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. 

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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: November 18, 2025

Prayer for Ukraine, Valentin Silvestrov

Suggested by Pie in Portland, Oregon

I originally heard this on John Pitman's weekend show. Love and compassion are the answer.

Air date: November 17, 2025

Violin Concerto No. 2: III. Rondo “La Campanella”, Nicolo Paganini

Suggested by Lin in Salem, Oregon

Here's how I discovered this piece: A couple of weeks ago I saw a YouTube video of Beaverton Symphony Orchestra performing Paganini's La Campanella, featuring a talented local young violinist that played it with such grace and confidence. And I immediately knew I wanted to suggest this as a five-o'clock favorite. This piece has such dazzling character, and the brilliant energy of the violin is truly the shining star. I believe the virtuosic violin passages reflect the fact that Paganini himself was a violin virtuoso. This must be a difficult piece that requires advanced skill from the violinist, but the playful nature of this music makes it sound so much fun and gives it an effortless quality. It's truly a showpiece that brightens the atmosphere. Purely happy music that people will remember.

Air date: November 14, 2025

Peer Gynt: In the Hall of the Mountain King, Edvard Grieg

Suggested by James in Aloha, Oregon

The movie Fantasia pops to mind readily. With our current weather trend... seems to fit.

Air date: November 13, 2025

Academic Festival Overture, Johannes Brahms

Suggested by Andrew in Portland, Oregon

This was the first piece played at the first symphony concert I ever attended, 30 years ago. It opened by eyes, and ears, and I have been a devoted fan of Brahms ever since.

Air date: November 12, 2025

Emer’s Dream, Colm Mac Con Iomaire

Suggested by Hallie in Scappoose, Oregon

(Artist's name is pronounced: COLE'm Mackon-Om-ruh)
I found this artist while following a band he was playing in and picked up his solo album at a show ... the album was described as 'contemporary Irish classical' and I was in love with it immediately, though it wasn't anything like the band I went to see. He plays violin, and the moods that pass through it and him and the audience as he plays creates a kind of magic that pulls you along and over and through whatever you thought you were doing before and when it ends, it lands you in the lap of the next moment feeling uplifted and bereft - wondering how you will go on with the song over. It is addictive, yet you can't overdose. Enjoy the whole album (and his next one) and wait impatiently with me for him to make another.

Air date: November 11, 2025

The Pacific: Honor, Hans Zimmer

Suggested by Anonymous in Vancouver, Washington

For Veterans Day, please consider this bit of music. I am a combat-wounded veteran of the Vietnam War. This music is from the title music for the miniseries called The Pacific. It is haunting, melancholy, sad, and yet powerful. I wish to dedicate this to all the living and fallen of that terrible war. May you rest in peace, brothers. This music is dedicated to all of you “Nam” vets out there. I wish to remain anonymous. I love your channel, keep up the good work.

Air date: November 10, 2025

Central Park Morning, David Chesky

Suggested by Kurt in Milwaukie, Oregon

I recently discovered this short, sweet piece of music while watching an episode of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood with my young kids. The episode featured the Empire Brass Quintet, for whom the music had originally been written, I later learned.

Air date: October 31, 2025

Lt. Kije Suite: Romance, Sergei Prokofiev

Suggested by Mary in Stayton, Oregon

Around Halloween we hear a lot of music evocative of the season. Lieutenant Kije is, to me, the original Invisible Man, celebrated in this beautiful suite by Prokofiev and based on Prokofiev's score for a movie titled Lieutenant Kije. The film depicts a clerical error in which the name, Lieutenant Kije, is entered into the attendance rolls of a military company--an error because there is no person by this name. When the mistake is discovered, rather than admitting the error, there is an elaborate effort made to create Kije and to provide him with a detailed backstory. The Invisible Man, indeed.

Air date: October 30, 2025

Ma Vlast: The Moldau, Bedrich Smetana

Suggested by Tami in Dayton, Oregon

I first heard this when my daughter was in ballet and the director used parts of it in a dance recital. Loved it even more when I heard the entire piece.

Air date: October 29, 2025

Il Gattopardo: Il valzer del Gattopardo, Paolo Buonvino

Suggested by Davide in Portland, Oregon

I just finished watching the historical Netflix mini-series Il Gattopardo (The Leopard), a recent remaking of the 1963 film that starred Burt Lancaster, Claudia Cardinale, and Alain Delon. This song is the main theme within the mini-series, and is so melancholic and lovely; it really reflects this new retelling of the fall of the Sicilian aristocracy. Just absolutely haunting, it is a waltz about the end of an era. I've been listening to it on repeat.

