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Immerse yourself in calm with a soothing 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 Esther Abrami, Erland Cooper and Chopin. Plus, a chance to Press Pause with meditation teacher Michael James Wong, and some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel on the benefits of 'worry windows'.

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

21 days left to listen

3 hours

Last on

Tue 8 Sep 202617:00
BBC Radio 3 Unwind

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Calming classical music for a gentle start to the evening

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Music Played

  • Max Bruch

    In der Nacht

    Performer: Eldbjørg Hemsing. Music Arranger: Jan-Peter Klöpfel. Orchestra: Oslo Philharmonic. Conductor: Gergely Madaras.
    • In der Nacht, Op. 72 (Arr. for Violin & Orchestra by Jan-Peter Klöpfel).
    • Sony Classical/Sony Music.
    • 1.

  • Franz Liszt

    Paysage (12 Etudes d'execution transcendante, S 139 No 3)

    Performer: Yoav Levanon.
    • Liszt: Paysage.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 1.

  • Oscar Kowalski

    Entre Sombras Y Luz (The Armonia Dialogues)

    Performer: Doina Bora. Performer: Oscar Kowalski.
    • Nephele Records.

  • Josquin des Prez

    Alma Redemptoris Mater

    Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Sofi Jeannin.

  • Valmandel

    Nocturne No 6 - Serenity

    Performer: Valmandel.
    • Nocturnes, Vol. 1.
    • Prima Classic.
    • 7.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Symphony No 1 in C minor, Op 68 (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Thomas Søndergård.

  • Akira Nakada

    A Song of Early Spring (Arr. for Guitar)

    Performer: Yuval Te'eni.
    • A Song of Early Spring (Arr. for Guitar by Tōru Tokemitsu).
    • Prima Classic.
    • 1.

  • Francis Edward Bache

    Piano concerto in E major, Op 18 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Howard Shelley. Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
    • Sterndale Bennett: Piano Concerto No. 4 – Bache: Piano Concerto (Hyperion Romant.
    • Hyperion.

  • Franz Schubert

    Nacht und Traume, D 827

    Performer: Pablo Ferrández. Performer: Julien Quentin.
    • Moonlight Variations.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 3.

  • Lauri Porra

    Rubato (from We Lie Down Only to Get Up Again)

    Performer: Jonathan Roozeman.
    • Porra: We Lie Down Only to Get Up Again: 1. Rubato.
    • BIS.
    • 1.

  • Cesar Cui

    Orientale from Kaleidoscope, Op 50 No 9

    Performer: Mikael Samsonov. Music Arranger: Pavel Lyubomudrov. Orchestra: Metamorphose String Orchestra. Conductor: Pavel Lyubomudrov.
    • Halidon Classical.

  • Erich Wolfgang Korngold

    Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35: II. Romance. Andante

    Performer: Paul Huang. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Jun Märkl.
    • Naive.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Nocturne in D flat major, Op 27 No 2

    Performer: Bruce Liu.
    • Lunaris.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 1.

  • Esther Abrami

    Fusion

    Performer: Esther Abrami. Orchestra: The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Irene Delgado-Jiménez.
    • Fusion.
    • Sony Classical/Sony Music.
    • 1.

  • 澤井誠

    Sei

    Performer: 澤井誠.
    • Kaze.
    • Bigo & Twigetti.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Slavonic Dance in E minor, Op 72 No 2

    Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Ryan Wigglesworth.

  • Gavin Greenaway

    Smoke

    Performer: Caroline Dale. Ensemble: Cloud Chamber.
    • Smoke.
    • MVKA.
    • 1.

  • Duke Ellington

    Sophisticated Lady

    Orchestrator: Morton Gould. Orchestra: American Composers Orchestra. Conductor: Rei Hotoda.
    • America in Weimar.
    • Platoon.
    • 2.

  • Dzintra Erliha

    Memories

    Performer: Dzintra Erliha.
    • Memories.
    • Prima Classic.
    • 1.

  • Jules Massenet

    Meditation from Thais

    Performer: Albena Danailova. Performer: Albena Danailova. Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Lorenzo Viotti.
    • Sommernachtskonzert 2026 / Summer Night Concert 2026.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 9.

  • Hélène de Montgeroult

    Piano sonata, Op 5 No 1 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Hiroaki Takenouchi.

  • Zoe Dixon

    Meditation

    Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

  • praam

    interbellum

    Ensemble: praam.
    • Sonder House.

  • Philip Moore

    Three Prayers of Dietrich Bonhoeffer: III. Evening Prayers

    Choir: SANSARA. Conductor: Tom Herring.
    • Traces.
    • Platoon.
    • 14.

  • Erland Cooper

    Sula bassana (excerpt 1)

    Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: George Morton.
    • Sula bassana.
    • Mercury KX.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano sonata No 31 in A flat major, Op 110 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Mitsuko Uchida.
    • Beethoven: Piano Sonatas, Opp. 109, 110 & 111 (Live at Suntory Hall, Tokyo, 2025.
    • Universal Music Operations Limited.
    • 6.

  • Arthur Sullivan

    Banquet dance from The Tempest - Incidental music, Op 1

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Richard Hickox.

  • Amy Beach

    By the still waters, Op 114

    Performer: Carmen Stefanescu.
    • Beach: By the still waters, Op. 114.
    • Prospero Classical.
    • 1.

  • Alex Chang

    Rain (from Water Suite in C sharp minor)

    Performer: Alex Chang.
    • Adhyaropa Records/Alex Chang.

  • Ulla

    Falling Water Lullaby

    Performer: Ulla.
    • Memories of Log.
    • VAKNAR.
    • 3.

  • Ninfea Cruttwell-Reade

    A Study in the Elements of Jor (Patdeep Studies, No 2)

    Ensemble: Psappha.
    • Psappha Commissions.
    • NMC.
    • 5.

  • Busra Kayikci

    Atik Valide Complex

    Performer: Busra Kayikci.
    • Atik Valide Complex.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 1.

  • VLMV

    Steady, Thyself

    • Sing With Abandon.
    • Nice Weather for Airstrikes.
    • 9.

  • Sarah Latto

    Manage Your Fears

    Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

  • Kirk Barley

    Column

    Performer: Kirk Barley.
    • Arc.
    • Marionette.
    • 9.

  • Hildegard of Bingen

    Ave generosa

    Ensemble: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Ave, generosa: Verses 1 - 4.
    • CORO.
    • 1.

  • Dorian Wood

    Lirios

    Performer: Adrián Cortés. Performer: April Guthrie. Performer: Christopher Votek. Performer: Emily Elkin. Performer: Michael Corwin.
    • Canto de Todes.
    • New Amsterdam Records.
    • 1.

  • Olivia Belli

    Memore

    Performer: Olivia Belli.
    • Stanze Memori.
    • XXIM Records.
    • 5.

  • John Foulds

    Evening in the Odenwald (Holiday Sketches)

    Performer: Katharine Wood. Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Ronald Corp.

Broadcast

  • Tue 8 Sep 202617:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind