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. 

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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: August 17, 2026

Three Gymnopedies, Erik Satie

Suggested by Scott in Livermore, California

A story from Christa:
I was walking my dog this weekend and crossed paths with a man named Scott, who was walking a sweet dog belonging to his grandkids. Scott and I struck up a conversation while our pups were running around and I learned that he is an architect in the East Bay area in California, and is visiting his family here in Portland. We got to talking about favorite composers and Scott told me his is Erik Satie... and answer I didn't expect. We then chatted about artists like Satie and Picasso who pushed the boundaries of their mediums in the years before WWI. Scott mentioned a book titled "The Banquet Years," which studies four key artists: the composer Erik Satie, the writer Alfred Jarry, the painter Henri Rousseau, and the poet Guillaume Apollinaire. Scott said that book is what made him begin to appreciate Satie, so this 5:00 Favorite is for him.

Air date: August 14, 2026

Piano Concerto No. 1, Tchaikovsky (arr. Freddy Martin & His Orchestra)

Suggested by Jack in Depoe Bay, Oregon

As a child growing up in the early 1940's my parents frequently played a record of the Freddy Martin Orchestra's hit "Tonight We Love." I later learned the music was from Tchaikovsky's "Piano Concerto #1." I believe my appreciation for and enjoyment of classical music was fostered first by the Freddy Martin recording and then the theme music of the many radio and early TV programs I listened to growing up in the 40's and early 50's. As I became more exposed to classical music, hearing pieces in which I recognized the theme songs of these programs was a revelation.

Air date: August 13, 2026

Scheherazade: Festival at Baghdad – The Sea – The Ship Goes to Pieces…, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Suggested by Lynn in Portland, Oregon

My uncle Natey didn't have children. I was the beneficiary of his love. The love he showed me included classical music. I was probably six years old when he played Scheherazade on his mono record player. It took my breath away. After that first time, we listened to it often. And now? When I hear Scheherazade, it still takes my breath away. And it always reminds me of Uncle Natey's love.

Air date: August 12, 2026

Transcendental Etude No. 5: Feux Follets (Will-o’-the-Wisps), Franz Liszt

Suggested by Everett in Forest Grove, Oregon

One of my favorite pieces! I love that it is so difficult; it's said to be the hardest song to play in the world! Makes you see why they say Liszt is a level 10 pianist (hardest level)! Thank you! :)

Air date: August 11, 2026

Sonata in E Major, K. 380, Domenico Scarlatti

Suggested by Craig in Beaverton, Oregon

In the late 70's I played sax a jazz-rock band. Our keyboard player, Nancy, knew this tune, and I instantly took a liking to it when she played it. In 1979, I got engaged to Sue (47th anniversary in September!) and I wanted something different for our processional and thought that this piece, essentially a stately march, would be perfect for our simple wedding. Nancy, the keyboard player, played it beautifully and it worked perfectly. Afterward, my mother-in-law, who was an amazing seamstress, made us a beautiful quilt with a musical motif featuring the main theme, as well as the notes to a lullaby she used to sing my wife to sleep with when she was a baby. It is one of our most treasured possessions.

Air date: August 10, 2026

Wuthering Heights: Will You Forget Me/Death Scene/End Title, Alfred Newman

Suggested by Virginia in Ridgefield, Washington

My mom and I would sit and watch old movies and this version of Wuthering Heights from 1939 with Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon has lovely music by Alfred Newman. We would have tears in our eyes every time we watched the movie even though we knew what was going to happen. The plaintive violin just pulled at our heart strings. Thank you for being on the air! This station is truly a wonderful service to the community!!

Air date: August 6, 2026

French Suite No. 3 in B Minor, BWV 814, J. S. Bach

Suggested by Francis in Portland, Oregon

I'm submitting this piece in memory of the late Rita B. Ross, a family friend who, in addition to being a holocaust survivor, teacher, and lecturer on her experiences fleeing from the Nazis, had a deep connection with classical music, and began learning the piano after coming to America at the age of 9. She attended the esteemed High School of Music and Art in New York and received a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Queens College. She continued to play the piano throughout the rest of her life, hosting intimate recitals at her home in her later years.
I recently learned that Rita's favorite music was that of Johann Sebastian Bach, particularly his suites and partitas. The French Suites are also some of my favorite solo piano music, especially the third, which I love to play and to listen to. Although we only met on a video call, Rita and I shared a love of classical music and, more specifically, the piano. It was a true honor to know her, even if not as well as I would have liked to.

