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: November 9, 2022

Henry V: Touch Her Soft Lips and Part, William Walton

Suggested by Emma in Portland, Oregon

I’m an 8th grader in middle school and I’m in a choir class.

William Walton’s gentle, pompous music fascinated me when I started watching the Olivier Shakespeare films, Hamlet (1948), Richard III (1955) and Henry V (1944) with my dad. One evening after school when I was sitting in my room, I decided to plug my headphones into my phone and listen to Walton’s Touch Her Soft Lips and Part. I listened quietly, tears streaming down my cheeks, I was blown away. When I hear it, I picture the heroic Henry with his lovely Catherine, sharing a passionate kiss after the dramatic battle at Agincourt.

Air date: November 8. 2022

Piano Concerto No. 2: II. Adagio sostenuto, Sergei Rachmaninov

Suggested by Richard in Silverton, Oregon

My Old English Sheepdog, Jack, listened to All Classical every day. In fact, my wife, Nancy, and I became sustaining contributors the day after we rescued Jack and his "sister" Maggie. The music soothed all of us.

I loved to lie on the couch with Jack, just stroking his coat, or scratching behind his ears. When he heard Rachmaninov's second concerto, he seemed to be more attentive, and the second movement calmed him. He was my constant buddy, and though he had multiple physical problems, he was always up for a hike or a romp. Recently, however, Jack's problems worsened, and we had to let him go to sleep. I still believe his spirit is listening, and I would like to share the second movement of this concerto with that sweet spirit again.

Air date: November 7, 2022

Mountbatten, The Last Viceroy: Main Title, Independence Day, End Titles, John Scott

Suggested by Lance in Portland, Oregon

Back in 1986 when I religiously watched Masterpiece Theatre there was a fascinating program called Mountbatten: The Last Viceroy. There were six parts and it depicted the transfer of India from the British Empire to independence. Mountbatten was given the task of the transfer of power in a matter of several months. He was able to do so courageously and with skill. The music composed by John Scott and performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra presented an amazing backdrop for the mini series and is especially poignant at this point in history with the loss of the Queen. Mountbatten was the Queen's cousin and he treated the independence of India with grace and skill. Please play the selections: Mountbatten main theme, Independence Day and The Last Viceroy, end titles.

Air date: November 4, 2022

Casey at the Bat, Peter Hamlin

Suggested by Ken in Camus, Washington

When Fall is in the air, some of us turn our thoughts to baseball and the World Series. The male vocal ensemble Cantus has done the world a great favor by celebrating America’s favorite pastime with their delightful recitation of Casey at the Bat. I am certain that it will bring a smile to the face of all fellow baseball fans out there as well as all observers of the human condition who recognize the utter folly of hubris.

Air date: November 3, 2022

Songs of the Auvergne: La Pastoura als camps (The Shepherdess in the Fields), Joseph Canteloube

Suggested by Kent in Beavercreek, Oregon

When I first heard the Songs of the Auvergne I was transported as if to another space, hearing the soaring and almost plaintive voice of the soprano (It was a recording by Victoria de los Angeles). It has since become one of my most favorite pieces of classical music.

Air date: November 2, 2022

Cantique de Jean Racine, Gabriel Faure

Suggested by Katharine in Portland, Oregon

I first heard this lovely piece while singing in the choir at First Unitarian Portland a few years ago under the excellent direction of Mark Slegers. I’ve sung in choirs since I was three years old (cherub choir in my hometown Lutheran church in York, PA), and Mark was one of my favorite choir directors.

Air date: November 1, 2022

Bolero, Maurice Ravel

Suggested by Gaynell in Portland, Oregon

I recently heard the Oregon Symphony perform the piece and it was astounding. I'd love to hear it again on air.

Air date: October 31, 2022

Ruddigore: When the night wind howls, Gilbert & Sullivan

Suggested by Dennis in Beaverton, Oregon

I am the founding director of Light Opera of Portland ("Absurdity Done in Complete Sincerity"). LOoP just wrapped up a 2-week run of Ruddigore. This is the perfect time of year for Ruddigore as it is a ghost story,

Air date: October 28, 2022

Medley of Scots Tunes, Rachel Barton Pine

Suggested by Basil in Regina, Saskatchewan

I first heard Alasdair Fraser years ago when he performed at a concert in the then Saskatchewan Centre for the Arts. I have since heard him in person at the Winnipeg Folk Festival where he conducted a workshop for aspiring fiddle players. His playing brings back memories of growing up in Scotland with Scottish traditional dance music on the radio.

