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.

Recent Favorites

Air date: June 4, 2026

Toccata, Op. 11 (1960 recording), Sergei Prokofiev

Suggested by Doug in Portland, Oregon

I'd like to honor pianist Martha Argerich's upcoming birthday (June 5) with this piece, recorded in her early career. Quoting from an online review: "The Toccata was like no other music heard before. It is driving, motoric, percussive, dissonant, relenting only briefly to build up for the final explosion. It's manic and maniacal, the devil let loose on the keyboard." Martha Argerich turns 85 tomorrow. She was just 19 when she made this recording at her Debut Recital in 1960.

Air date: June 3, 2026

Fullmetal Alchemist: Tsuisou (Reminiscence), Michiru Oshima

Suggested by Eliza (they) in Vancouver, Washington

Through every iteration and adaptation, "Fullmetal Alchemist" is a remarkable story. The 2003 anime is divergent from its accompanying manga, having been produced simultaneously. Some fans consider it a weaker story for this reason. However, in my opinion, its original score is superior to other soundtracks in the "Fullmetal Alchemist" line-up, and it remains a masterclass in story-telling through music. Each piece is written with care and great intention, both accompanying its corresponding scenes and standing alone to tell the tale of two brothers seeking redemption following a catastrophic decision born from the grief of losing their mother.
"Reminiscence" is the orchestral version of a main theme, "Brothers," which is sung in Russian and plays prominently through the series. This version has stuck with me for over 20 years and never fails to make me stop what I'm doing, take a breath, and listen with tears in my eyes. It's a familial track, as heartbreaking as it is loving, and captures the spirit of "Fullmetal Alchemist" without a single word.

Air date: June 2, 2026

Academic Festival Overture, Johannes Brahms

Suggested by Patch in Portland, Oregon

On June 5, 2026, I will graduate -with hundreds of others- amidst a season of celebration and concern. Accomplishments and harrowing forces alike are staring into the eyes of graduates, academics, and the thoughtful. This piece is a quintessential potpourri of feelings which arrive once you finish a long program and then realize that the expectation upon you now is to apply those lessons toward the experiences before you. Wishing to all of us grand circumstances of pomp and beauty this June and beyond!

Air date: June 1, 2026

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: From Past to Present, Jeremy Soule

Suggested by Kyle in Gresham, Oregon

Though this music was originally produced electronically for a video game, its immersive world combined with the elegant music made the soundtrack so iconic that for the 10th anniversary of the games release the London Symphony held a concert to play several pieces of music from this game. I think there’s a lot to appreciate in this version of the song as it highlights the strong the compositional structure of the music.

Air date: May 29, 2026

Fugue in G minor, BWV 1000, J. S. Bach

Suggested by Peyton in Portland, Oregon

I first heard this on vinyl at my boyfriend’s parents house in Maine. We fell asleep together on the couch to this, watching the snow fall outside the picture window. It is still one of my favorite memories.

Air date: May 28, 2026

Howl’s Moving Castle: Merry-Go-Round of Life, Joe Hisaishi

Suggested by Sven in Portland, Oregon

This piece is beautiful and fun. It makes me think of hikes and days at the beach. It also reminds me of watching studio Ghibli movies with my family! -Sven (age 10)

Air date: Mary 27, 2026

Finlandia, Jean Sibelius

Suggested by Brian in Salem, Oregon

My school recently won the OSAA full orchestra state championship and this piece was our opener. The way Sibelius paints the landscape of Finland and combines it with patriotic melodies and themes gives me chills every time.

Air date: May 26, 2026

Requiem: Sanctus, Gabriel Faure

Suggested by Ted in Portland, Oregon

I am a former singer at the Bellevue Presbyterian Church. The choir typically has 60 mixed voices; I was a tenor. One year we sang the Faure Requiem, and this particular movement stirred me emotionally. Indescribably so. I was privileged to be a part of such a fine choir. Personal matters with my late wife's Alzheimer’s made my move to Portland mandatory. I love All Classical radio and you are a constant companion on five mile walks!

Air date: May 15, 2026

Blue Shades, Frank Ticheli

Suggested by Matt in Wilsonville, Oregon

This song was the ending number for the Santa Clara Vanguard, my first Drum Corps event I ever saw in person. The Youtube videos are amazing, The power of this piece presented by that corps was insane. This piece makes me think back to my high school years as a talented percussionist striving to be even better and the nuance of percussion really struck me as incredibly important.

