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Restore the 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 Joe Hisaishi, Poppy Ackroyd and Schubert. Plus a chance to Press Pause with meditation teacher Maude Hirst, and some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel on how looking to the horizon can help you rest.

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

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Yesterday17:00
BBC Radio 3 Unwind

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Music Played

  • Sir Arthur Somervell

    Violin Concerto in G Minor (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Anthony Marwood. Conductor: Martyn Brabbins. Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
    • Coleridge-Taylor & Somervell: Violin Concertos (Hyperion Romantic Violin Concert.
    • Hyperion.
    • 5.

  • John Dowland

    Tarleton's Resurrection

    Performer: Toby Carr.
    • Tarleton’s Resurrection.
    • Delphian Records.
    • 1.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Song without words, Book 1, No 1 - Andante con moto (Sweet remembrance)

    Performer: Bertrand Chamayou.
    • Felix Mendelssohn: Song Without Word, Op. 19b No. 1 "Sweet Remembrance".
    • Warner Classics.
    • 1.

  • 澤井誠

    Kou

    Performer: 澤井誠.
    • Kaze.
    • Bigo & Twigetti.
    • 5.

  • Poppy Ackroyd

    Continuum

    Performer: Poppy Ackroyd.
    • Liminal.
    • One Little Independent Records.
    • 3.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Concerto for violin & cello in A minor, Op 102 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Lesley Hatfield. Performer: Alice Neary. Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Ryan Bancroft.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Nocturne in E flat major, Op 9 No 2

    Performer: Kotaro Fukuma.
    • Calming Classical.
    • Naxos Special Projects.
    • 3.

  • Philip Glass

    The Poet Acts - from The Hours

    Performer: Camille Thomas. Orchestra: Brussels Philharmonic. Conductor: Oscar Jockel.
    • Philip Glass for Cello.
    • Decca.

  • Timothy Roberts

    Idyll for Strings

    Orchestra: Royal Ballet Sinfonia. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
    • British Celebration 2.
    • Heritage Records.
    • 9.

  • Fode Lassana Diabate

    Nana Triban (No 3 from Sunjata's Time)

    Music Arranger: Jacob Garchik. Ensemble: PUBLIQuartet.
    • Diabaté: Sunjata’s Time (Arr. for String Quartet by Jacob Garchik): III. Nana Tr.
    • AVIE Records.
    • 1.

  • Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni

    Concerto for 5 in D minor, Op 9 No 2 (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Weimar Baroque.
    • Rondeau Production.

  • Dzintra Erliha

    Reflection

    Performer: Dzintra Erliha.
    • Daylight.
    • Prima Classic.
    • 13.

  • Giacomo Puccini

    Intermezzo from Manon Lescaut

    Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Lorenzo Viotti.
    • Sommernachtskonzert 2026 / Summer Night Concert 2026.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 3.

  • João Marcondes

    Synesthetic Nature No 1 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Sérgio Burgani. Performer: Joel de Souza.
    • Synesthetic Nature: No. 1 for Clarinet and Cello _ No. 2 for String Quartet.
    • Azul Music.
    • 1.

  • Shuteen Erdenebaatar

    Echoes of Life 1: Awakening

    Ensemble: Arcis Saxophon Quartett.
    • Quirky Nightclub Chronicles.
    • arcis records.
    • 1.

  • Vicente Lusitano

    Regina Caeli

    Ensemble: Apollo5.
    • Lusitano: Regina Caeli.
    • VOCES8 Records.
    • 1.

  • Gabriel Fauré

    Pavane, Op 50

    Music Arranger: François Joubert‐Caillet. Orchestra: L’Achéron. Conductor: François Joubert‐Caillet.
    • Soleils de septembre.
    • Fuga Libera.
    • 18.

  • Lyle Chan

    Untitled, for Steve

    Performer: Alex Raineri.
    • Chan: Untitled, for Steve.
    • Universal Music Australia Pty. Ltd..
    • 1.

  • Joe Hisaishi

    Harp concerto (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Emmanuel Ceysson. Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Joe Hisaishi.
    • Symphony No.3 (Metaphysica) & Harp Concerto.
    • Universal Music LLC.
    • 5.

  • Jamie Elless

    Refine your work life balance

    Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

  • Paul Juon

    Viola sonata in D major, Op 15 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Timothy Ridout. Performer: Artur Pizarro.

  • Justyna Jablonska

    Unforeseen

    Performer: Justyna Jablonska.
    • Alumni Records Glasgow.

  • Pyotr Tchaikovsky

    Sentimental Waltz, Op 51 No 6

    Performer: Alexandra Netzold. Performer: Brigitte Becker.
    • Dances.
    • Sacral.
    • 2.

  • Katarina Sjafjell

    Resurrection from Return to the Sky (original soundtrack)

    Performer: Viktor Bomstad. Performer: Ingrid Berg Mehus.
    • Return to the Sky (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).
    • Katarina Sjåfjell.
    • 4.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    String quartet in C major, K 157 (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Leonkoro Quartet.

  • Robin Katz

    Kingdom

    Performer: Robin Katz.
    • Hypnos.
    • Gearbox Records.
    • 2.

  • Franz Schubert

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

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Juanjo Mena.

  • Alanna Crouch

    Forgotten Doll

    Performer: Alanna Crouch.
    • Memories.
    • Bigo & Twigetti.
    • 3.

  • Hiroshi Yoshimura

    Water Copy

    Performer: Hiroshi Yoshimura.
    • Empire of Signs.

  • Hjálmar Ragnarsson

    Ave Maria

    Choir: BBC Singers. Conductor: Sofi Jeannin.

  • Henry Purcell

    Dido's Lament from Dido and Aeneas (arr. for harp)

    Performer: Alis Huws. Music Arranger: Alis Huws.
    • The Fate of the Broken Hearted.
    • Decca.
    • 2.

  • Matilda Brown

    Moving Through Emotions

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gabriella Teychenné.

  • Anthony Hopkins

    Tara

    Conductor: Gustavo Dudamel. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..

  • Sarah Blair

    Birdsong 1

    Performer: Sarah Blair. Performer: Frances McDonald.

  • Laurel Halo

    Raw Silk Uncut Wood

    Performer: Laurel Halo.
    • Raw Silk Uncut Wood.
    • Latency.
    • 1.

  • Fedir Yakymenko

    Nocturne in D Major

    Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Dalia Stasevska.
    • Ukrainian Mixtape.
    • Platoon.
    • 105.

Broadcast

  • Yesterday17:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind