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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: September 2, 2025

La Campanella, Franz Liszt

Suggested by Jerry in Portland, Oregon

When I was a child, I became a huge fan of the movie Shine (1996). The movie inspired me to want to learn to play the piano. This piece was featured prominently in the movie Shine, and I always had ambitions to learn it. Even at the age of 10, as a novice piano player, I went out and bought the sheet music to try to learn how to play it. Of course, I was nowhere near the skill level for Franz Liszt. But I experimented with trying to play it, even at that young age, and I like to think it was the beginning of me "dreaming big" and shooting to achieve things way beyond my capabilities because of raw ambition.

Air date: September 1, 2025

Appalachian Spring, Aaron Copland

Suggested by Ellar in Charlotte, North Carolina

I moved to Portland in 2019 and almost immediately found All Classical, which became my go-to for calming workday listening and commutes throughout my five years there. When it came time to move back to be near family again, I knew at least I would have the streaming and app options, and I didn’t think too much about radio beyond that.

I was staying with family in my hometown of Asheville, North Carolina when Hurricane Helene hit. For those first several days afterwards—without power, internet, or cell service—listening to our local station on a battery-powered handheld radio became a lifeline. For what felt like ages, it was the only way we had to hear from the outside world, to begin to understand what had happened beyond our own devastated neighborhoods, to find out when and where help was coming. I do not think I will ever take radio for granted again, and so this Five O’Clock Favorite request is a love letter both to All Classical and to my Western North Carolina mountains.

Though All Classical was not specifically part of my Helene story, you have been present in my life for so many years and continue to be now, once again a familiar and grounding calm as I start a new life in Charlotte. Thank you for being on the radio. It truly is a remarkable medium. Thank you for being present the way you are, for bringing comfort and peace. And thank you for letting me share this.

Air date: August 29, 2025

I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Cole Porter

Suggested by Donna in Vancouver, Washington

In 1954, I was the student in charge of concerts at the U of Oregon and had a chance to bring George Shearing and his group for a concert for $850. I sold out the Student Union Auditorium at 85 cents a seat. I had to pick him up at the airport in Eugene and since he hadn't eaten, he took me to dinner. He was a lovely man and I have always treasured the experience.

Air date: August 28, 2025

Piano Concerto No. 2: Andante, Johannes Brahms

Suggested by Ryan in Salem, Oregon

This was on my Brahms at Bedtime CD that my parents would play when I went to sleep as a kid. The opening cello solo has to be one of the most stunningly beautiful melodies ever written.

Air date: August 27, 2025

Valdres March, Johannes Hanssen

Suggested by Dave in Federal Way, Washington

Valdres is a very light-hearted march, intended to depict the Valdres region of Norway. Most marches are martial in character but Valdres is most definitely a concert march, although its opening theme is based on a military fanfare, and it's almost more of a country dance. It's just a delightful piece of music that I've been listening to most of my life and I'd like to share it with others.

Air date: August 26, 2025

Toccata and Fugue in D minor, J.S. Bach

Suggested by Michael and Pauline in Portland, Oregon

Tuesday, August 26, is our 58th wedding anniversary. When we were married in Esher, Surrey, England, the organist at Christ Church loved that we chose something different for the end of the ceremony. We walked out to Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor, and this piece has meant so much to us ever since.
For our 50th anniversary we were in Prague, and walking back to our hotel after dinner at a restaurant as we entered the Old Town Square we heard our wedding march. It was being played by two young men on accordions, and although we are not the greatest fans of accordions, on this warm pleasant evening in Prague, it took us back to that magical day 50 years earlier when we were married.

Air date: August 25, 2025

Piano Concerto No. 21: Andante, W. A. Mozart

Suggested by Mark in Seattle, Washington

It’s my favorite classical piece of music and I want to share it with my mother who I’m certain is listening to this program right now because she listens to it every day! Thanks for introducing me to great music, mom!

Air date: August 22, 2025

Corrente Italiana, Juan Cabanilles

Suggested by Alicia in Hillsboro, Oregon

I recently heard this piece played by a wonderful organist and found it so electrifying! I would love to hear it again but played on a truly grand organ to let the music truly soar.

Air date: August 21, 2025

Symphony No. 1: Blumine, Gustav Mahler

Suggested by Adam in Portland, Oregon

From Christa:
Back in 2021 Adam wrote to me while recovering from double jaw surgery, saying that he had All Classical playing through his phone in his room and -upon hearing Mahler's Symphony No. 1- reached out to tell me it was his all time favorite, and that hearing it had made his day. Adam and I have corresponded several times since 2021, mostly when he heard the station play a new recording of Mahler's First. Fast forward to Monday of this week, when Adam came in for a tour of the radio station and we struck up a conversation again about Gustav Mahler. He suggested I play something from Mahler 1 for a 5:00 Favorite, and I thought this movement (which was originally included by Mahler but later jettisoned and not often heard) would be a fitting choice for someone who loves the work so deeply.

