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Switch off with an evening of 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 JS Bach, Polly Carter and Tchaikovsky. Plus, a chance to Press Pause with Michael James Wong, and some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel, on how the use of noise-cancelling headphones can help you block out the stress of external noise.

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

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3 hours

On radio

Sun 1 Mar 202617:00
BBC Radio 3 Unwind

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Music Played

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Harpsichord Concerto No. 5 in F Minor, BWV 1056: II. Largo (Arr. for 2 Marimbas

    • Silence.
    • Sony Classical/Sony Music.
    • 10.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Piano Sonata in B flat major, K 333

    Performer: Eric Lu.

  • John Tavener

    Mother of God, Here I Stand (The Veil of the Temple)

    Choir: VOCES8.
    • LUX/Voces 8.
    • Decca.
    • 5.

  • Nadia Boulanger

    3 Pieces for Cello & Piano: No. 1, Modéré

    • Classical for Meditation.
    • Naxos Special Projects.
    • 1.

  • Francis Poulenc

    Clarinet Sonata, FP 184: II. Romanza

    • Virtuosi. Clarinet Works of Schumann, Debussy, Poulenc, Lovreglio, Weber & Messa.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 6.

  • Pedro Ximénez Abril Tirado

    A⁠ndante No. 12 in B Minor

    • A⁠ndante No. 12 in B Minor.
    • Prima Classic.
    • 1.

  • Manuel Ponce

    Estrellita

    Music Arranger: Jascha Heifetz.
    • Tapeo.
    • ATMA Classique.
    • 14.

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Souvenir de Florence, Op. 70: II. Adagio cantabile e con moto

    Conductor: Domingo Hindoyan. Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Tchaikovsky: Souvenir de Florence & Symphony No. 6 ‘Pathetique’.
    • Onyx Classics.
    • 2.

  • James Scott Skinner

    Hector The Hero

    • IN A CIRCLE RECORDS.

  • Grace Williams

    Calm Sea in Summer (Sea Sketches)

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Andrews.
    • Resonus.

  • Gabriel Pierné

    Impromptu-caprice, Op. 9

    • French Music for Harp & Strings.
    • Naxos.
    • 1.

  • Sophie Hutchings

    Drift Through The Hours

    Lyricist: Sophie Hutchings.
    • become the sky.
    • Mercury Classics.
    • 6.

  • Edith Sohlström

    Elegie

    • Cello Masterpieces.
    • Fazer Records/Finlandia.
    • 19.

  • Peter Boyer

    Elegy for English Horn, Harp & String Orchestra

    Conductor: Peter Boyer. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.
    • Classical for Meditation.
    • Naxos Special Projects.
    • 4.

  • Mario Pasquale Costa

    Era de maggio

    Performer: Andy Cicalese. Performer: Tim Allhoff. Music Arranger: Tim Allhoff.
    • Era de maggio (Arr. for Violin & Piano by Tim Allhoff).
    • Sony Classical/Sony Music.
    • 1.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Piano Quintet in F minor, Op 34

    Performer: Pavel Kolesnikov. Ensemble: Calidore String Quartet.

  • Haruka Nakamura

    rainy day

    • Still Life.
    • Toudai.
    • 11.

  • Ashley Jackson

    I'm Troubled in Mind (Arr. for harp by Ashley Jackson)

    Composer: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.
    • Ennanga.
    • Bright Shiny Things.
    • 2.

  • Tayla-Leigh Payne

    Meditation

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Daniel Parkinson.

  • Ludovico Einaudi

    Sarabande for violin and piano

    • Timeless Horizons.
    • Challenge Classics.
    • 10.

  • Arvo Pärt

    Silouan's Song

    Orchestra: Delirium Musicum.
    • Pärt: Silouan's Song.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 1.

  • William Henry Harris

    Faire is the heaven

    Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Nicholas Chalmers.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Prelude in G flat major, Op 23 No 10

    Performer: Nikolai Lugansky.
    • The Rachmaninov Experience.
    • Warner Classics and Jazz.
    • 16.

  • Polly Carter

    While Mortals Sleep

    • A Night Under The Stars.
    • Sea Ash Records.
    • 2.

  • Aphex Twin

    Aphex Twin: Avril 14th

    • For Seasons.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 16.

  • Padre Antonio Soler

    Keyboard Sonata in D Minor, R. 115 (Arr. for 2 Guitars by Volker Niehusmann)

    Music Arranger: Volker Niehusmann. Ensemble: Niehusmann Guitar Duo.
    • Soler: Sonatas.
    • Naxos.
    • 110.

  • Roman Zavada

    Crepuscule

    • Les Productions RZ.

  • Pierre de la Rue

    O salutaris hostia

    Music Arranger: Jan Garbarek. Performer: Jan Garbarek. Ensemble: The Hilliard Ensemble.
    • Officium.
    • ECM New Series.
    • 5.

  • Gabríel Ólafs

    Memory Of A World

    • Polar: Abyss.
    • Decca Records US.
    • 3.

  • Franz Schubert

    Entr'acte in B flat major (Rosamunde)

    Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Conductor: Claudio Abbado.
    • DG.

  • Federico Albanese

    Wallpaper of Dreams

    • Blackbirds and the Sun of October.
    • XXIM Records.
    • 13.

  • Rentaro Taki

    Taki: Kojo No Tsuki (Moon At a Desolate Castle)

    • Enchanted Dawn: Works for Flute and Marimba.
    • ATMA Classique.
    • 4.

  • Ignacy Jan Paderewski

    Miscellanea, Op. 16: No. 4, Nocturne in B-Flat Major

    • Relaxing Piano.
    • Naxos Special Projects.
    • 1.

  • Donald Grant

    Bha là eile ann

    • The Jukebox Album.
    • Orchid Classics.
    • 1601.

  • Poppy Ackroyd

    Muted

    Lyricist: Poppy Ackroyd.
    • Pause.
    • One Little Independent Records.
    • 6.

  • Anne Chmelewsky

    Remain

    • Songs Without Words.
    • Masterworks.
    • 11.

  • Peter Warlock

    Capriol Suite (Pieds en l'air; Mattachins)

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Keith Lockhart.

Broadcasts

  • Wed 4 Feb 202617:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind
  • Sun 1 Mar 202617:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind