Programs & Hosts

Five O’Clock Favorite

Hosted by
Christa Wessel

Five O’Clock Favorite

Every weekday at 5:00 PM PT

Every weekday at 5:00 PM PT, All Classical Radio and host Christa Wessel invite listeners to be part of the programming. During the Five O’Clock Favorite, you’ll hear a listener-suggested piece of music along with a personal story about their choice. With pieces that are fun and familiar, music for remembrance and reflection, and everything in between, the Five O’Clock Favorite is a perfect way to ease your commute, end your workday, or start off your evening soundtrack on All Classical Radio.  

graphic for five o clock fav

Your Host
Christa Wessel

Weekdays at 5:00, you’ll find me in my happy place on the radio: sharing your Five O’Clock Favorite. This special program is an opportunity for me to celebrate listeners’ memories and favorite pieces of classical music. Our stories connect us to each other, and this daily segment allows us to hear what’s in the hearts of our friends and neighbors. I hope you’ll submit your suggestion for a future Five O’Clock Favorite

Christa Wessel
woman with glasses sitting on a blue couch, leaning slightly forward
Photo by Christine Dong

Submit your favorite piece:
Suggestions are easiest to honor if they’re 20 minutes or less.

Due to the interest in the program, it may be a week or two before you hear your selection on-air.

Recent Favorites


Air date: January 16, 2026

Fur Elise, Ludwig van Beethoven

Suggested by Marie in Tigard, Oregon

Christa, you ask about pieces that hold special memories for us. Well, for me, Fur Elise provides a huge wave of nostalgia. I remember sitting next to my mom (my first piano teacher!) on the piano bench as she helped me pick out the notes on the keyboard. Those moments together with her are such a precious memory... snuggled alongside each other on the bench, our hands intermingling on the keys, making art together. Fur Elise will always transport me back to my childhood.


Air date: January 15, 2026

Reflections in the Water, Claude Debussy

Suggested by Pie in Portland, Oregon

Debussy wrote this to musically depict light reflecting off of the water's surface. The piece creates an image of water being not quite still, then becoming rapid, then decreasing in motion again. The best pianists make this sound easy, even though you know it's not!


Air date: January 14, 2026

Piano Sonata No. 14, “Moonlight”, Ludwig van Beethoven

Suggested by Jim in Portland, Oregon

I was listening to a CD of this piece one day with my eyes closed, and when I heard the third movement I couldn't believe it was part of the same piece!


Air date: January 13, 2026

Sleepers, Awake!, Johann Sebastian Bach

Suggested by Carol in Portland, Oregon

I attended the Chamber Music Northwest concert on Saturday night which featured Edgar Meyer, Tessa Lark & Joshua Roman. The trio played this work as an encore and it took my breath away.


Air date: January 12, 2026

Turkish Rondo, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Suggested by Elizabeth in Portland, Oregon

This delightful little piece makes me dance around my living room. What more can you really ask for?


Air date: January 9, 2026

Far Out In The Ocean, Helen Habershon

Suggested by Melinda in Portland, Oregon

This piece sounds somewhat calm, but I believe it has an undercurrent such as Herman Melville reminds us in Moby Dick, "When beholding the tranquil beauty and brilliancy of the ocean's skin, one forgets the Tiger Heart that pants beneath it".


Air date: January 8, 2026

The Pearl Fishers: Au fond du temple saint, Georges Bizet

Suggested by Dave in Federal Way, Washington

One of the ongoing debates among opera lovers is "What is the best duet of all time?" I imagine most would say "The Flower Duet" from Lakmé, but my absolute favorite duet is "Au fond du temple saint" from Bizet's The Pearl Fishers. I first heard it when I was living in the Chicago area and fell in love with it right away! It didn't hurt that the recording featured Sherrill Milnes, with whom I share an original hometown (Downers Grove, IL).
I'd particularly like to hear the recording with Sherrill Milnes (for reasons already stated) and Placido Domingo, my all-time favorite tenor.


Air date: January 7, 2026

Symphony No. 5: II. Allegro marcato, Sergei Prokofiev

Suggested by Mike in Portland, Oregon

There are these pieces that are just 'over the top', that carry us away to another place, stop us in our tracks from whatever we're doing and command our full attention. They make us wonder "How in the heck did this composer come up with that amazing idea?" This movement from Prokofiev is right up there for me, along with other "over the top" moments, like the final movement of Saint-Saens' Symphony #3 (the "Organ" symphony), or Respighi's the "Pines of Rome", or most all of Beethoven's 7th symphony. Christa, I know this isn't your usual "relaxing" type of Five O'clock Fav, but every once in a while, we need to kick start the blood flow!


Air date: January 6, 2026

The Star and the Wise Men, Charles Gabriel

Suggested by Margo in Portland, Oregon

Growing up we were part of a small Mennonite Community in North Dakota and at that time Mennonites did not use musical instruments, so we sang. Everyone in my family and in my church loved to sing, all in beautiful four part harmony. Our favorite song, made popular for us by the Mennonite Hour Choir, was called From Land of the East We Have Traveled Afar. It's not easy to find a recording of it by the Mennonite Hour Choir, but this one is just lovely, and I and all your listeners will enjoy it, I'm sure.


