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.

Recent Favorites

Air date: May 22, 2024

Cello Suite No.1: Prelude, J.S. Bach

Suggested by Mike in Portland, Oregon

John King was one of the instructors at the Portland Ukulele festivals in the early 2000's. Many of us had the opportunity to take lessons from him and learn some of his skills using the campanella technique in classical ukulele. Unfortunately, he died at a young age and left a great void for us uke players and lovers of all uke music both Hawaiian and classical. I've heard some of his works in the past on All Classical, and would love to hear more.

Air date: May 20, 2024

Alto Rhapsody, Johannes Brahms

Suggested by Robert in Portland, Oregon

Many years ago, on my 40th birthday, I treated myself to my first solo trip to Alaska, in late August. which is fall in central Alaska. I brought along several classical music cassettes (yes, it was that long ago). On one side was Brahms' Symphony 2 and the other side were Brahms' Schiksalslied (Song of Destiny,) Gesang der Parzen, and the Alto Rhapsody. I had enjoyed the symphony but rarely turned the tape over to hear the choral music ... until one incredibly memorable late afternoon when I drove the Denali Highway, a 135 mile (then mostly) gravel road between Cantwell and Paxson. As far as I can remember, I never passed anyone - I was the only person on that lonely road as the afternoon light faded.

To the north, across the tundra plain, lit by a golden light was the magnificent Alaska Range, partly obscured by clouds, in shades of grey, blue, purple and snowy white. All around me was the vast Alaska wilderness. Slowly as the light faded a few starts began to glimmer. There was no sign of humanity - except the road itself. As I drove east I played the Schicksalied, Gesang der Parzen and the Alto Rhapsody, which seemed to capture my mood - a bit of lonely melancholy, but also joy, awe and reverence for nature. The symphony and all three choral works are now deeply associated with that first Alaska experience. My request is to hear the Alto Rhapsody, which most closely captured the shifting moods of shadow and light, melancholy reverence, and joy

Air date: May 17, 2024

Hungarian Dance No. 5, Johannes Brahms

Suggested by John in Gresham, Oregon

When I relocated to Portland as a 12-year old violinist, I got into the Junior Symphony Orchestra (now the Portland Youth Philharmonic). The conductor -Mr. A- asked me to switch to viola about 4 weeks before the Christmas concert. I said no but eventually relented. So there I was: a newly minted violist who could not read the clef, sitting at the back of the section in late December. Something happened with the principal violist and she went to the back and I got moved up to second chair. We were learning the Fifth Hungarian Dance by Brahms. Whenever I do not want to do something out of fear, I play this piece to remind me that I can.

Air date: May 16, 2024

Conga del Fuego, Arturo Marquez

Suggested by Kim in Portland, Oregon

This music is so joyful; it lifts me out of hard spaces whenever I hear it. (And I love thinking about Dudamel's early commitment to the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra in his recording of the piece.) It is music that can steer anyone away from road rage.

Air date: May 15, 2024

Clair de Lune, Claude Debussy

Suggested by Charles in Vancouver, Washington

I want to dedicate this to my mother as a late Mother's Day present. This is one of her favorite pieces of classical music, and whenever she hears it, it puts a smile on her face.

Air date: May 14, 2024

Northern Lights, Ola Gjeilo

Suggested by Andrew in Portland, Oregon

I'd love to hear this in celebration of the recent colors in the Portland-area skies!

Air date: May 13, 2024

Danny Boy, Traditional Irish

Suggested by Carol in Portland, Oregon

I recently saw a documentary called, "Danny Boy: The Ballad That Bewitched The World," and it really opened my eyes to the universal love of the song. It has been performed by everyone from Bing Crosby to Johnny Cash to Renee Fleming. The song is a universal lament about separation and loss, but it’s also uplifting.

Air date: May 10, 2024

A New Satiesfaction, Stephen Koncz

Suggested by Eric in Indianapolis, Indiana

I heard the Gymnopedies by Erik Satie played recently as a 5:00 Favorite, and that music caused me to remember this fun "take" on Satie's music. I find it beautiful and inventive.

Air date: May 9, 2024

Symphony No. 7: Movement 2, Ludwig van Beethoven

Suggested by Glen in Oregon

This is one of the most moving pieces I know, in an understated way. The relentless rhythm reminds me of Pachelbel's Canon or Ravel's Bolero. The melody flows from very simple and calm to dramatic and back again, using a wide range of instrumentation like the colors of a painter's palette. Hopefully, this would be soothing during a busy commute. On a less spiritual note, 50 years ago, I used to take a recording with me to music stores to test out the fidelity of speakers before I bought them. If a speaker could reproduce the range of tone colors and dynamic levels in the Second Movement, they were good enough for me!

Air date: May 8, 2024

Gymnopedies 1-3, Erik Satie

Suggested by Caroline in Lake Oswego, Oregon

These have always been my go-to when I'm stressed out.

Air date: May 7, 2024

Carnival of the Animals: The Swan, Camille Saint-Saems

Suggested by George in Portland, Oregon

I am an adult cello student, learning to play this piece. I'd love to hear a professional recording for inspiration!

Air date: May 6, 2024

Moonlight Over Spring River, Doming Lam

Suggested by Susan in Portland, Oregon

It's Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. I'd love for you to introduce me to perhaps a composer I've never heard before!

Air date: May 3, 2024

Also Sprach Zarathustra: Introduction, Richard Strauss

Suggested by Robert in Portland, Oregon

What better piece for National Space Day than this theme used to such great effect in 2001: A Space Odyssey??

Air date: May 2, 2024

Symphony No. 2: Finale, Jean Sibelius

Suggested by Dave in Federal Way, Washington

Most people, if they've ever even heard of Jean Sibelius, associate him with Finlandia, or perhaps the Karelia Suite or The Swan of Tuonela. He wrote a lot of music depicting the struggles of the Finnish people, but the 2nd Symphony may tell the story even better than those other pieces, whether or not that was the intention. The final movement I think sums that up very nicely. I encourage the listeners -- as long as they're not driving! -- to close their eyes and think about the tumultuous history of Finland and how this music brings it to life. I'd never made the connection before but, as the saying goes, "the scales fell from before my eyes." It's a great piece of music in its own right, but this perspective just adds to its poignancy.

Air date: May 1, 2024

Phantom Thread: The House of Woodcock, Johnny Greenwood

Suggested by Emmanuel in Salem, Oregon

I first heard the soundtrack before watching the film. When I first heard the song, it became one of my favorite pieces of film score. The lush and gentle melodies puts a warm emotion to my heart and mentality. I love the piece and soundtrack so much, it became more of a theme for myself.

Air date: April 30, 2024

Cherubic Hymn, Dimitri Bortniansky

Suggested by Pie in Portland, Oregon

I heard this recently on Andrea Murray's overnight show and thought it was absolutely exquisite. I'd love to hear it again!

Air date: April 29, 2024

Nocturne in E-flat, Op. 9, No. 2, Frederic Chopin

Suggested by Alana in Battle Ground, Washington

When I heard this for the first time I thought it was so beautiful I wanted everyone to hear it.

Air date: April 26, 2024

Waking Ned Devine: The Parting Glass, Shaun Davey

Suggested by John in Gresham, Oregon

This is an Edmund Stone inspired request. During a pledge drive he played "The Parting Glass" from the film Waking Ned Devine, and being of Scottish stock I looked up this song and learned that the text could be from Bobby Burns and is now quite popular in Ireland. I won't be at my own funeral but it will be played there.

Air date: April 24, 2024

And the Waltz Goes On, Anthony Hopkins

Suggested by Charles in Portland, Oregon

It really is a beautiful waltz, written by one of the greatest actors of our day. The only performance of it I have heard is by Andre Reiu.

Air date: April 23, 2024

The Old Grumbler (or “The Bear With A Sore Head”), Julius Fucik

Suggested by Nancy in Vancouver, Washington

My daughter's birthday is April 23rd, and I would like to have this played in honor of her birthday. She is 23 now, but she was still an infant when she first heard this song. My husband was driving with her in the car and had the radio tuned to the local classical station for where we lived at that time. This song came on the radio, and my husband said that the bassoon solo in this piece tickled her funny bone and she laughed and laughed each time she heard it. When he told me about it, I had to look it up and listen to it myself. It is a very amusing, unique piece. Whenever I hear it, I imagine my daughter laughing with the uninhibited joy that babies have and I pray that it will bring joy to everyone who hears it now. Happy birthday to my precious Dana.

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