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: December 13, 2022

Song for Athene, John Tavener

Suggested by Kent in Beavercreek, Oregon

I first heard this piece when I was watching the funeral of Princess Diana. The Alleluia in the liturgy is typically ebullient, but Tavener's composition, a setting of the "In Paradisum," sending the soul forth to God, feels so sad in the beginning yet ends with a hopeful exclamation. I am deeply moved when I hear it, recalling the sadness of my own spouse's passing, yet being anchored in the hope expressed by the Song for Athene.

Air date: December 12, 2022

Ancient Airs and Dances: Suite No. 3, Ottorino Respighi

Suggested by Gregory in Portland, Oregon

[Gregory submitted this suggestion alongside his contribution on Giving Tuesday]

Air date: December 9, 2022

A Carol on Twelfth Night, William Bergsma

Suggested by Anne in Lynnwood, Washington

This is a fun holiday piece written by my father.

Air date: December 8, 2022

Violin Concerto in D: 1. Allegro Moderato, Jean Sibelius

Suggested by Henry in Newberg, Oregon

I am an eighth grader and I play the viola in my school orchestra. When I heard the first movement of this piece, I was immediately drawn in by how atmospheric and mysterious it sounded. It is like a good mystery - full of intrigue and emotion. The Sibelius concerto is one of the pieces that has definitely influenced my love of classical music. I hope this piece draws you in like it did the first time I listened to it!

Air date: December 7, 2022

Victory at Sea: The Song of the High Seas, Richard Rodgers

Suggested by Rose in Wilsonville, Oregon

This is for all the WWII veterans who are still with us. Both my parents served in the Navy in the Pacific Theater. My Mom was a Photographer's Mate in a unit that worked on decoding the Japanese Codes, and my Dad was a Air Craft Mechanic (Chief Petty Officer) on the USS Chandaliare, an air craft tender assigned to follow and support an assigned Air Craft carrier in the Pacific. Prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor and being assigned to the Pacific Theater, my Dad served on the East Coast protecting supply ships to Europe and hunting for German U-boats.

One of my parents' favorite pieces of music was the theme from documentary "Victory at Sea." My parents were, and are in my and my siblings' heart, Tom and Jackie Sahlman. My hope is that all living WWII Veterans and families of WWII Veterans would enjoy this music.

Air date: December 6, 2022

Symphony No. 6 “Pastoral”: II. Scene by the brook, Ludwig van Beethoven

Suggested by David in Portland, Oregon

Air date: December 5, 2022

Festive Overture, Dmitri Shostakovich

Suggested by Marie in Portland, Oregon

The snow this weekend was so festive... but I'm not quite ready for festive holiday music yet. How about Shostakovich's Festive Overture instead?

Air date: December 2, 2022

Cosi fan Tutte: Soave Sia Il Vento (“May the Breezes Be Gentle”), W. A. Mozart

Suggested by Dennis in Portland, Oregon

In the late 1990's I directed a theater/stage production of a play by Terrance McNally entitled "Lips Together Teeth Apart". McNally was a huge opera fan, and in the stage directions for the play he suggested pieces to be played while the action of the play continued. This piece was his suggestion at the final scene; I still can picture my actors spread around the stage and holding their poses as this piece played to it's conclusion - and the audiences were spell bound by the beauty of this trio and the emotional impact of that piece of theater.

Air date: November 22, 2022

German Requiem: How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place, Johannes Brahms

Suggested by Linda in Portland, Oregon

I'd like this to be played in honor and memory of longtime All Classical Portland listener and supporter Larry Monk, who passed away in October. He loved this piece.

Air date: November 30, 2022

Firebird Ballet: Finale, Igor Stravinsky

Suggested by Anonymous in Portland, Oregon

[Suggestion left via voicemail with no name or story...]

Air date: November 29, 2022

Donna Diana Overture, Emil von Reznicek

Suggested by Steve in Portland, Oregon

This was the theme music for the old (very) show: Sargent Preston of the Yukon. I would tune in to the show just to hear the theme music!

