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: August 22, 2024

La Valse, Maurice Ravel

Suggested by Mo in Aurora, Colorado

When I was young, my mother forbade pop music, so I grew up on classical. One album we had was 'Ports of Call', which was all impressionistic composers. (I think my mom got it for "Bolero") In addition to impressionistic music I also love waltzes, and this piece combines both. I used to dance around my living room to it. In 11th grade, I danced it for my final in PE, all 15 min. It raised my grade from a "C" to an "A". I couldn't do that now, but I still love it.

Air date: August 21, 2024

A Single Petal of a Rose, Duke Ellington

Suggested by Pie in Portland, Oregon

Duke Ellington is usually thought of as a jazz artist, but I find this similar to Edward MacDowell's piece called a "To a Wild Rose." This is also a soothing piece for the commute.

Air date: August 20, 2024

Fratres for 8 cellos, Arvo Part

Suggested by Vic in Salida, Colorado

This piece, while both gentle and subtle, commands your attention. One of the most beautiful pieces ever written!

Air date: August 19, 2024

Symphony No. 4: 1. Allegro molto moderato, Franz Schmidt

Suggested by Beth in Forest Grove, Oregon

When I was growing up, this record was one of my very favorites of the many albums in my parents' classical record library. I even tried for a while to learn to play the horn, inspired by that long gorgeous solo that opens the work. I would be THRILLED to hear it again, after 50+ years without.

Air date: August 16, 2024

A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Overture & Incidental Music, Felix Mendelssohn

Suggested by Bruce in Portland, Oregon

I'm a longtime listener to KQAC, way back since the station was at Benson High School, and I also am an amateur astronomer. As an astronomer, I noticed that the middle of Summer, between the summer solstice and the fall equinox, falls in this month of August. As there aren't any other major holidays to celebrate in August, I am sharing this with you as a suggestion for a nice Summer event to celebrate with music. For the music; "A Midsummer Night's Dream" comes to mind, but actually the time called midsummer happens on the Summer solstice on June 20. So I needed to make a new name for it, so I now call the halfway point of Summer "Summer Middle." It's always good to find another excuse to celebrate a special time. Thanks for all the great music. You really make my days.

Air date: August 15, 2024

Piano Sonata No. 31, Op. 110, Ludwig van Beethoven

Suggested by Manuela in Cornelius, Oregon

This is a favorite of mine. I grew up listening to classical music, inspired by my father’s love for it. He could whistle parts of any classical music. He had perfect pitch! No he was not a musician he was a doctor. But he loved music!

Air date: August 14, 2024

Symphonic Dances (arr. for 2 pianos), Sergei Rachmaninov

Suggested by Rusty in Portland, Oregon

Several summers ago, when Alan Iglitzin was still the artistic director of Concerts in the Barn in Quilcene, WA, I attended a performance that was to conclude with Schubert's Piano Quintet in A Major, Opus 114. Following the intermission, Iglitzin came out and announced that the violinist from Boston had become ill the day before and was unable to make the performance. With little time to spare, Iglitzin and the pianist from the quintet pulled together and performed Rachmaninoff’s challenging piece, the Symphonic Dances for 2 Pianos. It was stunning and the power of the four hands only enhanced the intensity of the piece as well as capturing the range of emotions, something the symphonic version can’t begin to replicate. It was a profound success, and the audience went wild. The two pianists were drenched in sweat, and it wasn’t only because of it being an August afternoon. I was mesmerized by this experience and remain so each time I play it at home. I would love for All Classical to play this piece with two pianos so your listeners can hopefully be as moved as I was.

Air date: August 13, 2024

Die Fledermaus: Overture, Johann Strauss, Jr.

Suggested by Patty in Portland, Oregon

When I was ten, our Ukrainian school in Philly moved from a very old building. In the process, the janitor came across several crates of instruments from the old country. He replaced strings, bridges, tuned and put together an orchestra. He taught all the instruments to the children, including clarinet and brass. He spoke little English but managed to communicate. Our first performance was Strauss’ Overture to Die Fledermaus. Today I play violin in a string orchestra and give thanks to our enlightened janitor.

