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Sweep away the cares of the day with calming 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 Handel, Jóhann Jóhannsson and Ruth Gipps. Plus, a chance to Press Pause with meditation teacher Maude Hirst, and some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel on the benefits of mindful eating.

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

27 days left to listen

3 hours

Last on

Wednesday17:00
BBC Radio 3 Unwind

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Music Played

  • George Frideric Handel

    Water Music Suite in D major HWV.349 (Alla hornpipe)

    Orchestra: Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale. Conductor: Nicholas McGegan.
    • Handel: Water Music: The English Concert, Pinnock.
    • Archiv.
    • 5.

  • Trad.

    Deep River

    Music Arranger: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Music Arranger: Kanneh-Mason Trio. Performer: Sheku Kanneh‐Mason. Performer: Isata Kanneh‐Mason. Performer: Braimah Kanneh-Mason.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..

  • Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka

    The Lark (A farewell to St Petersburg, No 10) transc. Balakirev

    Performer: Alexander Malofeev.
    • Forgotten Melodies.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 1.

  • Harold Edwin Darke

    Blessed is the man that endureth temptation

    Choir: Choir of The Queen's College, Oxford. Conductor: Owen Rees.
    • Blessed is the man that endureth temptation.
    • Signum Records.
    • 1.

  • Dardust

    Fantasia Italiana (Piano Solo)

    • Fantasia Italiana (Piano Solo).
    • Universal Music Italia srL..
    • 1.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Flute concerto No 1 in G major, K 313 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Zofia Neugebauer. Orchestra: Folkwang Kammerorchester Essen. Conductor: Johannes Klumpp.
    • Il Vento non Scritto.
    • Berlin Classics.
    • 3.

  • Robert Schumann

    Traumerei (Kinderszenen, Op 15 No 7)

    Performer: Arcadi Volodos.
    • Kinderszenen, Op.15/VII. Träumerei.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 1.

  • Nobuo Uematsu

    Theme of Love (from Final Fantasy IV)

    Performer: Alis Huws. Performer: Ellie Consta. Performer: Emma Oldfield. Performer: Ben Norris. Performer: Deni Teo.
    • Theme of Love (From "Final Fantasy IV") [Arr. Lawson for Harp & String Quartet].
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 1.

  • Sarah Latto

    Manage Your Fears

    Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

  • Josephine Lang

    An den See (By the Lake) Variation (after 6 German songs, No 4)

    Composer: Jan-Peter Klöpfel. Performer: Raphaela Gromes. Performer: Eldbjørg Hemsing. Performer: Sophie Pacini.
    • Josephine Lang: An den See Variation (After 6 Deutsche Lieder, No. 4, An den See.
    • Sony Classical/Sony Music.
    • 1.

  • Vicente Lusitano

    Heu me, Domine

    Choir: Marian Consort. Director: Rory McCleery.
    • Vicente Lusitano: Motets - 2.
    • Linn Records.
    • 6.

  • Karen LeFrak

    Prairie Dawn

    Performer: Chris Richards. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: William Ross.
    • American Promise.
    • KL2 Recordings.
    • 5.

  • John Barry

    The Beyondness of Things

    Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: John Barry.
    • Decca.

  • Braths

    Puerto Plata

    • Ephemeral Memory.
    • Masterworks/Sony Music.
    • 6.

  • Erland Cooper

    Music For Growing Flowers (Nocturne) (Edit)

    Performer: Erland Cooper.
    • Music for Growing Flowers (Nocturne).
    • Mercury Classics.
    • 6.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    L'autre visage (after Il Giustino, RV 717, Vedro con mio diletto)

    Performer: Sonia Wieder‐Atherton. Music Arranger: Sonia Wieder‐Atherton.
    • Or. Couperin & Vivaldi.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 16.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Goldberg Variations, BWV 988, Variation 25 (Adagio)

    Performer: Yunchan Lim.
    • J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations (Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, 2025).
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..

  • Manu Delago

    Sweetspot

    Composer: Max Zbiral-Teller. Performer: Manu Delago.
    • Deuce.
    • Session Work Records.
    • 7.

  • Leonardo Andersen

    Pentos

    Performer: Leonardo Andersen.
    • Prima Classic.

  • Ruth Gipps

    Symphony No 5, Op 64 (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
    • Gipps: Orchestral Works, Vol. 4.
    • Chandos Records Limited.
    • 6.

  • Maddy Chassar-Hesketh

    Dream Song/In 4 (tell me what you know!)

    Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Nocturne in E major, Op 62, No 2

    Performer: Giorgi Gigashvili.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Violin concerto in D major, Op 77 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Hana Chang. Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sakari Oramo.

  • Olivia Belli

    Laertes - Sleep Rework

    Performer: Olivia Belli.
    • Ithaca Flow.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 1.

  • Kenzo Zurzolo

    Dawn

    Performer: Kenzo Zurzolo. Performer: Octavio Angarita. Performer: Sylvain Rabourdin. Performer: Mathilde Rouaud. Performer: Angelina Zurzolo. Music Arranger: Octavio Angarita.
    • Hellissandur.
    • Silent Songs.
    • 5.

  • Betty Jackson King

    Four Seasonal Sketches: Spring Intermezzo

    Performer: Beatrice Nicholas.
    • Beatrice Nicholas.

  • Gabriel Fauré

    Cantique de Jean Racine, Op 11

    Choir: VOCES8 Foundation Choir. Orchestra: VOCES8 Foundation Orchestra. Conductor: Barnaby Smith.
    • Fauré: Cantique de Jean Racine, Op. 11 (Arr. Davis for Choir & Orchestra).
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 1.

  • Matt Pearson

    A plentiful nowhere

    Composer: Daniel G. Harmann. Performer: Matt Pearson. Performer: Daniel G. Harmann.
    • MP x DGH 1.0.
    • Matt Pearson / Hello Tower Media.

  • Gustav Mahler

    Die zwei blauen Augen (Songs of a Wayfarer, No 4) arr. for choir

    Music Arranger: Clytus Gottwald. Choir: Bavarian Radio Symphony Choir. Conductor: Peter Dijkstra.
    • BR Klassik.

  • Meredi

    Behind Her Sun

    Performer: Meredi. Performer: Simon Goff. Performer: Philipp Johann Thimm.
    • Flourish.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 5.

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Piano concerto No 2 in F major, Op 102 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Alim Beisembayev. Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Jaime Martín.

  • Jóhann Jóhannsson

    Payphone (from McCanick)

    Performer: Alice Sara Ott.
    • Jóhann Jóhannsson: Piano Works.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 20.

  • Will Everitt

    Be Kind to Yourself

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gabriella Teychenné.

  • Franz Schubert

    Du bist die Ruh, D 776 (arr. for piano trio)

    Performer: David Moreau. Performer: Edgar Moreau. Performer: Jérémie Moreau.
    • Schubert: Du bist die Ruh.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 1.

  • Zara Hudson‐Kozdoj

    Visceral

    Performer: Zara Hudson‐Kozdoj.
    • Song Athletics.

  • Ronald Binge

    The Watermill

    Performer: Michael Stowe. Ensemble: London Chamber Ensemble. Conductor: Peter Fisher.
    • Eclogue.
    • SOMM Recordings.
    • 6.

Broadcast

  • Wednesday17:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind