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Gentle classical music to keep you on track

Increase concentration with centuries of classical music, from Romantic lyricism and Impressionist colour to pastoral strings, intimate piano, and contemporary minimalism.

Increase concentration as Romantic warmth gives way to Impressionist colour, pastoral strings, and atmospheric contemporary composition in this wide-ranging classical mix.

Gabriel Fauré, Johannes Brahms, and Claude Debussy meet contemporary voices including Nils Frahm, Hania Rani, and Ludovico Einaudi, gently tracing the evolving language of classical music.

A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.

To listen on most smart speakers, just 'ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Focus'.

26 days left to listen

2 hours

Last on

Wednesday 12:00
BBC Radio 3 Unwind

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Music Played

  • Gabriel Fauré

    Pelléas et Mélisande, Op. 80, Suite: III. Sicilienne

    Performer: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Performer: Neville Marriner.
    • Fauré: Pelléas et Mélisande/Pavane/Fantasie, etc..

  • David Lyon

    Short Suite: Aria

    Performer: Royal Ballet Sinfonia. Performer: David Lloyd‐Jones.
    • English String Miniatures, Vol. 1.

  • Volodja Brodsky

    Snowfall Serenade

    Performer: Volodja Brodsky.
    • Raindrops.

  • Johannes Brahms

    6 Piano Pieces, Op. 118: No. 2: Intermezzo in A Major

    Performer: Igor Levit.
    • Brahms: Piano Concertos & Solo Piano Opp. 116 - 119.

  • Lou Harrison

    Suite for Symphonic Strings: 2. Chorale "Et in Arcadio Ego"

    Performer: American Composers Orchestra. Performer: Dennis Russell Davies.
    • Ung: Inner Voices / McPhee: Tabuh-Tabuhan / Harrison: Suite for Symphonic String.

  • William Lloyd Webber

    The Moon

    Performer: English Chamber Orchestra. Performer: Julian Lloyd Webber.
    • And the Bridge Is Love: English Music for Strings.

  • Nils Frahm

    Solo Remains

    Performer: Nils Frahm.
    • Solo Remains.

  • Cecil Armstrong Gibbs

    Fancy Dress, Op. 82: III. Dusk

    Performer: RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Performer: Ernest Tomlinson.
    • Miniatures (British Light Music).

  • Lara Somogyi

    révérence

    Composer: Jean‐Michel Blais. Performer: Lara Somogyi. Performer: Jean‐Michel Blais.
    • révérence.

  • Laurie Torres

    Correspondances

    Performer: Laurie Torres.
    • Après coup.

  • Erland Cooper

    Sula bassana - Excerpt II - Sula bassana

    Performer: Erland Cooper. Performer: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
    • Sula bassana.

  • Claude Debussy

    Petite suite, L. 65: I. En bateau (Arr. for Orchestra by Henri Büsser)

    Performer: Orchestre national de Lyon. Performer: Jun Märkl.
    • Debussy: Orchestral Works, Vol. 6.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Nocturne No. 5 in B-Flat Major, H. 37 (Arr. for Piano by Ignaz Friedman)

    Performer: Joseph Banowetz.
    • Friedman: Piano Transcriptions.

  • Lara Downes

    Going to Bed (Homage to Philip Glass)

    Performer: Lara Downes.
    • The Bedtime Sessions.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Fantasia on Greensleeves

    Performer: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Performer: Neville Marriner.
    • 50 Revision Classics by Classic FM.

  • Maurice Ravel

    Gaspard de la nuit: II. Le gibet

    Music Arranger: Marius Constant. Orchestra: Orchestre national de Lyon. Conductor: Leonard Slatkin.
    • Ravel: Orchestral Works, Vol. 2.

  • Sophia Subbayya Vastek

    K.B

    Performer: Sophia Subbayya Vastek.
    • In Our Softening.

  • Emile Mosseri

    Big Country

    Performer: Emile Mosseri.
    • Minari (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).

  • Nadia Boulanger

    3 Pièces: No. 1, Modéré (Version for cello and piano)

    Performer: Nicolas Altstaedt. Performer: José Gallardo.
    • 3 Pièces: No. 1, Modéré (Version for cello and piano).

  • John Cage

    In a Landscape

    Performer: Floraleda Sacchi.
    • Happy Birthday John!.

  • Rachel Portman

    Flight

    Performer: Anna Lapwood. Performer: Jess Gillam. Featured Artist: Jess Gillam.
    • Firedove.

  • Dorothy Howell

    2 Pieces for Muted Strings: No. 1, Nocturne. Allegretto

    Performer: South-West German Chamber Orchestra Pforzheim. Performer: Douglas Bostock.
    • British Music for Strings, Vol. 5.

  • Giya Kancheli

    Yellow Leaves - Waltz from Mimino [EXTRACT]

    Performer: Giorgi Gigashvili.
    • BBC Next Gen.

  • Hania Rani

    Intermezzo cis-moll

    Performer: Hania Rani.
    • Biała flaga.

  • Marie Awadis

    Étude No. 8: Through the Window

    Performer: Marie Awadis.
    • Études Mélodiques.

  • Florence Price

    Adoration

    Composer: Philippe Quint. Composer: Andrew Litton. Performer: Philippe Quint. Performer: Andrew Litton.
    • Milestones.

  • Ludovico Einaudi

    Ascent - Day 1

    Performer: Ludovico Einaudi.
    • Seven Days Walking.

  • Edvard Grieg

    Lyric Pieces, Op. 43: No. 5, Erotik

    Performer: Tom Borrow.
    • BBC Next Gen.

  • Lucinda Gallant

    Sweet Melancholy

    Performer: Lucinda Gallant.
    • BBC Introducing.

Broadcast

  • Wednesday 12:00
    BBC Radio 3 Unwind

Featured in...

  • Piano Focus

    Calming music to help you get in the zone when you need to.