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 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.

Air date: November 10, 2023

The Last Post (Evolution), Alexis Ffrench

Suggested by Lieutenant Colonel David Beatty in Woodburn, Oregon

Like its American counterpart, Taps, The Last Post is a bugle call traditionally sounded at lights out on British military posts and, like Taps, is also sounded at military funeral services throughout the British Commonwealth. When I was serving with the Royal Air Force I had occasion to attend many military funerals and Alexis Ffrench's variation on that melancholy tune always moves me, reminding me of my many comrades who have crossed over into greener pastures. Perhaps you could play it in honor of Veterans' Day, and commemorating the Armistice that ended World War One on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of November 1918 - that horrible Great War that so many hoped would be the war to end all wars. May that hope yet come to fruition.

Air date: November 9, 2023

Hallelujah, Leonard Cohen (arr. Sperry)

Suggested by Jeff in Portland, Oregon

It's easy to get disheartened by the conditions of our world & our planet, but there IS a piece of music which has been known to offer not "comfort," per se, but some commiseration in its theme of addressing these anxieties and sorrows. There are many renditions of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" -- some instrumental, others with a chorus of human voices. The latter are transcendent and a call to all to pay close attention to our retention of humility. We trust you, Christa, to choose the most poignant choral version of this extraordinary number, and hope it will whisper loudly to our souls.

Air date: November 8, 2023

Piano Concerto No. 2: II. Andante, Dmitri Shostakovich

Suggested by Josh in Vancouver, Washington

Composed for Shostakovich’s son, this piece reminds me of my sweet but confusing relationship with my dad. The slow sections at the end represent my efforts of making him proud.

Air date: November 7, 2023

Satyagraha: Evening Song, Philip Glass

Suggested by Jamie in Portland, Oregon

Philip Glass has been a part of my musical life since I was a child in NYC. This piece is beautiful and evocative on its own, but it also contains many of my favorite Philip Glass motifs. The geometry of this piece touches on the divine while remaining fully earthbound. The vocal performance here is the bridge between the two.

Air date: November 6, 2023

Heaven’s Gate: Sweet Breeze, David Mansfield

Suggested by Pie in Portland, Oregon

My old boss turned me onto this soundtrack about 40 years ago. Does that date me or what????

Air date: November 3, 2023

Symphony No. 9, “From the New World”: Movement 1, Antonin Dvorak

Suggested by Eric in North Clark County, Washington

Around 1969/1970, my parents had a massive console stereo with individual components (amplifier, receiver, turntable & speakers) all built into the unit, along with a moderate collection of classical LPs. It was located in the front room of the house. As a young teenager I was beginning to appreciate various genres of music, which I liked to listen to in the late evening after everyone was in bed. The stereo system did not have a headphone jack, but then, I didn't have any headphones. So, I MADE myself a pair of headphones using the speakers from a couple of telephone handsets and wired them in place of the console's built-in speakers.

The 1st time I used them I put Dvořák's "New World Symphony" on the turntable, having never heard it before, and kicked back in my father's recliner. As the 1st movement progressed, I could imagine being at the helm of mighty sailing ship, pitching and plowing through stormy seas, determined to reach the new world - America - or die trying. No other piece of music has ever affected me so strongly. Since then, it has always been my favorite. In fact, it's really the only thing on my bucket list: I would love to hear it performed live.

Air date: November 2, 2023

Pines of Rome, Ottorino Respighi

Suggested by Dave in Federal Way, Washington

I was at OSU and playing in the orchestra when the LaSells Stewart Center opened, and this was the final piece of our first concert there. It was one of those sublime moments for the musicians -- the music ended and the audience sat spellbound for a second or two before applauding. I still get goosebumps thinking back on it!

Our Sponsors

Meet our sponsors Become a sponsor

Portland Nursery

Rose Villa Senior Living