Programs & Hosts

Five O’Clock Favorite

Hosted by
Christa Wessel

Five O’Clock Favorite

Every weekday at 5pm 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: May 20, 2025

Canon in D, Johann Pachelbel

Suggested by Sally in Tualatin, Oregon

A friend and I were driving home from hiking in the Gorge and were talking about the ways we were trying to keep "mentally" sharp as we both turn 70 years old. I told her I tried to play my favorite piano piece every night for 15 mins. She said she did the same but her piece was made for orchestra and not the piano. I asked what it was and she said Pachelbel's Canon in D, which is the piece I play every night as well. We have not tried it in duet... yet. Classical music is our friend no matter what age we are!

Air date: May 19, 2025

A Single Petal of a Rose, Duke Ellington

Suggested by Pie in Portland, Oregon

This is a piece that you hear very seldom and is really nice to hear on the way home from work. Just listen and forget your troubles for a few minutes...

Air date: May 16, 2026

Brandenburg Concerto No. 6, J.S. Bach

Suggested by Elaine in Brightwood, Oregon

It would be wonderful to hear J.S. Bach's Brandenburg Concerto #6 in memory of my father, Paul, who recently passed away. This piece was one of his very favorites. My Dad talked about how the three movements reflect life itself: with the first movement being lively; the second, quiet and reflective; and the third, "a dance with all the joys of continuing life." He also said that "music, with Bach in large measure, has given me profound peace and enjoyment during my life." I am very grateful for my Dad's influences. He is missed!

Air date: May 15, 2025

Yoimachigusa (Evening Primrose, arr. Kenji Bunch), Tadasuke Ono

Suggested by Susan in Lake Oswego, Oregon

I wrote this short poem a couple of weeks ago. I would love for you to choose a favorite Japanese composer's piece. I know I have heard many beautiful ones through the years on All Classical.
Spring “Snowfall”
The tiny white tree blossoms blanketed the parking lot.
And my car.
Dry wipers don’t disperse them.
Instead, they formed an artistically erratic line on the side of my windshield.
They invoked a poem from an ancient Japanese art woodblock,
A haiku extolling cherry blossom beauty.
For days, this “poem” sustained me with its beauty, inspiring me on my commutes.
Until Oregon rain claimed it as prose.

Air date: May 14, 2025

The Sea, Mikalojus Ciurlionis

Suggested by Ken in Beaverton, Oregon

When I was in Kaunas, Lithuania several decades ago, I found a museum showcasing the Lithuanian composer and painter M.K. Čiurlionis. It was amazingly powerful to listen to his symphonic poem called Jūra, which translates to The Sea as I watched a slideshow of his paintings of the Baltic Sea. You could hear the different moods of the water in his music. Later when I watched a storm from the Lithuanian coast, I had his music running through my head.

Air date: May 13, 2025

From Jewish Life: 1. Prayer, Ernest Bloch

Suggested by Camille in Battle Ground, Washington

As a cellist and pianist I love this piece because no matter one’s religion it is a prayer all of us musicians understand. It is dedication to our art and a strong desire to bring the love of music to the world.

Air date: May 12, 2025

L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: As Steals the Morn, George Frideric Handel

Suggested by Claire in Portland, Oregon

I heard this duet for the first time in Chicago, sung by 2 soloists of Music of the Baroque, and have been mesmerized by the beauty of the melodies ever since. I would love to share it with our audience.

Air date: May 9, 2025

Symphony No. 9 “Choral”: Finale, Ludwig van Beethoven

Suggested by Valerie in Wilsonville, Oregon

I listen to your station every day, and always look forward to the Five O'Clock Favorites to make my commute a little more tolerable... okay, a lot more tolerable. :)

I was listening when you played Steven from Vancouver's request on 4/29/25. His letter touched my heart, as well as his wonderful parents, James and Dana. I was just so impressed with him that I thought I would request, for Steven, Ode to Joy as it is one of his favorites. What an inspiration you are Steven. This is for you Steven in Vancouver. I hope you are listening.