Air date: October 28, 2025

Trumpet Concerto in E-flat Major, Joseph Haydn

Suggested by Philip in Lake Oswego, Oregon

This is one of the earliest pieces of classical music I remember hearing as a child. I remember the LP cover distinctly: purple background with musicians dressed in period clothing sitting on the bars of music that stretched across from left to right. The album also contained a Mozart French Horn concerto (your preferred instrument I believe Christa?) that shared the same bright liveliness of the brass, with a stick-in-your ear melody, and kettle drums to boot! Hearing it brings tears to my eyes thinking of the joy my dad took in this music, and it is also one of my favorite Sunday morning pieces. Thank you!

Air date: October 27, 2025

Let It Be, Lennon & McCartney

Suggested by Anne in Portland, Oregon

I saw Anderson and & Roe recently as part of Portland Piano International's Boundless Concert Series and was so inspired by their creativity. I was also touched by how much they love Portland and wanted to be here. The unspoken context was support for our community while the support for the arts seems to be waning.

Air date: October 17, 2025

Os Justi, Anton Bruckner

Suggested by Joshua in Forest Grove, Oregon

I am a choral singer of some 25 years (since my early teens in high school) and I feel like I've been exposed to so many composers and styles of music - lots of the usual suspects like Bach, Mozart, Palestrina. I have been fortunate to perform works by 20th century composers and even living composers from the Pacific Northwest. I have never really known of Anton Bruckner's choral music - which is an oversight. This piece was a surprise that came up on a playlist of some other works and it stopped me in my tracks today at work. It is uncommonly beautiful and gorgeous. I was moved deeply and I can confidently say it is one of my new favorite pieces.

Air date: October 16, 2025

Nocturne Op. 19 for flute, violin, cello, and piano, Franz Doppler

Suggested by Lin in Salem, Oregon

I believe this is one of the hidden gems of classical music. I had never known this composer until discovering this piece. This music is both serene and uplifting in a beautiful way that sets it apart. It may not be in the most traditional classical style, but it's an example of Franz Doppler's own compositional aura, which I find lovely. It's very classical, but with refreshing and unique qualities that make it extra special. And I believe this piece might be a new discovery to most listeners. I hope all will enjoy the shimmering melodic notes from the flute and the harmonious nature of all four instruments producing this exquisite quartet.

Air date: October 15, 2025

Requiem For A Dream: Lux Aeterna, Clint Mansell

Suggested by Gabriela in Beaverton, Oregon

Clint Mansell’s Lux Aeterna is played in the movie “Requiem for a Dream” directed by Darren Aronofsky. It’s a movie my partner and I thoroughly enjoy, and it has popped in our heads more often than we care to admit.

Air date: October 14, 2024

A River Runs Through It: In Half-Light Of The Canyon, Mark Isham

Suggested by Stephanie in Portland, Oregon

This is one of my favorite movies I watched in high school. The minute I heard this song (and the whole soundtrack really) I dreamed of living a life surrounded with experiences that made me feel the way this song did. Soon after graduating, I chased a dream all the way to Missoula, MT. And one day I sat in the half light of a canyon, surrounded by untamed wildness and beauty, and felt every bit of what this song encapsulated. I moved back to Oregon 3 years ago and have been chasing that feeling ever since. Then the love of my life walked through the door, and I felt it once more. I hope you enjoy!

Air date: October 13, 2025

The Four Seasons: Spring, Antonio Vivaldi

Suggested by Nancy in West Linn, Oregon

My husband Roy and I just celebrated our 40th anniversary and I’ve been wanting to suggest this. I walked down the aisle to this piece suggesting the spring of new life together beginning and also because we loved the joy of the whole piece.

Air date: October 10, 2025

Ave Maria, Franz Biebl

Suggested by Brad in Lake Oswego, Oregon

Franz Biebl combines the austere solemnity of chant with the lush harmony of late romanticism, and the results are beautiful... especially in the hands of Chanticleer!

Air date: October 9, 2025

Cantus Arcticus: Concerto for Birds and Orchestra: 1. The Bog, Einojuhani Rautavaara

Suggested by Steve in Portland, Oregon

This work is for taped arctic bird songs together with the symphony orchestra. The bird sings were recorded in northern Finland. The more I listen to it, the more intrigued I am, and the more it becomes part of my musical thoughts. It opens with various instruments trying to emulate the bird songs. The music sometimes sounds romantic, sometimes impressionistic, sometimes rich, sometimes sparse. As I listen, I can imagine the landscapes of the far north, the Arctic, as the title suggests.

Air date: October 8, 2025

Piano Quintet in E flat: 1. Allegro brillante, Robert Schumann

Suggested by Charlyn in Tualatin, Oregon

Robert Schumann's Piano Quintet was the first chamber music piece I fell in love with. And as a violist, it has remained a definite favorite! When I was in junior high, my viola/violin teacher and her piano teacher husband held a summer music camp, at a boarding school on a farm in the foothills of the Sierras. The barn had been converted into a performance space. So I remember hearing the Schumann played there, by my friends Danny, Rob, Loal, Tim and Phil. Such special and warm memories!

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