Air date: August 20, 2025

Gnossienne No. 1, Erik Satie

Suggested by Joseph in Portland, Oregon

To be honest, when I first heard Satie's Gnossienne #1, it felt like I had entered into a conflicted melancholic serenity that was both beautiful and unnerving. There's a level of mystery behind this piece that I crave to understand. The soft dissonance that hangs in the air, the modal melody that seems shrouded in antiquity. Satie writes "postulez en vous-mème" (wonder about yourself ) in almost a question to the person playing this piece. "Who are you?" he seems to ask. This piece has never left me. The same feelings and questions always return whenever I hear it which still elude me. I understand why Debussy found Satie to be such an influence. I think that he also felt as if Satie was a mystery needing to be understood.

Air date: August 19, 2025

Emmanuel, Michel Colombier

Suggested by Dave in Omaha, Nebraska

You'd like this, Christa, because of the beautiful little "connector" the French horn does to tie the melody phrases together (since I know you played the horn). I, too, play the horn among other places, in my Catholic church. Near the end of every Lenten season, usually on Palm Sunday, the choir sings "Jesus, Remember Me." Easy for the congregation, it has only 8 bars of moderate 3/4 time, only 4 bars of lyrics, then repeated. But, for us musician types, it's boring as can be. But then I noticed the chord progression was the same as Colombier's "Emmanuel."

Since we're a small group and I'm usually solo 'comping with our little choir, I pretty much play what I want, improvising often. So I called up that horn part in "Emmanuel" and tied the four bar repetition with it, and everyone said how gorgeous that was. I have to be curious if "Emmanuel" came from the "Jesus, Remember Me" hymn, deliberately, by accident, or just a raw coincidence.

Air date: August 18, 2025

The Lark Ascending (original version for violin & piano), Ralph Vaughan Williams

Suggested by David in Portland, Oregon

I had known and enjoyed the orchestral version of The Lark Ascending for many years before my wife brought this version for violin and piano to my attention; she had learned about it through reading the beautiful Vikram Seth novel "An Equal Music," which has become one of our most beloved shared books. Because of how much we loved the novel, this version of The Lark Ascending is very special to us, and we hope it will bring as much pleasure to your listeners as it has to us. Thank you!

Air date: August 15, 2025

Roman Carnival Overture, Hector Berlioz

Suggested by Toby in Portland, Oregon

I was a trombone player in my youth, and was always excited to discover music that featured a lot of brass. This piece definitely fits the bill!

Air date: August 14, 2025

Variations on a Turkish March from “The Ruins of Athens”, Ludwig van Beethoven

Suggested by Tijen in Tigard, Oregon

I'm from Turkey, and I'm celebrating my 65th birthday today!

Air date: August 13, 2025

Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, J.S. Bach

Suggested by Daniel in Portland, Oregon

This song brings me so much peace. In a tumultuous world, this makes me feel grounded.

Air date: August 12, 2025

Danzon No. 2, Arturo Marquez

Suggested by Samuel in Beaverton, Oregon

Every year I go to music camp for 2 weeks, and a couple of years ago we played Danzón No.2 by Arturo Marquez. I had never heard it before, and quickly fell in love with it. It’s such a beautifully written piece and whenever I hear it I just have to stop what I'm doing, and sit and listen. It’s a magical piece of music, and I’ll never stop loving it

Air date: August 11, 2025

Lime Jello Marshmallow Cottage Cheese Surprise, William Bolcom

Suggested by Katharine in Portland, Oregon

This piece always brings a smile to my face! And these days, I think we could all use a bit of musical humor!

Air date: August 7, 2025

Total Annihilation: Ambush in the Passage, Jeremy Soule

Suggested by Jonathan in Hillsboro, Oregon

I'm a gamer and metalhead, but your station is my favorite way to get through my work day. One of my fondest birthday memories is getting my first PC game for my 13th birthday. I'd love to hear one of the songs from it's soundtrack: "Ambush in the Passage" by Jeremy Soule from the Total Annihilation soundtrack.

Air date: August 6, 2025

Redemption Song, Bob Marley

Suggested by Keith in Ridgefield, Washington

Monday was our 41st wedding anniversary; we have been blessed with six children and now six grandchildren and more sure to arrive in our future. Thank you Janette Marceline for 41 years of marriage.

Air date: August 5, 2025

Nocturne for Piano Trio, Franz Schubert

Suggested by Kay in Vancouver, Washington

This music is featured in one of my favorite films. Produced in Canada as "The Company of Strangers," it's available in the US as "Strangers in Good Company." The story is about a group of women stranded in Quebec when their tour bus breaks down. I have watched it many times both at home and with a group of special friends. Some of the women in the film remind me of friends in my group, some still with us and some passed on. The soundtrack includes a variety of music but this piece is very relaxing.

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