Air date: October 27, 2022

Graceful Ghost Rag, William Bolcom

Suggested by Pie in Portland, Oregon

I bought the piano music a long time ago and thought that I had lost it.... but I recently found it and will try now to master it. (It's got a lot of flats in the key but that's what makes it fun!)

Air date: October 26, 2022

Lorelei, Clara Schumann

Suggested by Susan in Beavercreek, Oregon

A few years ago, on the unhappiest day of my life, I was shipboard on the Rhine River. In the afternoon, as we passed through the cliffs edging the river, I settled into a chair on the deck. It was a cold day and the wind began to sing through the narrows. It was the most unearthly music, made by voices from another time, the Lorelei on her rock, combing her hair to lure strong men to their deaths on the rocks below.

There is a German folksong, Die Lorelei, based on a poem by Heinrich Heine. Various composers have written music from the poem, among them Clara Schumann. It's not cheerful, to be sure, but for me it defines a day on a foreign river where, as I sat wrapped in a deck robe with a chill wind blowing, a steward brought me hot cocoa with rum.

Text of Heine's poem: https://www.oxfordlieder.co.uk/song/652

Air date: October 25, 2022

Henry V: Suite from the film, William Walton

Suggested by Val in Portland, Oregon

I have a family tree that goes back to 1415 when my ancestor, Sir William Newman, was knighted on the Battle of Agincourt. Tuesday, October 25, is St Crispin's Day, the day of the battle, and I would love to hear some music from the movie today,

Air date: October 24, 2022

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: The Waterfall, Joel P. West

Suggested by E Thomas in Portland, Oregon

Joel P West is an incredible composer raised in Lebanon, Oregon and someone I've grown musically with over the course of 25 years. Joel spent much of his adult life in LA and San Diego, but has recently relocated to Portland to continue his career in the PNW. I love celebrating successful friends who are continually champions of the community around them, and Joel is exactly this. His more notable compositions are for Short Term 12, The Glass Castle and recent compositions for Chef's Table. The his biggest achievement to date is probably his score on Marvel's Shang-Chi where Joel was stretched in his musical knowledge in learning specific instrumentation from Asia and authentically incorporating it in his score for an action film. The outcome is outstanding and worth celebrating one of our local composers. https://www.joelpwest.com/scores - check it out!

Air date: October 21, 2022

Scheherazade: Finale, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Suggested by Jake in Bend, Oregon

When I was an inexperienced high school percussionist, the local symphony (Central Oregon Symphony) needed a snare drum player for their upcoming concert. They were performing Scheherazade. I was just a band nerd at the time who had never really played anything super complicated, nor played in a symphony, but my high school band director asked me if I'd be interested in giving in a shot. I showed up, probably butchered the part, but I had never played a piece of music that intense, emotional or complicated before, let alone a snare drum part that was that tricky. I needed help with translating some of the terminology I was seeing that I had never seen before. The piece (and my love for symphonic music) stuck with me since, even if I probably didn't play the part that well at all. Over 20 years later when the Central Oregon Symphony had a new director and did the piece again, I (much more experienced this time) jumped at the chance to give the part a shot once more. This time I was able to enjoy the piece and its beauty and not stress nearly as much.

Air date: October 20, 2022

Requiem: In Paradisum, Gabriel Faure

Suggested by Anne in Woodburn, Oregon and Marya in Portland, Oregon

Anne says:
The beauty and purity of the soprano voices in this piece truly reflect the words they are singing, "May the angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs greet you at your arrival and lead you into the holy City of Jerusalem. May the choir of Angels greet you and like Lazarus, who once was a poor man, may you have eternal rest." This melody cannot help but touch the hearts of those who hear it.

Marya says:
There’s something about the Fall that makes me always want to hear this requiem. I get very nostalgic in the Fall and miss my grandparents who were artists, amateur musicians and huge lovers of classical music. It makes me think of their farmhouse in SW Portland and of them playing Scrabble or Bridge by a popping fire, or of them painting or typing letters to friends and family on their old Underwood typewriter… there was always classical music playing and Faure’s Requiem was among the selections in rotation. This music also somehow allows me to feel sorrowful and miss them as much as they deserve to be missed.

