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: December 20, 2023

O Come, O Come Emmanuel, Traditional

Suggested by Finley in Portland, Oregon

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel is a piece of music that sits quite close to my heart, not only because the first time I got to perform this piece with my high school choir, it was on my birthday in our state capitol building, but this is the piece that jump-started my fascination for Choral and Classical Music and it's all thanks to my high school choir teacher, Mr. Silva. Every winter, without fail, Mr. Silva pulls out an arrangement of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel that he himself arranged, and I can say that without a doubt I have yet to find another arrangement that holds a candle to his. Choir of King's College is about as close as I have gotten. I am ecstatic to see them perform it again at The Grotto this year, which just so happens to fall on my birthday again! Thanks Mr. Silva, this is for you.

Air date: December 19, 2023

The Trees: The Spruce, Jean Sibelius

Suggested by Iria in Salem, Oregon

I grew up in a family of 11 children in a Nordic European country. Every one of us played an instrument and on Christmas Eve we all had a “showcase.“ My favorite moment from those showcases is one of my sisters playing a less-heard piece by Sibelius, The Spruce. It is perfect during this holiday time. As I hear the composition, I can smell the fragrance of spruce tree, decorated in Christmas glory. I can almost hear the children singing the carols and see the candles lighting the night…

Air date: December 18, 2023

Black Swan (Original Score): Perfection, Clint Mansell

Suggested by Pie in Portland, Oregon

I saw this film, and though it's definitely not a family movie, the music was great. A cool blending of original music and Tchaikovsky's classic ballet, Swan Lake.

Air date: December 14, 2023

Pirates of Penzance: Overture, Sir Arthur Sullivan

Suggested by Tina in Portland, Oregon

Gilbert and Sullivan shows were such a big part of my childhood and early adulthood. I love HMS Pinafore, The Gondoliers, and the Mikado, but Pirates will always be my favorite G & S show. My family belonged to an amateur Light Opera Company in the San Francisco Bay area, and the group would put on two large productions every year. When we did Pirates of Penzance in 1986, I was captivated by the music (and the lyrics, of course, but the music particularly). The music is so clear in its intent and feeling that you don't have to have seen the show to get a sense of what was happening onstage. My whole family took part in that 1986 amateur theater production - my dad onstage, my mom playing piano in the orchestra pit, and my sister and I working backstage on sets and props. It was a magical world to grow up in, and I really treasure those memories and the lifelong friendships made through a shared love of music and musical theater.

Air date: December 13, 2023

The Turtle Dove, Ralph Vaughan Williams

Suggested by Maurice in Roseburg, Oregon

I came to know this piece by way of my dear friend Chuck who introduced it to me my freshman year of high school. It has stayed with me ever since, gracing me with its glorious presence.

Air date: December 12, 2023

Symphony No. 2 “Romantic”: Movement 3, Howard Hanson

Suggested by John in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

In 1957 I was a sophomore in college. My roommate had a recording of Howard Hanson’s Second Symphony - the “Romantic”. While listening to it, I was deeply moved. This was an American symphony with interesting orchestration and great sound! Every time I hear it, I remember how deeply I was touched when I heard the recording for the first time. Recently the Madison Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra programed a concert of all American music, and the 2nd Symphony was part of the program. After 66 years, I was able to hear a live performance of the symphony! I particularly love the 3rd and final movement of the symphony.

Air date: December 11, 2023

Victory at Sea: Beneath the Southern Cross, Richard Rodgers

Suggested by Elizabeth in Lake Oswego, Oregon

My father is the reason I love classical music. He was often away and listening to classical music was how we shared good times together. In the beginning, it was listening to his record "Victory at Sea" which the above selection is from. From there he introduced me to others including choral music which I adore. Later we added season tickets to the ballet broadening the ways we listened to music together. (The piece above went on to be a commercial success when Oscar Hammerstein gave it words but I like the original orchestral the best.) LOVE THIS PART OF MY DAY!!

Air date: December 8, 2023

Ma Vlast: The Moldau, Bedrich Smetana

Suggested by Galen in McMinnville, Oregon

Years ago, I took an outdoor photography class, long before digital cameras, back when 35 mm Kodachrome slides were king. The instructor introduced us to the class format by playing the Moldau. We had several field trips: to the Cascades. the upper McKenzie River, the Willamette River and the Oregon coast. The results of our class effort was a slide presentation to the music of The Moldau; drops falling in a mountain stream, a river growing in size, and finally the river reaching the sea. It was a fun project, and although the slide presentation did not survive, I still love to hear the music and I picture the slides in my mind.

Air date: December 7, 2023

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

Suggested by Kirke in Albany, Oregon

I was looking through some long-play records that I inherited from my parents and discovered a record of the Caucasus Sketches released in 1952. I'm hoping All Classical Radio has a more recent recording that you can share as one of your 5 O'Clock Favorites. :)

Air date: December 6, 2023

Ave Maria, Franz Schubert

Suggested by Claudia in Portland, Oregon

As in many Catholic households, Schubert’s Ave Maria was import to my family. When planning my wedding, at age 21, I asked our neighbor Neal (a violin prodigy) to provide the ceremonial music. It was his mother who suggested the inclusion of Ave Maria. She explained, “Your father was moved to tears when he heard Neal practice that piece. In this way he will be with you at your wedding.” I don’t recall feeling my father’s presence during the Ave Maria processional, only a sting of sadness as my older brother escorted me down the aisle.

Fifty years later, my daughter and her Catholic fiancé selected this same piece for their wedding. As I heard the familiar opening notes, I felt the joy of being momentarily held in my father’s loving presence.