Air date: May 8, 2025

Trio in E flat for clarinet, cello and piano: II. Adagio, Louise Farrenc

Suggested by Carmen in Portland, Oregon

As an early feminist (since the seventies) I am delighted by the long overdue recognition of women composers - both nineteen century composers now more recently played, and the many new ones emerging to greater acclaim. As a frequent goer to the ChatterPDX Sunday morning concerts, I am having the privilege of listening to many of their works, always superbly played by musicians of the Oregon Symphony and others. Last Sunday the sold-out audience gave a standing ovation to James Shields on clarinet, Trevor Fritzpatrick on cello and Maria Garcia, on piano, after they played the Trio composed by Louise Farrenc in 1856. I was particularly touched by the Adagio of the Second movement who brought me to tears and became my latest favorite.

Air date: May 7, 2025

Piano Sonata in E minor: II. Andante molto, Edvard Grieg

Suggested by Dave in Federal Way, Washington

Edvard Grieg is one of my favorite composers, and while his piano concerto is arguably one of his most recognizable compositions, his piano sonata is not as well known. One of the things I like best about Grieg's music is the harmony, and the andante molto movement is an excellent example of the way he weaves minor and major chords in the most natural way (no pun intended). This movement is also very relaxing, just the ticket for the evening rush hour.

Air date: May 6, 2025

Warsaw Concerto, Richard Addinsell

Suggested by Steve in Portland, Oregon

This is a romantic piano concerto from a movie --"Dangerous Moonlight"-- about the struggles of the Polish people during the Nazi invasion of 1939. The concerto sounds a lot like Rachmaninoff - and it's supposed to. It is short at about 10 minutes, but it does have three distinct sections though all in one movement. It is a beautiful work!

Air date: May 5, 2025

Four Last Songs: No. 4: Im Abendrot (At Gloaming, or At Sunset), Richard Strauss

Suggested by Tyler in Portland, Oregon

I first heard this piece performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra many years ago, and always thought it would make great movie music. I was transfixed by the opening theme! Fast forward to a few months ago and I was attending a screening of David Lynch's film Wild at Heart. To my surprise, this beautiful piece is played during the opening credits. Here's to Strauss' captivating music and the late David Lynch, two creatives that helped me see the world in different ways.

Air date: May 1, 2025

Poet and Peasant Overture, Franz von Suppe

Suggested by Dan in Pacific City, Oregon

While in no way can I select a favorite classical musical selection, given that there are far too many pieces of equal beauty, majesty or passion, I would like to suggest one piece in memory of my Dad. By way of background, with such music playing so often in our home, he inspired me to enjoy and appreciate the wide range of its beautiful offerings. And through such listening I quickly came to realize that such music bypasses the intellect, essentially going straight to the soul.
Returning to my Dad, while he and I saw eye to eye on our appreciation of the wide gamut of classical music, one powerful piece comes to mind on which we strongly disagreed. The disagreement was not because of the music’s beauty, on which we both agreed, but rather on the identification of the two characters represented in its music. This selection is the “Poet and Peasant Overture” by Franz von Suppé. It contains two themes; the opening gentle and bucolic, eventually transitioning into the second, a boisterously passionate theme. Given that it’s been over half century since my Dad and I last went at it, arguing our interpretations, frankly I can no longer remember which position I had taken. Was it the poet or peasant (my best guess today) represented in the opening theme? I would greatly appreciate the thoughts of other listeners.

Air date: April 30, 2025

Susan, the Doggie and Me, Percy Whitlock

Suggested by Charles in Gleneden Beach, Oregon

Back when I was a kid I was fortunate enough to have a music teacher who worked hard to help us appreciate classical music. One of her methods was to play selections where we could visualize the story the composer was telling. The Grand Canyon Suite, The Planets, Strauss waltzes, and even Korngold film scores. This short piece by Percy Whitlock is a light composition that always makes me smile, and reminds me how lucky I was to have such a music teacher.

Air date: April 29, 2025

March Militaire No. 1, Franz Schubert

Suggested by Steven in Vancouver, Washington

Christa's note:

I recently received two letters in the mail: one handwritten from Steven in Vancouver, and another from Steven's parents. The parents' letter reads:

Enclosed you will find our son's request for a 5:00 Favorite and I wanted to add a cover letter to it.