Air date: August 12, 2024

Horn Concerto in E-flat, Karl Mathias Reinhardt

Suggested by Mark in Seaview, Washington

I’m far from a classical connoisseur despite 5 years of playing violin (terribly) in my youth. That said, as a “senior citizen” I very much appreciate All Classical as the soundtrack to my daily life. I heard this piece one day and was inspired to request it as a Five O’Clock Favorite because it has the bright, bouncy, playful harmonic energy that just “hits the spot” sometimes. I’d be less than completely honest if I didn’t also say that the low notes scattered in the piece didn’t give my inner 10-year-old a giggle for their similarity to a little musical, shall we say, flatulence. Hope they might bring a smile to you, too. Thanks again for being there!

Air date: August 9, 2024

The Rustle of Spring, Christian Sinding

Suggested by Pie in Portland, Oregon

I have a red book of piano music with this song in it. I started to learn to play it but I got sidetracked by life. I think I can try again now even though I am very rusty and old

Air date: August 8, 2024

Suite from “The Victorian Kitchen Garden”, Paul Reade

Suggested by Alice in Hood River, Oregon

There are two pieces of English music whose spirit makes me smile and tap my toes. Malcolm Arnold's "Hobson's Choice" and Paul Reade's "The Victorian Kitchen Garden." Both seem very British and pastoral to me, and I can't choose which one I'd like to hear. Please choose for me, Christa!

Air date: August 7, 2024

Scenes From An Imaginary Ballet, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

Suggested by Jane in Scappoose, Oregon

Christa, I heard you play this on-air a few weeks ago, and it's still capturing my imagination, pun intended. I loved the opportunity make up my own story while listening to this music, and I would really enjoy hearing it again so as to give myself permission to let my mind wander.

Air date: August 6, 2024

Spem in Alium, Thomas Tallis

Suggested by Christine in Lexington, Kentucky

I find the piece to be calming and a complete masterpiece.

Air date: August 5, 2024

Clair de Lune, Claude Debussy

Suggested by Nate in Portland, Oregon

If ever there was a piece of music that can evoke so many images at once for me it has to be this. I’ve loved this song all my life and since I work nights the moonlight has been my sunlight since I can remember.

Air date: August 1, 2024

Fanfare For The Common Man, Aaron Copland

Suggested by Rick in Salem, Oregon

The first time I heard this piece was at a dress rehearsal for the opening ceremonies of the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. I was sitting in a nearly empty LA Memorial Coliseum watching the proceedings when the USC Marching Band appeared all around the stadium, in the seating area. They started to play and I started to sob for reasons unknown to this day. The sound of those horns blasting and drums pounding and echoing around the Coliseum was indescribable. Every time I heard it after that I had the same response, though not nearly as dramatically as the first time.

Air date: July 31, 2024

Hungarian Dance No. 5, Johannes Brahms

Suggested by John in Gresham, Oregon

When I moved to Portland I got into the Junior Symphony Orchestra as a violinist when I was about 12 years old. Mr. A, the conductor, asked me to switch to viola about 4 weeks before the Christmas concert, Originally I said no but eventually relented. So there I was: a was a newly minted violist who could not read the clef sitting at the back of the section. In one rehearsal he had some problem with the principal violist so he sent her to the back of the section and I went up to second chair. We were learning Brahms Fifth Hungarian Dance. Now, whenever I do not want to do something out of fear, I play this piece to remind me that I can.

Air date: July 30, 2024

The Bartered Bride: Overture, Bedrich Smetana

Suggested by John in Portland, Oregon

Nothing much to share other than this really lifts my spirits!

Air date: July 29, 2024

Enigma Variations: Nimrod, Edward Elgar

Suggested by Samuel in Oregon City, Oregon

Without getting into too much detail, I recently lost someone very important to me. This piece of music captures my grief like almost nothing else.

Air date: July 25, 2024

Piano Concerto No. 1: Movement 1, Sergei Prokofiev

Suggested by Elizabeth in Lake Oswego, Oregon

Once upon a time I was a consultant and on the road all the time. Generally I would fly Sunday nights to where ever the client was. As the plane took off and I settled in for the flight I would play this piece. The thunderous chords and fast piano work at the beginning seemed to help me transition from home to my persona as advisor to businesses. I particularly love the first few minutes, which I would play over and over again.

Air date: July 24, 2024

Danny Boy, Traditional Irish

Suggested by Elaine in Portland, Oregon

I've been having a rough month, and I just need to hear this.. for me, it lifts the weight of the world from my shoulders.

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