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 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.

Air date: October 12, 2022

Sure On This Shining Night, Morten Lauridsen

Suggested by Joy in Hillsboro, Oregon

For thirty years I sang with the Portland Symphonic Choir and we performed this piece a couple of times. Standing in the middle of a hundred or so beautiful voices, and joining mine to the mix, was a great pleasure. Lauridsen has a wonderful way of weaving the lines in and over each other. I loved singing it! And I think it's gentle style will have a calming influence on the five o'clock traffic!

Air date: October 11, 2022

Fisher’s Hornpipe, Traditional (arr. Mark O'Connor)

Suggested by Chris in Portland, Oregon

Just a playful, fun piece that always makes me smile. Thank you!

Air date: October 10, 2022

Polka Italienne, Sergei Rachmaninov

Suggested by Julie in Albany, Oregon

I teach middle school drama in Albany, Oregon. For our 2020 production of Sleeping Beauty, I chose this song as the "fairy theme" to play whenever the fairies were onstage. Four of my actors learned this song as a piano quartet to perform during intermission. Sadly our show was cancelled the day before Opening Night because of Covid. I still love this piece and think of my students whenever I hear it.

Air date: October 7, 2022

Baba Yetu, Christopher Tin

Suggested by Marco in Portland, Oregon

The song is used in the intro for the video game Sid Meyer's Civilization IV. This is one of my favorite game series and one of the best strategy games. My partner turned me onto the series when we first started going out; we would play this all the time when we were dating.

Air date: October 6, 2022

Symphony No. 40 in G minor: Finale, W. A. Mozart

Suggested by Victoria in Portland, Oregon

Air date: October 5, 2022

Take Him, Earth, For Cherishing, Herbert Howells

Suggested by Pie in Portland, Oregon

Heard this on Andrea Murray's show one night, and fell in love with it.

Air date: October 4, 2022

Athalia: War March of The Priests, Felix Mendelssohn

Suggested by Robert in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

When I was a student at the old School for the Blind in Halifax, Nova Scotia on the Atlantic coast, on graduation night -as staff and students filed into the assembly hall- this stirring melody was played.

Air date: October 3, 2022

Nocturne in E-Flat, Op. 9, No. 2, Frederic Chopin

Suggested by Thom in Portland, Oregon

I took classical piano lessons for about 13 years prior to going to university but unfortunately did not keep up with my practicing and am quite rusty. Chopin's Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2 was always a goal of mine. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for considering my request. I appreciate it!

Air date: September 27, 2022

None But the Lonely Heart, Peter Tchaikovsky

Suggested by David in Portland, Oregon

A friend recently gave me a book of piano solos he could no longer use. It happened to be the same book my mother had many years ago, and it brought back a very vivid memory. In the book was Tchaikovsky's "None But the Lonely Heart," which I had learned to play when I was younger. At the time, my mother was taking a music class at the local junior college, and sometimes I would go with her. The instructor heard I had learned this piece and asked me to play it for the class. OMG! Perform in front of 30 people! I had never done that before, I had been playing the piano only about three or four years then, but I agreed. When the time came for me to play, I was sitting with the class with the music. But when I got up, I didn't take the music with me. I played from memory, and for awhile, everything went fine. But when I got to page three, I forgot the notes. I remembered the rhythm, though, and kind of faked it. Two measures later I remembered the music again, and it was smooth sailing from there. Afterwards, I mentioned this to the instructor. He told me, "You did fine. If you didn't know the piece, you never would have noticed the error. To be able to do that," he added, "is the mark of a good pianist."

Air date: September 22, 2022

Winterreise: The Linden Tree, Franz Schubert

Suggested by David in Portland, Oregon

Schubert composed about 600 songs, many of which are exquisitely beautiful. I have become obsessed with them! (And the piano accompaniments, by the way, do more than just support the singer; they are beautiful, fascinating.) Please play a version by Thomas Quasthoff; I really admire him.

Air date: September 21, 2022

Perpetuum Mobile, Arthur Jeffes

Suggested by Tressa in Portland, Oregon

This song, and group (Penguin Cafe Orchestra), inspire me to keep moving and trying, despite the obstacles. I feel the flow coming from the instruments and it uplifts me. This is especially what I listen to during the Spring months, as new growth and life are bursting forth. Thank you!

Air date: September 20, 2022

Portal 2 (video game): Turret Opera, Mike Morasky

Suggested by Dewey in Camas, Washington

This song comes from a game that really helped distract me from the arguments my parents were having before they split up. It's a song that's played at the end of the game, when Chell (the main character) is finally able to leave. It tells about how she's free, despite all the pain and struggle she went through, and she can finally run away from the cause of all her problems to live a normal life.

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