Steven is 20 years old and has Down syndrome. All Classical has been a joyful, as well as crucial, part of his growth in the last decade. None of our large family was familiar with classical music until Steven heard the station on the way to school many years ago. Suddenly, we could only have your station on the radio, per his instructions, and he began an in-depth journey into every aspect of classical composers.

Every week he spends hours listening to, studying, and pouring over CDs, books and videos. The growth is really amazing. He recognizes sonatas playing in restaurants, he can tell you the names, birth and death dates, family members, eras, and the most notable works of hundreds of composers. His room is covered in busts of composers and classical CD and pages of information that he has gathered over the years.

The benefit has rippled far and wide as we are all now classical music fans and he has taught many of his peers and teachers to appreciate the music and history of classical music. He has even played short renditions of Ode to Joy and Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring on the piano at this school for several Christmas assemblies.

All this to say, thank you KQAC for all that you have invested in our son. You have pointed him to such a wonderful place to grow and thrive. As many of his age group spends hours gaming or in front of the television, you have helped us cultivate a treasure of knowledge and beauty in him that we feel good about and that he can confidently share with the world. He was even given an opportunity help conduct his high school band because the director knew of his love of classical music.

With many warm thanks, James and Dana

The handwritten letter from Steven:
I enjoy hearing classical music. I am turning 21 on August 7th, the same day when Franz Schubert first performed his first Military March in 1826, which made me happy inside my heart.

Thank you, Steven

Air date: April 28, 2025

Cello Quintet: II. Adagio, Franz Schubert

Suggested by Joe in Beaverton, Oregon

Late October 1980, I was on assignment in Quetta, Baluchistan, Pakistan, not far from Afghanistan. Signs were ominous, and it was intense, Americans in agency clothes in the hotel lobby who watched out the corners of their eyes. It hit the pit of my stomach, my better sense was screaming, "No, no!" but the feeling of inevitability told me something was afoot.

When I got to my room I switched on the BBC, such a clear signal in Quetta where there was so little electricity to cause interference, and the broadcast lifted me right out of the doldrums. They played Schubert's String Quintet in C Major. I tear up even now, remembering that moment so long ago. Art can be so very powerful.

Air date: April 25, 2025

Rustle of Spring, Christian Sinding

Suggested by Dian in Portland, Oregon

I was one of two accompanists for our high school choir groups (Centennial High School, Gresham OR). The other person was the much better pianist, so I was usually given the easier pieces when the full choir or smaller groups were not a cappella. But one time, I was given the assignment of probably the hardest piece I remember playing, certainly for the choir, if not in all my 9 years of piano lessons and recitals - Rustle of Spring! In my memory it seems our pace was one of the slower versions I can find online (which saved me, and also probably made it easier on the teenage voices of the choir). It would be wonderful if you could find a recording of a choral performance, but if not, even the solo piano version brings back the memories and is fitting for this time of year.

Air date: April 24, 2025

Piano Concerto in A minor: 1st Movement, Edvard Grieg

Suggested by Barbara in Portland, Oregon

My mother was a wonderful pianist and I remember when she got a vinyl record (sometime in the ‘60s) with only the orchestral parts to this concerto along with the score for the piano, and thus could play the piano as though she were playing with a symphony orchestra! It made her so happy, and was a delight to listen to!

Air date: April 23, 2025

Ave Maria, Franz Schubert

Suggested by Katie in Tigard, Oregon

The Ave Maria takes me to a place of bliss and reverence for the powerful woman she was in her time. No one knows her true story except through her most precious gift, her son Jesus or Jesu. Both of them are real inspirations for humanity in our turbulent times. I hope everyone listening feels peace and inner joy this evening.

Air date: April 22, 2025

Symphony No. 3: Movement 3, Johannes Brahms (Arranged by Luke Faulkner)

Suggested by Max in Portland, Oregon

Great piano arrangement. Found myself replaying this one on the bus to work every morning as I watch the sun rise over the hills.

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