Air date: August 5, 2026

Grand Canyon Suite: On the Trail, Ferde Grofe

Suggested by Trish in Portland, Oregon

As my mother had been a music major at the U of Washington and had been a piano student from a very young age...music was a part of my heritage. My Dad loved music as well, but listening and dancing to great music was his thing. From the very first years of their marriage in 1945 they had records (especially 78rpms) and music in their lives...and in the lives of all of us children. They had a Philco drop front radio/record player and regularly played their large collection of records. In particular, as both of my parents loved this piece, "The Grand Canyon Suite" by Ferde Grofe was often played and enjoyed by them and by us children. The movement that I associate with the Suite is the 3rd...."On the Trail." I can still recall the melodies and re-create those mind pictures that the Suite gave to me.

Air date: August 4, 2026

Stabat Mater, Op. 27 No. 2 “Marian murhe (Mary’s Sorrow)”, Leevi Madetoja

Suggested by Kirke in Albany, Oregon

Brandi played this last week, and I would dearly love to hear it again!

Air date: August 3, 2026

Ashokan Farewell, Jay Ungar

Suggested by Jennie in Chehalis, Washington

I'm suggesting this piece because it brings me immediately back to the days when my youngest son started to play the violin when he was 8 years old.
I had told him he had to pick an instrument and learn to play it for at least a year. His first desire was to play the banjo but as there were no banjo teachers in our area we quickly realized his best options were either the violin or the drums. So after a couple hours of deliberation at the music store he ended up choosing the violin over the drums, much to my relief. I sure thought I had dodged a bullet on that one!
Oh, I was so wrong! Anyone who has had a child squeaking away on a half-size violin day in and day out will recognize there was no bullet dodged at all!
Therefore I spent a solid year repeating to him exactly what his violin teacher had told every parent under his wing, "Just smile and tell them, 'That's the most beautiful sound I've ever heard'." And I did this every single day with a contorted smile pasted on my face all through the picking and strumming and bowing and squawking-squeal of practice time.
However, there eventually did come a day where to my own elation and surprise I found I was actually telling him the truth! And it was Ashokan Farewell that was the very first song he learned to play where I could just close my eyes and let the melody spill over me and be quietly amazed this was the same child with the same violin weaving such beautiful, spell-binding sound. The song is simple but haunting and I would ask him to play it again and again until he was utterly sick of it and retaliated by learning his next assigned piece as quickly as possible. From there many other songs and tunes and melodies came and went and over time those turned into chamber music pieces and full symphonies as he played all the way through college.
He's all grown up now but it's the notes of Ashokan Farewell that immediately bring to mind that season of being an 'orchestra parent' and the lessons, field trips, competitions, and many concerts I now miss so much.

Air date: July 30, 2026

Spiegel im Spiegel (Mirror in the Mirror), Arvo Part

Suggested by Dan in Vancouver, Washington

The 2013 film About Time is one of my favorite movies. While it bills itself as just another romantic comedy, it is so much more. It is a movie about love and grief, of fathers and sons, and enjoying the time we have while we live.

July 31 marks 8 years since my dad's (Ron) all-too-soon death. About 1 month after his passing, I happened to be listening at work to the soundtrack for About Time and Spiegel im Spiegel came on, which is played at a very dramatic part in the movie.

My mind decided in that moment it was time for me to release all the grief I has holding on to related to my dad, which, as you may imagine, made working quite the challenge. This piece is special to me as it was the catalyst to healing in the face of death. While bitter-sweet to listen to, ultimately it calls my dad to mind and I can relive my beautiful memories with him. Thank you for all you do in keeping Classical Music a part of our lives.

Air date: July 29, 2026

Witness: Building the Barn (1985), Maurice Jarre

Suggested by Pie in Portland, Oregon

I like thinking about this scene, where the Amish built this barn by hand, with no electricity. The whole community came out to build this barn together. Wonderful symbolism for what we can do as a collective.

Air date: July 28, 2026

Rhapsody in Blue, George Gershwin

Suggested by Trish in Portland, Oregon

In 1945 my mother, Mary, was a piano major at the University of Washington in Seattle. She and my father, John, were high school sweethearts. When John was stationed in the South Pacific during WWII, they corresponded frequently. When he was sent statewide to the PT Training base in Melville, RI, Mary left college, traveled to Taunton, MA by train, and they were married on July 4, 1945...the only day he could get leave from the Navy. After the War ended they traveled back to Clark County, WA where they settled down and began their family.

My "5 O'Clock Favorite" is inspired from that time in my youth... hearing my Mom play "Rhapsody in Blue" on her piano at night after we children were in bed. I can still hear those wonderful notes and melodies as they wafted upstairs to my bedroom, long after I was supposed to be asleep. I really grew to love Gershwin!!

