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Brighten your day with enchanting 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 gentle, soothing harmonies from composers like Grieg, Handel and Gipps. This episode features a chance to Find Your Focus with the music of Hania Rani. Sian takes a breath on a boggy walk in wet weather, and marvels at the ability of nature to bounce back. Also, Professor Catherine Loveday explores how musicians can help counter stage fright.

3 hours

Music Played

  • Claude Debussy

    Prelude a l'apres midi d'un faune

    Conductor: Klaus M盲kel盲. Orchestra: Orchestre de Paris 鈥 Philharmonie.
    • Decca.
  • Benedetto Marcello

    Canon Triplex (In omnem terram exivit sonus eorum)

    Choir: VOCES8.
    • Signum.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Charterhouse Suite (Slow Dance)

    Conductor: David Lloyd鈥怞ones. Orchestra: Orchestra of Opera North.
    • Naxos.
  • Tan Dun

    The Eternal Vow

    Performer: Yo鈥怸o Ma. Performer: David Cossin. Conductor: Xieyang Chang. Orchestra: Shanghai Municipal Committee Band. Orchestra: Shanghai Chinese Orchestra.
    • Sony.
  • Felix Mendelssohn

    String Symphony No 12 in G minor, MWV N12 (2nd mvt)

    Conductor: Thomas F眉ri. Orchestra: Camerata Bern.
    • Cascavelle.
  • Hania Rani

    Riksarkivet

    Performer: Hania Rani.
    • Gondwana Records.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    String Quintet No 3 in C major, K 515 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Antoine Tamestit. Ensemble: Quatuor 脡b猫ne.
    • Erato.
  • Ruth Gipps

    Song for Orchestra, Op 33

    Conductor: Rumon Gamba. Orchestra: 91福利社 National Orchestra of Wales.
    • Chandos.
  • C茅cile Chaminade

    Piano Trio No 2 in A minor, Op 34 (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Neave Trio.
    • Chandos.
  • Einar Englund

    Romance (Omena putoaa)

    Performer: Linda Hedlund. Conductor: J贸zsef H谩rs. Orchestra: La Tempesta.
    • Naxos.
  • Frederick Delius

    尝茅驳别苍诲别

    Performer: Tasmin Little. Orchestra: 91福利社 Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis.
    • Chandos.
  • Sayed Darwish

    Song at Nile River's Bank (arr for piano solo)

    Performer: Lang Lang. Music Arranger: Peter Schindler.
    • DG.
  • Gabriel Faur茅

    Dolly Suite, Op 56 (1st mvt, 'Berceuse')

    Music Arranger: Henri Rabaud. Conductor: Seiji Ozawa. Orchestra: Boston Symphony Orchestra.
    • DG.
  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony No 69 in C major, Hob I:69 (2nd mvt)

    Conductor: Giovanni Antonini. Orchestra: Kammerorchester Basel.
    • Alpha.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Concerto Grosso in F major, Op 6, No 2, HWV 320 (1st mvt)

    Conductor: Bernhard Forck. Orchestra: Academy for Ancient Music Berlin.
    • Pentatone.
  • R. Nathaniel Dett

    8 Bible Vignettes (No 3, 'As His Own Soul')

    Performer: Clipper Erickson.
    • Navona.
  • William Lloyd Webber

    Frensham Pond (arr for clarinet & strings)

    Performer: Peter Cigleris. Music Arranger: Peter Cigleris. Conductor: Peter Fisher. Orchestra: London Chamber Ensemble.
    • SOMM.
  • Sheila Mary Power

    Suite for Cello & Piano No 1 in E major (1st mvt, 'Prelude')

    Performer: Catherine Wilmers. Performer: Simon Marlow.
    • ASV.
  • Gabriel Jackson

    Airplane Cantata (7th mvt, Chorale-Coda)

    Performer: Rex Lawson. Choir: 91福利社 Singers. Conductor: James Morgan.
    • Signum.
  • Anton铆n Dvo艡谩k

    Symphony No 8 in G major, Op 88, B 163 (3rd mvt)

    Conductor: Gustavo Dudamel. Orchestra: Los Angeles Philharmonic.
    • DG.
  • H茅l猫ne de Montgeroult

    Concerto for Fortepiano No 1 in E flat major (2nd mvt)

    Composer: Giovanni Battista Viotti. Performer: 脡lisabeth Pion. Conductor: Mathieu Lussier. Orchestra: Arion Orchestre Baroque.
    • Atma.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Concerto for 2 Violins in D minor, BWV 1043 'Double Concerto' (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Arabella Steinbacher. Performer: Christoph Koncz. Orchestra: Stuttgarter Kammerorchester.
    • Pentatone.
  • Thomas Morley

    Nolo mortem peccatoris [I do not desire the death of a sinner]

    Choir: Stile Antico.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
  • Catrin Finch

    Celtic Concerto (2nd mvt, 'Hiraeth')

    Performer: Catrin Finch. Conductor: John Rutter. Orchestra: Sinfonia Cymru.
    • DG.
  • William Walton

    Partita for Orchestra (2nd mvt, 'Pastorale siciliana')

    Conductor: Martyn Brabbins. Orchestra: 91福利社 Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
    • Hyperion.
  • Nobu K艒da

    Violin Sonata in E flat major (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Mariko Aikawa. Performer: Sanae Takagi.
    • ALM RECORDS.
  • Hamish MacCunn

    Highland Memories, Op. 30 - By the Loch

    Orchestra: Royal Ballet Sinfonia. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • ASV.
  • Alexis Ffrench

    My Story

    Performer: Alexis Ffrench.
    • KPM.
  • Orlando Gibbons

    O Lord, in thee is all my trust

    Choir: ORA. Conductor: Suzi Digby.
    • Orchid.
  • Edvard Grieg

    2 Nordic Melodies, Op 63 (No 1, 'In Folk Style')

    Conductor: Bjarte Engeset. Orchestra: Malm枚 SymfoniOrkester.
    • Naxos.
  • Nigel Hess

    Ladies in Lavender (Theme)

    Performer: Joshua Bell. Conductor: Nigel Hess. Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Sony.
  • Tom谩s Luis de Victoria

    Responsories of the Second Nocturn of Holy Saturday (No 6, 'Ecce quomo')

    Choir: The Choir Of Trinity College, Cambridge. Conductor: Richard Marlow.
    • SONY.

Broadcasts

  • Mon 13 Apr 2026 09:00
  • Sun 10 May 2026 09:00