Air date: December 5, 2023

Die Drei Wünsche (The Three Wishes): So dünn, dünn war die Leopoldin (Leopoldin was so thin), Carl Michael Ziehrer

Suggested by Jynx in Portland, Oregon (she/her)

I first heard of Ziehrer listening to All Classical & immediately could hear a resemblance to the Strauss family... but Ziehrer is way more fun. This piece is a great example of how zippy & upbeat his music sounds — qualities to really appreciate in this woebegone world!

Air date: December 4, 2023

Goddess of Fire, Steven Reineke

Suggested by Eva in Vancouver, Washington

I first heard this in high school band and fell in love with the way the composer told the story through the music. I played the bells and marimba during the song, and to this day I'll still play fragments of it on the piano and it is absolutely beautiful!

(From the publisher: A magnificent programmatic work that is an offering to Pele, the Goddess of Hawaii's volcanoes. The work opens with primordial, mysterious sounds representing the foreboding volcanoes of Hawaii. We are then introduced to Pele as a tall, beautiful young woman. Suddenly and violently, one of her volcanoes erupts, creating massive chaos and destruction. After the eruption subsides, Pele's theme of creation and beauty returns again.)

Air date: December 1, 2023

Warsaw Concerto, Richard Addinsell

Suggested by Lance in Gresham, Oregon

The Warsaw Concerto was one of my Dad's favorite pieces of music. It makes me think of him as he introduced me to the world of Classical Music.

Air date: November 30, 2023

Nutcracker Ballet: Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy & Waltz of the Flowers, Peter Tchaikovsky

Suggested by Emma in Portland, Oregon and Amy in Vancouver, Washington

Teenager Emma simply called in, asking to hear Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

Amy made her suggestion online and said:
This is for my favorite person, my partner for over 12 years, my love Keenan Sherwin. This radio station has been such a good thing for him. He doesn't listen to any radio stations but this one! He constantly talks about the Five O'Clock Favorite so I thought it would be so cool if I could get something from the Nutcracker played for him; the holiday season is his favorite time of year.. I know this would make him smile ear to ear.

Air date: November 29, 2023

Gramofon (Gramophone) Waltz, Eugen Doga

Suggested by Kristina in Vancouver, Washington

When I listen to it, it makes me think of snowflakes dancing and calling me to dance with them. It’s like a winter fairytale. I think more people need to hear this wonderful piece!

Air date: November 27, 2023

Symphony No. 6: Movement 1, Jean Sibelius

Suggested by Ghan in Portland, Oregon

This symphony reminds me of my dog Rufio. Earlier this year I decided to study Sibelius' 6th, right around the time we found his tumor. I spent a lot of time listening to this symphony in Thousand Acre park while Ru splashed about in the river. I'd skip out of work early to give him as much of the good stuff as I could. Added benefit being I had extra hours to actively listen to whatever I was listening to, which happened to be this symphony. This symphony articulates so many emotions I felt then, and feel now about seeing the end and accepting it. It's quieter than many of his others but it's my favorite. And did you know it had its 100th anniversary this year?

Air date: November 17, 2023

Little Women: Under the Umbrella, Thomas Newman

Suggested by Pie in Portland, Oregon

It's a beautiful soundtrack which really depicts the movie well. Love this version of Little Women.

Air date: November 15, 2023

Tristan and Isolde: Prelude and Liebestod (Love-Death), Richard Wagner

Suggested by John in Lake Oswego, Oregon

Air date: November 14, 2023

Melancholy Waltz, Emils Darzins

Suggested by Melissa in Beavercreek, Oregon

I know since it is my birthday I should request something from a shared birthday friend, like Aaron Copland, Fanny Mendelssohn, or papa Leopold Mozart, but instead I think of grammy on my day.

My dear sweet grammy was a pianist, and would share her tales of playing at church, gatherings, and area barn dances in rural Indiana, where she happened to meet my grampa while playing her tunes. She was painfully shy when young and had a very pronounced stutter that throughout her life would continue to crop up occasionally when nervous.

At church one Sunday, her doctor observed her speaking fluently to a friend, with nary a bobble, while playing her piano as an afterthought, and he commented how it was a shame she could not take her piano with her everywhere to cure her stutter. For my entire life, when my grammy wanted to share stores or speak, she would sit down at her piano and start softly playing, we all knew it was time to sit quietly and pay attention.

My very best memory is of her sitting at her piano, quietly playing the Melancholy waltz by Emīls Dārziņš, while describing her first dance with my grampa, a Viennese waltz, at a barn dance. Grammy passed two years ago at the age of 102 and I inherited her piano. Not a day goes by that I don't look at it and smile through tears, seeing her sitting there telling the story.

On one of our visits, I got the idea to record some of her stories at the piano, on my old Blackberry, so I could listen to them whenever I needed to hear her voice. She was my best friend, moral compass, and true confidante, and gifted me my love of music, as well as my skills at baking. I will miss her until I am again with her.

Air date: November 13, 2023

The Red Pony: Suite, Aaron Copland

Suggested by Paula in Portland, Oregon

On Thanksgiving Day 1989 I heard The Red Pony on the car radio as my husband and I buzzed across the Interstate Bridge to Vancouver WA and up Highway 14 with its blazing trees along the Columbia River. The clouds were high. I could feel youth and purpose and beginnings and the lightness of the future. I could hear the limits of family. It felt like our little Honda's wheels were levitating. It felt like being in the right place and knowing that I was in the right place.

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