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Round off the day with a calming classical soundtrack

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 Nico Muhly, Anna Phoebe and Schubert. Plus, a chance to Press Pause with meditation teacher Michael James Wong, and some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel on how a quick tidy up can make you feel calmer.

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

28 days left to listen

3 hours

Music Played

  • Johann Pachelbel

    Ciaccona

    Ensemble: Ensemble Les Surprises. Director: Louis-Noël Bestion de Camboulas.
    • Mysterien Kantaten.
    • Ambronay.
    • 1.
  • Gang Chen

    Butterfly Lovers Violin concerto (1st mvt)

    Composer: Zhanhao He. Performer: Chloe Chua. Orchestra: Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Rodolfo Barráez.
    • Butterfly Lovers Concerto & Paganini.
    • Pentatone.
    • 1.
  • Franz Schubert

    Zum Sanctus. Sehr langsam (from Deutsche Messe, D 872)

    Performer: Francois Loeb.
    • Schubert: Deutsche Messe, D. 872 - V. Zum Sanctus. Sehr langsam.
    • Nordic Classical Records.
    • 1.
  • Edmund Rubbra

    The Virgin's Cradle Hymn, Op 3

    Choir: Choir of Merton College, Oxford. Conductor: Benjamin Nicholas.
    • Rubbra: Choral Music.
    • Delphian Records.
    • 9.
  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Symphony No 1 in D minor, Op 13 (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: Appassionato. Conductor: Mathieu Herzog.
    • Appassionato Music.
  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Prelude in D major, Op 23 No 4

    Performer: Mao Fujita.
    • 6 Preludes.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 4.
  • Gabriel Fauré

    Apres un reve, Op 7 No 1

    Performer: Timothy Ridout. Performer: Jonathan Ware.
    • Fauré: Après un rêve, Op. 7 No. 2 (Arr. for Viola and Piano by Timothy Ridout).
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 1.
  • Suena

    Primapulsa

    Performer: Suena.
    • Primapulsa.
    • Sony Classical/Sony Music.
    • 1.
  • Michi Wiancko

    DIRTWORK: Part 3

    Ensemble: Friction Quartet.
    • Proper Nostalgia.
    • Aerocade Music.
    • 3.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Piano Concerto No 9 in E flat major, K 271, 'Jeunehomme' (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Martin James Bartlett. Orchestra: Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg. Conductor: Howard Griffiths.
    • Bach: Piano Concerto, BWV 1052 - Mozart: Piano Concerto, K. 271 "Jeunehomme" - B.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 5.
  • Dobrawa Czocher

    Someone On Your Side

    Performer: Dobrawa Czocher.
    • State Of Matter.
    • 130701.
    • 9.
  • Josquin des Prez

    Agnus Dei from Missa Pange lingua

    Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Sofi Jeannin.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Ave Maria - meditation on Bach's Prelude in C major, BWV 846

    Composer: Charles Gounod. Performer: Cocomi. Performer: Alexandra Whittingham. Music Arranger: Terry Herald.
    • J.S. Bach, Gounod: Ave Maria, CG 89 (After Prelude in C Major, BWV 846/I) [Arr..
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 1.
  • Olivia Belli

    Pax Athanae - Sleep Rework

    Performer: Olivia Belli.
    • Ithaca Flow.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 5.
  • Harrison Birtwistle

    Sleep Song

    Performer: Sean Shibe.
    • Vesper.
    • PENTATONE.
  • Franz Schubert

    Symphony No 5 in B flat major, D 485 (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Juanjo Mena.
  • Manu Delago

    Exhale

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

    Just Being, Softly

    Performer: Jade Ashtangini.
    • Perceptions, Vol 7.
    • Bigo & Twigetti.
    • 2.
  • Henry Purcell

    When I am laid in earth (Dido's Lament) from Dido & Aeneas

    Singer: Arianna Savall. Ensemble: Die Freitagsakademie. Conductor: Katharina Suske.
    • Purcell: Dido and Aeneas, Z. 626: When I am laid in earth ("Dido's Lament").
    • Prospero Classical.
    • 1.
  • Joseph Haydn

    Cello concerto No 2 in D major (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Bruno Delepelaire. Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic. Conductor: Michael Sanderling.
    • Haydn - Lalo.
    • Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings.
    • 2.
  • Cécile Lacharme

    Rivage

    Performer: Cécile Lacharme.
    • Dérives.
    • Bigo & Twigetti.
    • 8.
  • Sam Rapley

    Ease

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Ben Palmer.
  • Arnold Bax

    Pensive Twilight (from 4 orchestral pieces)

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Davis.
    • Bax: Four Orchestral Pieces, Phantasy for Viola and Orchestra & Orchestra, Elegy.
    • Chandos.
    • 101.
  • Keane Wang

    Unconditional

    Performer: Keane Wang.
    • Here I Am.
    • Keane Wang.
    • 13.
  • Mieczyslaw Weinberg

    Fantasia for cello & orchestra, Op 52 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Kristina Reiko Cooper. Orchestra: Kauno Miesto Simfoninis Orkestras. Conductor: Constantine Orbelian.
    • Hidden Legacies.
    • Delos.
    • 5.
  • Elliott Jack Sansom

    Evermore

    Composer: Jacob David. Performer: Elliott Jack Sansom.
    • Moderna.
  • William Walton

    Henry V: Touch Her Soft Lips and Part

    Lyricist: William Shakespeare. Conductor: John Rutter. Orchestra: Aurora Orchestra. Choir: The Cambridge Singers.
    • This is the Day.
    • Collegium Records.
    • 15.
  • Nico Muhly

    DALETH. Viae Sion lugent (from No Resting Place)

    Choir: Tallis Scholars. Conductor: Peter Phillips.
    • Nico Muhly: No Resting Place.
    • Linn Records.
    • 9.
  • Anna Phoebe

    Dawn - string rework

    Performer: Anna Phoebe.
    • Divergence (String Reworks).
    • Eat The Peach.
    • 1.
  • Jasdeep Singh Degun

    Anomaly (live at Real World)

    • Live at Real World.
    • Real World Records.
    • 3.
  • Rued Langgaard

    Symphony No 1 (Pastorals of the rocks) - 2nd mvt: Mountain Flowers

    Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sakari Oramo.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Violin concerto No 1 in A minor, BWV 1041 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Hilary Hahn. Orchestra: Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Jeffrey Kahane.
    • J.S. Bach: Violin Concertos.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
  • Valentin Silvestrov

    Augenblicke der Serenade (Stille Musik, No 3)

    Orchestra: Münchener Kammerorchester. Conductor: Christoph Poppen.
    • Silvestrov: Bagatellen und Serenaden.
    • ECM New Series.
    • 18.
  • Ben Rowarth

    Release

    Choir: BBC Singers. Ensemble: Guest string players.
  • Daniela Mars

    Dark Sky Lullaby (Contrabass Flute Version)

    Performer: Daniela Mars.
    • Records from Mars.
  • Darian Donovan Thomas

    Lacuna Vespers

    Performer: Darian Donovan Thomas. Ensemble: Infrasound.
    • Book of Sorrows.
    • Cmntx Records.
    • 7.
  • Aura Mae

    Moon Hills

    • self-released.
  • Claude Debussy

    Des pas sur la neige (Preludes, Book 1 No 6)

    Orchestrator: Colin Matthews. Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Martyn Brabbins.

Broadcast

  • Tuesday17:00