Air date: July 27, 2026

Cantique de Jean Racine, Gabriel Faure

Suggested by Leslie in Portland, Oregon

This is the first adult choral piece -and the first in French- that I sang, at a wonderful arts camp in 1969. My sister, who was also in that chorus, is currently visiting Portland and it would be great to share this 5:00 Favorite while she's here.

Air date: July 20, 2026

Masquerade Suite, Aram Khachaturian

Suggested by Bayard in Portland, Oregon

I have always enjoyed the music of Aram Kachaturian and I’ve always enjoyed this composition. I got my interest in classical music from dad. He could play piano very well. My brother and I used to beg him to play Sabre Dance on his piano.

Air date: July 17, 2026

Star Trek – The Next Generation: Suite from The Inner Light, Jay Chattaway

Suggested by Eliza in Vancouver, Washington

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the loss of my father, Paul, when I was nine years old. As I've gotten older, my memories of him have started to fade. I struggle to recall his face and his voice, and I so often yearn for tangible evidence that my father was once here; a living, breathing person. Although I can't make new memories with him, I can feel pieces of him all around me - even in television shows and the music inspired by them.

Dad loved "Star Trek: The Next Generation." He had a model of the USS-Enterprise on his office desk next to his old Windows '95 computer. I was too young to watch the show with him, but I recall his passion for it. One particularly moving episode, titled "The Inner Light," features Captain Picard living an entire life as another man on a dying planet. He has a wife and children and lives to old age. However, Picard awakens to find that that lifetime never happened and his beloved family never existed. All he has to remember them by are his memories - and a flute on which he plays a haunting tune; the piccolo solo heard in this piece.

When I hear this music, I feel a terrible pinch of empathy for Picard as he navigates his loss, and I think fondly of my dad, knowing he once heard this music, too. I wish I could tell him what this piece means to me now, how it makes me cherish what memories of him I still have - and how when I hear it, it always feels like he's with me, listening to it, too. Proposing "The Inner Light Suite" as a five o'clock favorite will have to do.

Air date: July 16, 2026

Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom: Let our mouths be filled, Sergei Rachmaninov

Suggested by Joni in Portland, Oregon

I grew up in the Orthodox Christian church and it used to be an integral part of my life. But that’s no longer the case. I miss many things about church, but especially the music. I have never felt closer to God than during the liturgy. Rachmaninoff’s interpretation of the Divine Liturgy heightens the beauty of the ceremony. It’s as if he took my feelings about religion and encapsulated them in song. This particular movement gets me emotional every time, especially toward the end. Even though I can’t go to church, this music scratches that spiritual itch.

Air date: July 15, 2026

The Diary of Anne Frank: If, Michael Nyman

Suggested by Bill in Salem, Oregon

I firmly believe that the saxophone is one of the most underappreciated instruments in the orchestra! (Of course I believe that... I play the sax lol!) One of my favorite classical saxophonists is Jess Gillam. and I'm hoping you can play something beautiful from her catalog of recordings... something that shows off how gorgeous the sax can be. Thank you!

Air date: July 14, 2026

Symphony No. 5: 1. Allegro con brio, Ludwig van Beethoven

Suggested by Lt. Col. Dave Beatty in Woodburn, Oregon

As we were planning for Desert Storm, the liberation of Kuwait in 1991, we needed a symbol to paint on all the Allied vehicles to mitigate friendly fire. We thought back to the "V" for Victory hand signal used perhaps most famously by Winston Churchill during WWII. Morse code for V is dot-dot-dot-dash, which is the same motif as the opening of Beethoven's Fifth. The BBC then began using Beethoven's 5th as a sonic resistance signal, just as the spread-finger V was a visual signal.

It was decided that an *inverted* V was to be used on all Desert Storm Allied vehicles, which went into battle with Beethoven's Fifth blaring from loudspeakers (or at least painted upside down on their tank).

Cheers,
David Beatty, Lt Col, USAF, Retired

Air date: July 13, 2026

Trio Sonata No. 6 in G, BWV 530, J. S. Bach

Suggested by Jack in Portland, Oregon

I feel so fortunate to have heard mandolinist Chris Thile perform for Chamber Music Northwest on Friday night! He is such a fascinating, well-rounded musician and can seemingly do it all: folk, classical, originals. He was once quoted as saying, "I think that we'll see the concept of 'genre' continue to die a slow and painful death," and I love that about him. Can you please play something from my new favorite musician?

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