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: October 6, 2023

Ma Vlast: The Moldau, Bedrich Smetana

Suggested by Sandi in Beaverton, Oregon

This is in honor of my high school band director in West Linn, Mr. Jeff Cumpston, who passed away much too young in a vehicle accident in 2009. He led our symphonic band in playing The Moldau, explaining how the swell of the music invokes floating down a Bohemian river past forests, castles, and even a farmer's wedding in a field. Whenever I hear this piece on All Classical I'm filled with nostalgia and catch a glimpse of our conductor leading us with passion through the music. Thank you for playing this in honor of him. He inspired so many of us.

Air date: October 5, 2023

Serenade for Strings, Dag Wiren

Suggested by Jeff in Portland, Oregon

We ride our bikes everywhere. Though we've got a driver license, we've not driven an automobile in years and years. But when this incomprehensibly beautiful composition arrives in our ears -- or ear, really; riding a bike we must keep our left ear in the clear -- we are reminded of road trips from times gone by. Motoring along through the countryside where landscapes awe the eye mile after mile, our destination... who cares? This beautiful piece takes us DIRECTLY to that bucolic time and place where "serenity" WAS the destination.

Air date: October 4, 2023

Symphony No. 7: II. Allegretto, Ludwig van Beethoven

Suggested by John in Gresham, Oregon

I am a violist and the first time I played the seventh was at Tanglewood in 1982. Then I played it for my viola teacher who was the conductor of the Portland Chamber Orchestra, then I played it at least three times with the Newport Symphony (I was with them for 33 years!) I also played it in Bend with the Central Oregon Symphony. It is a very important symphony to me and I've sat in the car often to hear the whole work when it's on the radio.

Air date: October 3, 2023

Keyboard Concerto No. 2, J.S. Bach

Suggested by Herb in Portland, Oregon

As a Lutheran pastor, I like this because it expresses Bach's Lutheran theology of grace so well. It's full of joy and comfort.

Air date: October 2, 2023

Firebird Ballet: Finale, Igor Stravinsky

Suggested by Russell in Portland, Oregon

I was a progressive rock fan as a teenager and Yes was my favorite group. They used the Firebird finale as the opening for their live shows and I used to dig it on their massive 3LP 'Yessongs'.

Air date: September 29, 2023

Percussion Quartet: Movement 1, Danny Elfman

Suggested by Erika in Portland, Oregon

I've been "rabbit-holing" into the world of contemporary classical music lately and discovered this gem. The whole quartet is wonderful, which each movement having its own charm, but I've found I gravitate toward the first movement, which is inquisitive and energetic.

Air date: September 28, 2023

Caucasus Sketches: In A Mountain Pass & Procession of the Sardar, Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov

Suggested by Michael in Portland, Oregon

I first heard this music at age 11 when my dad brought it home on a shellac 78 rpm record set! Those records were fragile, breakable, and I had to use extreme care while playing them. This set did not get broken, but rather played over and over. I fell for it then, and love it still.

Air date: September 27, 2023

Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565, J.S Bach

Suggested by Pie in Portland, Oregon

Wouldn't it be amazing to be able to play this piece of music??

Air date: September 26, 2023

Central Park Morning, David Chesky

Suggested by Valdez in Lake Oswego, Oregon

I grew up watching Mister Rogers. When my daughter was born in 2008, I purchased some DVDs of the program, so she could watch Mister Rogers just like I did. One of the shows featured Mister Rogers learning about brass instruments and how they were made - and the show features the Empire Brass Quintet performing “Central Park Morning.” It’s a lovely song and it always stuck with me. I hope others did it as soothing and beautiful as we do.

Air date: September 11, 2023

Songs of the Auvergne: Bailero, Joseph Canteloube

Suggested by Richard in Chandler, Arizona (but always an Oregonian)

For many years my wife and I had season tickets to the Oregon Symphony concerts. On one occasion, the guest soloist was Frederica von Stade, who had a beautiful soprano voice. In her part of the program, she sang many gorgeous songs, but one that I had never heard before called "Bailero" stood out. It was so heavenly... I sat with my mouth open, smiling at the beauty, when I felt something on my face. My brain had heard this beauty and sent a tear down my face. That piece of music is one of the most beautiful ever written.

Air date: September 8, 2023

Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D: Air, J.S. Bach

Suggested by Kent in Beavercreek, Oregon

I began to like classical music as a high school student, but wasn't particularly appreciative of Baroque music until college, when a friend played me her album of Bach's music sung a capella by a group called the Swingle Singers. Their rendition of his music "got to me," and turned my interests to some really great music I might have otherwise ignored. I would love to hear one of their Bach arrangements on 5 O'Clock Favorite!

Air date: September 7, 2023

Serenade for Strings, Edward Elgar

Suggested by Jeff in Portland, Oregon

This is an early piece in three short movements that was written in March 1892 and enjoyed a public premiere in 1896. For good reason it's one of Elgar's most popular compositions. From movement to movement, Elgar's "Serenade For Strings" presents an indescribably beautiful world of serenity. This music has always brought us peace.

Air date: September 6, 2023

To A Wild Rose, Edward MacDowell

Suggested by Pie in Portland, Oregon

I played this at a piano recital at a retirement home like a thousand years ago. It's beautiful.

Air date: September 5, 2023

The Mission: Gabriel’s Oboe, Ennio Morricone

Suggested by Lance in Portland, Oregon

This piece of music is nothing short of beautiful!

Air date: September 4, 2023

Danny Boy, Traditional Irish

Suggested by Marie in Portland, Oregon

There are countless beautiful versions of this tune, but my favorite is this one, sung by a wordless choir. (The Cambridge Singers.)

Air date: August 31, 2023

Pictures at an Exhibition: The Great Gate at Kiev, Modeste Mussorgsky

Suggested by Jeff in Portland, Oregon

Modest Mussorgsky never fails to impress. His ten movement work, "Pictures at an Exhibition" is no exception. We were introduced to this extraordinary work at an early age by a loved brother who gave us the cassette, which we played so often the tape stretched and, sadly, became unusable. Thanks in advance for selecting this as a 5:00 Favorite, because Lord knows we'll never play THAT tape again. A million thanks, Christa, for everything you do to keep our spirits high, our mind grounded and our soul satisfied!!

Air date: August 30, 2023

Umoja, Valerie Coleman

Suggested by Martha in Portland, Oregon

This is just a fun and whimsical piece that is new to me. I have no other special reason other than it struck a chord in my heart and mind!

Air date: August 29, 2023

Chandos Anthem No. 6: As Pants The Hart for Cooling Streams, G. F. Handel

Suggested by John in Portland, Oregon

It speaks of the struggles of Life, our desires to cling to the spirits of Heaven, and of the Lord.

Air date: August 28, 2023

Beau Soir (Beautiful Evening), Claude Debussy

Suggested by Pie in Portland, Oregon

When I lived in Chelan, I went on a mini vacation to a place 52 miles up the lake with no electricity or modern day amenities. At dusk, I remember watching the bats emerge into the sky. It was a beautiful evening. This piece makes me think of that night.

Air date: August 24, 2023

Rapsodia Cubana I, Manuel Ponce

Suggested by Neil in Portland, Oregon

Just wanted to share one of my favorite pieces! Enjoy!

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