Air date: November 28, 2022

The Typewriter, Leroy Anderson

Suggested by Nancy in Vancouver, Washington

I heard this during one of your fundraisers and thought it was great fun! I'm a sustaining donor and always enjoy the very different pieces chosen during that time. I think this piece will have people smiling all the way home.

Air date: November 25, 2022

Bird Rapture, Christopher Tin

Suggested by Frances in Aurora, Oregon

I have been listening to this on repeat and I love it so much. For me, it sounds like that feeling of being a kid out walking at dusk in the fall. When the sunset is turning everything a pinkish-red and you're just about to go inside to where it's warm, but you wait outside for a minute longer to admire the light, and a cold wind grabs your hair just like a movie. It's just such a cool piece and so beautifully sung.

Air date: November 23, 2022

Capricho Arabe (Arabic Caprice), Francisco Tárrega

Suggested by Chloe in Deming, New Mexico (they/them)

It's a beautiful piece.

Air date: November 21, 2022

War of the Worlds: Ray and Rachel, Refugee Status, John Williams

Suggested by Mandy in Portland, Oregon

My son loves The Score and would love to hear music from War of the Worlds. His name is Reuel (pronounced Rule) and it was his 12th birthday yesterday.

Air date: November 16, 2022

Sextet in E-flat for Two Horns and Strings, Ludwig van Beethoven

Suggested by Ted in Salem, Oregon

During the school year of 1966/67 I was a student at an academically rigorous boarding school just outside of Cleveland, Ohio. Thanks to the generosity of an alumni a few Seniors, which I was, could attend Sunday concerts at Severance Hall in Cleveland. Remarkedly I and a friend of mine seemed to be the only students who wanted go so off we went to listen to one of the great conductors, George Szell, conduct the great Cleveland Orchestra which often featured the world's best soloists of the time. Gone were thoughts of the looming French test, or essays due or pages of a novel that needed to be read. Instead we could let the music bathe our minds and cleanse our souls as we let the music wash over us. As a result I have been a lifelong devotee of the Classical Repertoire including as a 30 year season ticket holder to the Oregon Symphony.

Please choose a Beethoven piece for me as any of his work will fill my heart with the Gratitude and Joy I felt those many years ago. I will hear this as I drive home to Salem from Portland in rush hour having just finished baby sitting my 4 year old Granddaughter, a labor of love unlike any other!

Air date: November 15, 2022

Les Rameaux (The Palms), Jean-Baptiste Faure

Suggested by Elizabeth in Portland, Oregon

This piece of music has been played on the piano by my great-grandmother, my mother, and myself. I remember growing up listening to my mom play it for her mother on Palm Sunday every year. When I was in college, I learned it for my grandma and surprised her by playing it for her. My grandma passed away in November of last year and whenever I think of her, I think of this song. It reminds me of how gentle and sweet she was, and how powerful and influential she was in my life.

Air date: November 14, 2022

Go, Lovely Rose, Eric Whitacre

Suggested by Pie in Portland, Oregon

I recently discovered this beautiful piece and thought other listeners would enjoy it too. It's lovely!

Air date: November 11, 2022

Brandenburg Concerto No. 3: III. Allegro (Finale), J.S. Bach

Suggested by Ralph in Lake Oswego, Oregon

As a teenager growing up in Los Angeles in the mid-'sixties I knew the music of the Beach Boys and the Beatles. Then I somehow got a hold of Switched On Bach by Wendy Carlos and played the Third Brandenburg Allegro movement until the grooves in the album wore out. It evoked then and still evokes dervishes joyously twirling in unison on a large dance floor. I've moved on from electronic music but still love the frenetic excitement of the piece.

Air date: November 10, 2022

Quadrille on themes from Strauss’ operetta, “The Merry War”, Johann Strauss, Jr.

Suggested by Dave in Portland, Oregon

I'd like to express his thanks for Saturday Matinee, On Deck, and The Score, and wanted to request this quadrille by Johann Strauss II.

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