Air date: May 14, 2026

Vampire Survivors (video game): Cosmic Delight, Daniele Zandara

Suggested by Sam in Salem, Oregon

This song always gives me chills and makes me happy!

Air date: May 13, 2026

Czardas, Vittorio Monti

Suggested by Mike in Portland, Oregon

I recently rediscovered The Cambridge Buskers, and a memory of fun irreverence was awakened. During their career they "covered" nearly every piece of classical music you can think of. This one is a favorite!

Air date: May 12, 2026

The Marriage of Figaro: Overture, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Suggested by Jonathan in Corvallis, Oregon

Mozart is the greatest composer of all time in my opinion and his classical music has helped me when studying for final exams.

Air date: May 11, 2026

Intermezzo in A, Op. 118, No. 2, Johannes Brahms

Suggested by Antonio in Portland, Oregon

I've been deeply touched by the last several episodes of Thursdays @ Three. The live on-air performance by pianist Orli Shaham a couple of weeks ago? Magnificent. I'd like to hear my favorite recording of hers: the famous Intermezzo in A by Brahms. Bravo All Classical!

Air date: May 7, 2026

1917: Come Back To Us, Thomas Newman

Suggested by Alice in Portland, Oregon

I love the movie 1917! It is truly such a beautiful and well-made film. I worked in movie theaters at the time it was released in 2019, so I would often sneak in to watch parts of it haha. The movie and the music really resonated and spoke to my soul. Well acted, well directed and well edited! Just incredible :)

Air date: May 6, 2026

Symphony No. 7: II. Allegretto, Ludwig van Beethoven

Suggested by Joe in Beaverton, Oregon

In 1966, I was on the fastest motorcycle race track in Oklahoma, practicing for an upcoming event. I was going quite fast... at the end of the straightaway I did 85mph. On dirt that was plenty.

But another bike pulled out of the pits -square in front of me- right at that fastest point. I will never, ever understand why he did that, but I hit his bike so hard it split the steel frame and took it out from under him like jerking the table cloth out from under the dishes. He got a bump on his knee. but they tell me I flew 200' through the air and landed on my face. I woke up from a coma 4-1/2 days later.

I remained in a real fog until I was sitting with friends trying to figure what happened, where I was, until someone turned on the radio to a classical station. There it was: the 2nd Movement of Beethoven's 7th Symphony! So indelibly imprinted, it brought me home.

Air date: May 5, 2026

Gymnopedie No. 1, Erik Satie

Suggested by Patch in Portland, Oregon

Upon hearing the opening keystroke in this Gymnopédie the pianist provides for me an immediate transcendence from my current state to flow state and sets me underway to write or be creative with abandon from the now. I wish that moment of expression and shifting senses for everyone. Cheers.

Air date: May 4, 2026

Clair de lune, Claude Debussy

Suggested by Abraham in McMinnville, Oregon

To the Ultrakill video game players out there, with this 5:00 Favorite you can now know where "V2's theme" comes from!

Air date: May 1, 2026

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya: The Sprout, Joe Hisaishi

Suggested by Tu in Portland, Oregon

When I think of springtime I think of life's circle, as well as "The Tale of the Princess Kaguya," my all-time favorite animated film by the late Isao Takahata. The story features moments about spring, and about renewal. This piece, "The Sprout," makes me feel a sense of hope, and a new sense of joy. Speaking of sprouts and spring, my 2x4 foot plot of garden has succeeded in nurturing life back into some old cuttings from bok choy that I bought from a grocery store and cooked with at beginning of spring.

Air date: April 30, 2026

Trio Sonata in G Major, Op. 5 No. 4, HWV 399: III. Passacaille, George Frideric Handel

Suggested by Rick in Portland, Oregon

I first heard this Handel Passacaglia at a Portland Baroque Orchestra concert years ago. It struck me as being "perfect" right from the start.

Air date: April 29, 2026

Elegy for Strings, Elliott Carter

Suggested by Cal in Vancouver, Washington

About 30 years ago, a few of my co-workers and I formed a string quartet and would gather a couple times every month and play. We were not so good, but we enjoyed our time together playing music. We would find pieces at the library and read through them. One piece that we found was the Carter Elegy for string quartet. It was an interesting and challenging piece for us, but for some reason became one of our regular pieces that would test our skill. It seemed to sound a little bit different each time we played it - which honestly wasn't a good sign. Well, over time our original group disbanded as the golden years took us apart. Recently I learned that Bill, one of our violinists, has passed away. Would love to hear this piece in his memory and to the memory of our time together making music.

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