Air date: January 5, 2026

Razumovsky Quartet in C, Opus 59, No. 3: IV. Allegro molto, Ludwig van Beethoven

Suggested by John in Portland, Oregon

This music conjures a vivid memory of an episode of the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson during which his first guest was Portland-native Robert Mann, first violinist of the Juilliard String Quartet! And not just Mann,... but also the rest of the Quartet. But it's Mann who sits next to Johnny, engaging in conversation with the legendary talk-show host.

After a few minutes of back-and-forth, it's time for a commercial. Before going to the break, Johnny asks Mann what the Quartet is going to play afterward. His unhesitating reply - “The final movement of Beethoven's 3rd Razumofski string quartet.”

Back after the commercial, all attention is now on the Quartet, in place onstage. They deliver a high-energy performance – with a take-no-prisoners tempo. At the final chord – the audience, as one person, leaps to their feet, shouting, cheering and applauding the Juilliard's exciting performance!


Air date: December 26, 2025

Russian Easter Festival Overture, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Suggested by Hugh in Brush Prairie, Washington

When I was young, my father played a record with the 1812 Overture. It was one of the pieces that got me into classical music. But when I finally heard it live I couldn’t understand why it was so short. It wasn’t until later I discovered there were two musical pieces on that record. The second was Russian Easter Festival Overture. I had mistaken it as part of the 1812 Overture. My father had a good laugh when I told him years later. Now my father has given me that record and I remember my funny mistake. Also remembering how good this music is, I would like to share this music so others can enjoy it as well.


Air date: December 18, 2025

Elohai, N’tzor, Danny Maseng

Suggested by Jeanie in Portland, Oregon

This is such an incredibly beautiful piece of music. Pink Martini's vocals & harmony gives me goosebumps. The words translated into English are so very soothing & important to the peace of our souls. I would be so grateful if you would play it during this season.


Air date: December 17, 2025

Slava vo visnjim Bogu (Serbian carol: Glory to God in the Highest), Tamara Petijevic

Suggested by Thaddeus in Portland, Oregon

I live here in Portland we are from Serbia. Many Balkan people live here in Portland, always listening to this radio station. On a cold fall day, this song reminds me of the beginning of the holidays and of the holidays back home in the Balkans. We all deserve to live in peace and this song is about the birth of the prince of peace.


Air date: December 16, 2025

A Star in the East, Malcolm Dalglish

Suggested by Kate in Vancouver, Washington

This is one of my favorite choral pieces for the Christmas season. I first heard it performed by the Oregon Repertory Singers several years ago, and fell in love with this version of the piece. On clear winter mornings before the sun rises, I think of this piece as I search for the brightest light in the eastern sky. This music paints a beautiful picture of faith in the midst of the darkness.


Air date: December 15, 2025

Overture on Hebrew Themes, Sergei Prokofiev

Suggested by Bob in Mount Angel, Oregon

A very moving piece of music, and I particularly like the version for clarinet and strings. Fitting for the first full day of Hannukah.


Air date: December 12, 2025

The Holly and the Ivy, Traditional

Suggested by Charlotte in Portland, Oregon

I am an Irish dancer with Oregon Irish Dance Academy. One of my favorite memories is performing a Christmas show with the Celtic band the Gothard Sisters. They're wonderful!


Air date: December 11, 2025

Platee: Orage (Thunderstorm), Jean-Philippe Rameau

Suggested by Joseph in St. Paul, Minnesota

This is absolutely electric classical! It has the vigor of Vivaldi and the hairpin turns of Scarlatti. It's just exhilarating. I discovered this in the used classical CD stacks at my local music store. I save $40 cash for the occasion, go there every other Saturday, and spend it all on 5 dollar classical CDs. It's my favorite Saturday afternoon activity. (Oh, and by the way, if you're wondering where all the used Vivaldi is in the city, it has been permanently relocated to my apartment, sorry.)


Air date: December 10, 2025

Little Women: Orchard House (Main Title), Thomas Newman

Suggested by Letty in Barlow, Oregon

I have always loved the 1994 movie version of Louisa May Alcott's novel Little Women. The score is the best part! The movie and the music reminds me of this time of year, and a simpler time. A time when people worked so very hard for everything that they wanted or needed, a time when social media didn't exist; when people wrote letters to communicate with one another. It is so important to look back on History, the good and the bad, because every bit of it is a part of who we are as a world and as a nation. I hope that this score brings back fond memories for everyone who listens.


Air date: December 9, 2025

Carnavalito, Geronimo Bianqui Pinero

Suggested by Jeff in Portland, Oregon

Nothing makes me feel cozy in the dark and rainy months like Segovia's guitar pieces. This recording by one of his contemporaries is beautiful - both slightly mysterious and playful. My 3 year old daughter and I always listen for the 5 o'clock favorite on the way home from daycare, so I thought it would be fun to suggest one of our favorite songs for consideration,


Air date: December 8, 2025

Wild Wood Carol, John Rutter

Suggested by Pie in Portland, Oregon

I don't think that we hear enough of this carol. I used to listen to it while I was a caregiver as a way to give me peace.


KQAC 89.9 Portland/Vancouver
KQOC 88.1 Newport/Lincoln City
KQHR 88.1 Hood River/The Dalles
KQHR 96.3 Columbia Gorge East
KQMI 88.9 Manzanita
KSLC 90.3 McMinnville
95.7 FM Corvallis/Flynn