseph Haydn

    String Quartet in E flat major, Op 20 No 1 (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Chaos String Quartet.

  • Marianna Martines

    Keyboard concerto in E major (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Idith Meshulam Korman. Orchestra: Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey.
    • Martines: The Complete Keyboard Works.
    • Signum Records.
    • 11.

  • Fanny Mendelssohn

    Notturno in G Minor

    Performer: Karin Fernandes.
    • She, Invisible Vol. I.
    • Azul Music.
    • 14.

  • Gerald Finzi

    Clear and gentle stream (7 Part Songs, Op.17)

    Music Arranger: Harvey Brough. Orchestra: Aurora Orchestra. Conductor: Nicholas Collon.
    • Introit: The Music of Gerald Finzi.
    • Decca.
    • 7.

  • Franz Schubert

    Octet in F Major, D 803: V. Menuetto. Allegretto

    Ensemble: Scharoun Ensemble.
    • Schubert: Octet D 803.
    • PENTATONE.

  • Tony Woollard

    Becoming (solo piano version)

    Performer: Tony Woollard.
    • The Moon on the Istrian Riviera Part 1.
    • Bigo & Twigetti.
    • 1.

  • Christina Vantzou

    No.4 String Quartet

    Performer: Christina Vantzou. Ensemble: Echo Collective.
    • No. 4.
    • Kranky.
    • 6.

  • Joseph Bologne

    Violin concerto No 9 in G major, Op 8 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Romuald Grimbert-Barré. Orchestra: Orchestre national de Cannes. Conductor: Benjamin Levy.
    • Saint-George: Violin Concerto No. 9 in G Major, Op. 8: II. Largo.
    • Aparté.
    • 1.

  • William Cornysh

    Ave Maria, Mater Dei

    Choir: Ringmasters.
    • Notre Dame I: Origins.
    • VOCES8 Records.
    • 1.

  • Chris Green-Armytage

    Aftermath

    Performer: Chris Green-Armytage.
    • Bigo & Twigetti.

  • Johann Philipp Krieger

    Sonata a 4

    Ensemble: Lautten Compagney. Conductor: Wolfgang Katschner.
    • Krieger: Sonata à 4.
    • Prospero Classical.
    • 1.

  • Callum Au

    Point of Ness

    Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

  • SYML & Evgeny Grinko

    Listless

    • Listless.
    • Nettwerk Music Group.
    • 1.

  • Édith Piaf

    La vie en rose (arr. Snowden for guitar)

    Composer: Louiguy. Performer: Alexandra Whittingham.
    • Letters from Paris.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 2.

  • Peter Dickinson

    Lullaby from The Unicorns - suite

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Barry Wordsworth.

  • Sofiane Pamart

    Director's Cut

    Performer: Sofiane Pamart.
    • MOVIE.
    • 88 Touches Production.
    • 10.

  • Nicholas Scott-Burt

    Prelude No 1 in C major (24 Preludes)

    Performer: Da-Hee Kim.
    • Nicholas Scott-Burt: 24 Preludes for Piano.
    • Divine Art.
    • 101.

  • Hector Berlioz

    March of the Pilgrims (Harold in Italy)

    Performer: Rebecca Jones. Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Jonathan Bloxham.

  • Snorri Hallgrímsson

    The White Blur Was a Fox (Nowhere Sessions)

    Performer: Snorri Hallgrímsson.
    • The White Blur Was a Fox (Nowhere Sessions).
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 1.

  • Anoushka Shankar

    Prayer In Passing

    Performer: Vishwa Mohan Bhatt.
    • Rise.
    • Angel Records.
    • 1.

  • Edward Elgar

    Lux Aeterna - choral adaptation of Nimrod from Enigma Variations

    Music Arranger: John Cameron. Choir: Choeur de chambre Dulci Jubilo. Conductor: Christopher Gibert.
    • Anima Nostra.

  • Anne Dudley

    Fresh Paint (from the soundtrack to Elle)

    Orchestra: The Chamber Orchestra of London. Conductor: Anne Dudley.
    • Elle (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).
    • Sony Classical.
    • 16.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Cello sonata in G minor, Op 19 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Ariana Kashefi. Performer: Peter Limonov.
    • Rachmaninoff: Cello Sonata in G Minor, Op. 19: III. Andante.
    • Champs Hill Records.
    • 1.

  • Thomas Adès

    Adagio from Air - Homage to Sibelius

    Performer: Anne‐Sophie Mutter. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Thomas Adès.
    • East Meets West.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 14.

  • Piers Connor Kennedy

    Wind down for the evening

    Choir: BBC Singers.

  • Claude Debussy

    The Girl with the flaxen hair, arr. Spindler

    Performer: María Dueñas. Orchestra: Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Gustavo Dudamel.
    • Debussy: Préludes, Book 1, CD 125: VIII. La fille aux cheveux de lin (Arr. Spind.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 1.

  • Vegso

    Brightness

    Performer: Vegso.
    • Colours of Us (original documentary soundtrack).
    • Mentalbeatz Records.

  • Olga Wojciechowska

    Ready to Return

    Performer: Olga Wojciechowska.
    • Infinite Distances.
    • A Strangely Isolated Place.
    • 6.

  • Rodion Shchedrin

    Carmen - ballet suite for strings and percussion, based on Bizet's music (Scene)

    Composer: Georges Bizet. Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Gergely Madaras.

Broadcast

  • Tue 19 May 202617:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind