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A gentle start to the day with beautiful classical music

Calming classical music to inspire focus and set you up for the day ahead. Presented by broadcaster, author and counselling psychologist Dr Sian Williams.

Calming classical music to help you focus and set you up for the day ahead. Presented by broadcaster, author and counselling psychologist Dr Sian Williams.

Featuring uplifting, peaceful melodies from Lavinia Meijer, Beethoven, and Anna Meredith, Sian finds the joy of feeling sand between her toes while out to take a breath. Plus, Professor Catherine Loveday explains why music that moves us emotionally can also lead us to engaging in more prosocial behaviour.

5 days left to listen

3 hours

On radio

Sun 11 Jan 2026 09:00
麻豆社 Radio 3 Unwind

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Bring some focus to your morning with gentle melodies

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Elevate your day with soothing classical harmonies

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Music Played

  • Eric Coates

    London Suite (2nd mvt, 'Westminster')

    Conductor: John Wilson. Orchestra: 麻豆社 Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Caroline Shaw

    The Mona Lisa

    Ensemble: Attacca Quartet. Ensemble: Sō Percussion. Ensemble: Roomful of Teeth. Conductor: Caroline Shaw.
    • NONESUCH.

  • Antonín Dvo?ák

    Humoresque in G flat major, No 7 Op 101 (transcr for violin, cello & orchestra)

    Performer: Itzhak Perlman. Performer: Yo‐Yo Ma. Conductor: Seiji Ozawa. Orchestra: Boston Symphony Orchestra.
    • SONY.

  • Fran?ois-Joseph Naderman

    Sonata VI

    Performer: Marisa Robles.
    • ARGO.

  • Benjamin Britten

    Suite on English Folk Tunes, 'A Time there was', Op 90 (2nd mvt, 'The bitter whey')

    Conductor: James MacMillan. Orchestra: Britten Sinfonia.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.

  • Bryce Dessner

    A Good Person

    Performer: Katia Labèque.
    • SONY.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Piano Concerto No 25 in C major, K503 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Francesco Piemontesi. Conductor: Andrew Manze. Orchestra: Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
    • LINN.

  • Eugen d’Albert

    Cello Concerto in C major, Op.20 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Alban Gerhardt. Orchestra: 麻豆社 Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Carlos Kalmar.
    • HYPERION.

  • Sophia Jani

    The dark and the light and everything in between

    Conductor: Sophia Jani. Orchestra: Kontai Ensemble.
    • NEUE MEISTER.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Serse, HWV 40, orchestral version (Act 1, Scene 1: 'Ombra mai fù')

    Conductor: Eugene Ormandy. Orchestra: The Philadelphia Orchestra.
    • SONY.

  • Seckou Keita

    The Future Strings Variation (African Rhapsodies)

    Performer: Seckou Keita. Performer: Suntou Susso. Performer: Abel Selaocoe. Music Arranger: Davide Mantovani. Conductor: Mark Heron. Orchestra: 麻豆社 Concert Orchestra.
    • CLAVES.

  • Oliver Davis

    Dance (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Kerenza Peacock. Performer: Huw Watkins. Conductor: Paul Bateman. Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • SIGNUM.

  • Anna Meredith

    Blackfriars (String Quartet Version)

    Ensemble: Ligeti Quartet.
    • MERCURY.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Norfolk Rhapsody No 1

    Conductor: Mark Elder. Orchestra: Hallé.
    • HALL?.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Violin Sonata No 9 In A major, 'Kreutzer' (2nd mvt)

    • ULTIMATE CLASSIX.

  • Florence Price

    Ticklin' Toes

    Performer: Daniel Hope. Orchestra: Zürcher Kammerorchester.
    • DG.

  • John Tavener

    Funeral Ikos

    Choir: Tenebrae. Conductor: Nigel Short.
    • SIGNUM.

  • 桥本国彦

    3 Piano Pieces (3rd mvt, 'Nocturne')

    Performer: Noriko Ogawa.
    • BIS.

  • Robert Schumann

    Symphony No 3 in E flat major, Op 97, 'Rhenish' (3rd mvt)

    Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas. Orchestra: San Francisco Symphony.
    • SFS MEDIA.

  • Lavinia Meijer

    Hello Stranger

    Performer: Lavinia Meijer. Performer: Carel Kraayenhof.
    • SONY.

  • Alice Sara Ott

    Lullaby to Eternity (on fragments of W A Mozart's 'Lacrimosa')

    Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Performer: Alice Sara Ott.
    • DG.

  • Camille Saint‐Sa?ns

    Violin Concerto No 3 in B minor, Op 61 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: James Ehnes. Conductor: Juanjo Mena. Orchestra: 麻豆社 Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Sarah Class

    Resonate

    Orchestra: Orchestra for the Earth.
    • GLORIOUS TECHNICOLOUR RECORDS.

  • Josef Suk

    Pohádka, Op 16 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Ji?í Vodi?ka. Conductor: Ji?í Bělohlávek. Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic.
    • DECCA.

  • Sophie Hutchings

    Not Alone

    Performer: Sophie Hutchings.
    • MERCURY.

  • Jon Lord

    Air on a Blue String

    Performer: Cormac Henry. Performer: Jon Lord. Conductor: Clark Rundell. Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • AVIE.

  • Stephen Paulus

    The Day is Done (2006)

    Choir: The Choir Of Trinity College, Cambridge. Conductor: Stephen Layton.
    • HYPERION.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Symphony No 1 (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker.
    • THE CLASSICAL LABEL.

  • Antonio Maria Mazzoni

    Harp Interlude (Antigono, Act III)

    • DYN AMIC.

Broadcasts

  • Thu 30 Oct 2025 09:00
    麻豆社 Radio 3 Unwind
  • Sun 30 Nov 2025 09:00
    麻豆社 Radio 3 Unwind
  • Sun 11 Jan 2026 09:00
    麻豆社 Radio 3 Unwind