Air date: October 19, 2022

Gayne: Lullaby, Aram Khachaturian

Suggested by Christopher in Vancouver, Washington

This music reminds me of my time wandering across the steppes, mountains, and of course the old fortresses of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uyghurstan (China).

Air date: October 18, 2022

Adagio for Strings, Samuel Barber

Suggested by Walter in Tillamook, Oregon

When I was a student at UCLA I worked the graveyard shift babysitting a room full of glowing equipment. This was on the top floor of the physics building. As the sun would rise the local classical station always played Adagio for Strings. I would open the windows and watch as this music made the sun rise and transformed nighttime LA from its true desert robes to the daytime urban jungle. On a good night you could hear and see the coyotes retreating back into the mountains.

A little poem about this experience:

It was the 1960’s
A vacuum tube computer with 40000 tubes
I was hired to sit with it all night to make sure it didn’t catch on fire
Thus the room had a very unique glow and a hum
Each tube had 2 glowing points of light
Large curtains covered the windows.
At sunrise
I would open the curtains and have a stunning view of Westwood
At first
In the early dawn
The smell of chaparral
The desert nocturnal animals were retreating from there raids on urban treasures
The classical station at the time [KFAC, since gone ] would play Adagio for Strings
Just as the high intense note would sound, the sun would break the rim
Some station technician waved his magic wand and made this shift with the change in seasons.
The remainder of the piece would usher in the sounds and smells of the awakening city.

Air date: October 17, 2022

Ma Vlast: The Moldau, Bedrich Smetana

Suggested by Steve in Portland, Oregon

This beautiful piece of music describes the course of the river through the countryside: from a small trickling stream to a major river, it rolls past a wedding celebration where there is lively dancing. At night, nymphs dance on the water in the moonlight, then on through the St. John's Rapids. It emerges to become an even mightier river (the key changes from E minor to E Major), flowing past the Vysehrad Castle and on to the city of Prague and beyond.

This is my favorite music involving a river. Your studios overlook the Willamette River. When I look out at the Willamette, I think of Smetana's music. For Czechs this music is a near national anthem. I'm not Czech, but with this music I feel I can understand them and their country a bit more.

Air date: October 14, 2022

Aida: Grand March, Chorus “Gloria all’Egitto!”, and Ballet, Giuseppe Verdi

Suggested by Mike in Lincoln County, Oregon

13 years ago, I was still recovering from a painful divorce that occurred over 2 years earlier. Thanks to several wonderfully supportive people, and some new interests, including a passion for classical music and opera, I was slowly moving on. However, there remained an anger and sadness that I couldn’t fully overcome, and these feelings would frequently arise to hold me back from true happiness.

One serene Sunday morning, it happened to be Giuseppe Verdi’s birthday - Oct 10 - so I put on one of my new favorite CDs, a greatest hits of Il Maestro. I was feeling unusually relaxed and content, but as would so often happen, my peaceful morning was suddenly shattered by an intrusive negative memory. I recall disappointedly putting down my crossword puzzle and looking out the window at the grand oak tree. Then, an unfamiliar thought came to me: I don’t want to be angry or sad anymore. It was at that moment that I became aware that “Gloria all’ Egitto” had started playing in the background.

That fateful morning, the magnificent choir and dramatic music served to lift me out of the depths. I spent the entire 12 minutes of the song excitedly imagining scenarios that had upset me the previous 2 years, and asking myself if I could not get upset when faced with them again. The answer each time was a resounding “YES!” That moment changed the trajectory of my life, so every Oct 10, I celebrate Il Maestro’s birthday and my Epiphany Day by listening to “Gloria all’ Egitto”. Thank you, and viva Verdi!

Air date: October 13, 2022

Tannhauser: Overture, Richard Wagner

Suggested by Susan in Wilsonville, Oregon

35 years ago, I had planned to marry my now-husband, Steven, in a quiet, intimate ceremony. But one night he and our dear friends sat me down to play this piece of music. As it played, they acted out the perfect wedding (choreographed to this music) with a minister and family, best man and bridesmaid descending a 100-step outdoor staircase lined with cypress trees and leading from a Greek temple to the manicured grounds of an Italian villa overlooking the ocean in California. As the music soared Steven emerged, followed by ring-bearers, flower girls, and finally me at the grand crescendo! Very reluctantly, I agreed... and the elegant, magnificent music proved to be the unforgettable artistic expression of a wondrous life together.

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