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: May 3, 2022

Kalenda Maya, Raimbaut de Vaqueiras

Suggested by Melinda in Portland, Oregon

Please don't let the month of May go by without playing that 12th century favorite, "Kalenda Maia." This joyous song seems to contain all of the exuberance of the month of May.

Air date: May 2, 2022

Gymnopedie No. 1; A New Satiesfaction, Erik Satie / Stephen Koncz

Suggested by Stephen in Portland, Oregon

When I was in high school, a pop radio station near where I lived had a late-night music program called the PM Underground. Their theme music for the program was the first of "Variations on a Theme by Erik Satie" played by an old rock group called Blood, Sweat and Tears. The Blood, Sweat and Tears adaptation consisted of two variations of Satie's Gymnopedie No. 1. Late at night in bed I loved to hear that theme--not knowing where it came from because they never attributed it. But at some point I discovered Erik Satie's music for myself. There is a relatively recent version of the work called "A New Satiesfaction" by Stephan Koncz, played by his group Made in Berlin, which I also love. I don't know if this is possible for your 5 o'clock favorite but I would love it if you could play a couple of different versions of it. Many, many thanks!

Air date: April 29, 2022

Symphony No. 9, “Choral”: Ode to Joy, Ludwig van Beethoven

Suggested by Nancy in Albany, Oregon

I was 7 years old when I went to see The Beatles ‘Hard Days Night’ and felt so worldly when I recognized Beethoven’s Ode to Joy!
What a combination: The Beatles AND Beethoven! Whenever I hear it that wild sense of exuberance and being part of a big world lifts me.

I’m asking that you play it as the 5 o’clock Favorite on Friday, April 29 as I walk out the door from my 19 years working for Benton County. Retired!! (And ready to go to Philadelphia to take care of my grandson and turn him on to ICAN!)

Air date: April 28, 2022

Organ Concerto No. 13 (“The Cuckoo and the Nightingale”), G. F. Handel

Suggested by Marvin in Stevenson, Washington

This always makes me smile.

Air date: April 27, 2022

The Royal Tenenbaums: Mothersbaugh’s Canon, Mark Mothersbaugh

Suggested by Ken in Portland, Oregon

This version of Pachelbel's Canon introduced me to classical music as a young man growing up in the Portland punk scene. I found so much love, sorrow and happiness in this piece and it opened my mind to explore sounds and music I had never thought to listen to. Without it, I would have never found my way to my daily metronome which is your station. Thank you for all of your hard work. (FYI the 5:00 Favorite is my moment of zen. Thank you for that!)

Air date: April 26, 2022

The Single Petal of a Rose, Duke Ellington

Suggested by Pie in Portland, Oregon

I didn't know that Duke Ellington wrote such pretty songs. I thought that people should know that!

Air date: April 25, 2022

Howl’s Moving Castle: Merry-Go-Round of Life, Joe Hisaishi

Suggested by Anonymous in Portland, Oregon

It's so beautiful!

Air date: April 22, 2022

Children’s Corner: The Snow is Dancing, Claude Debussy

Suggested by Phil in Portland, Oregon

It was the Japanese composer -and pioneer of electronic music- Tomita who introduced me to this piece. It's beautiful.

Air date: April 21, 2022

Clarinet Concerto in A: 2. Adagio, W. A. Mozart

Suggested by Joan in Portland, Oregon

There are a few pieces of music that are so beautiful they move me to tears. You've played several of them as 5 o'clock favorites over the last few months -- Air on a G String, Franz Biebl's Ave Maria, the theme from the movie "Schinder's List." However, the piece I'd like to hear -- the 2nd movement of Mozart's Clarinet Concerto -- I think is absolutely sublime. It may be the most beautiful melody ever, and I'd love to hear it on the 5 o'clock favorite.

Air date: April 20, 2022

Pines of Rome: Pines of the Villa Borghese & The Pines of the Appian Way, Ottorino Respighi

Suggested by Kathy in Beaverton, Oregon

My late husband, Mike, introduced me to the tone poems of Respighi in 1979. Instantly charmed, I could close my eyes and let the music transport me to a distant place and time. The Pines of the Appian Way evokes the majesty of the advancing Roman army. The Pines of the Villa Borghese is filled with the laughter of children at play. Both of these melodic locations in the Pines of Rome fill me with joy!

Air date: April 19, 2022

Concerto Grosso No. 6 in D, Opus 3, G. F. Handel

Suggested by Robert in Vancouver, Washington

I only started listening to classical music regularly a month ago. I now listen all day during the week while at work. This piece was the first time I went from passive listening to wanting to know what it was and who wrote it. Something about the organ really caught me and took me from listening passively to being engaged in what I was hearing. That's not much of a story, but keep in mind I'm a garbage man that was listening to Metallica and talk radio all the time. I know what I like, and I really like this.

Air date: April 18, 2022

Rustle of Spring, Christian Sinding

Suggested by Pie in Portland, Oregon

I started learning how to play this, but switched piano teachers and never got a chance to finish learning it. But I still have the piano music and a piano!

Air date: April 15, 2022

Agnus Dei, Samuel Barber

Suggested by Joshua in Vancouver, Washington

A dear friend recently passed away and in college we sang this (among many other wonderful pieces) in choir together. This song was one of our absolute favorites and I felt this would be a small but meaningful tribute to her glorious voice and wonderful life.

Air date: April 14, 2022

Clair de Lune, Claude Debussy

Suggested by Barbara in Damascus, Oregon

There was a movie made in the 40s called "Music for Millions" in which Larry Adler played Clair de Lune on his harmonica. It was so beautiful. My brother bought the sheet music for me to learn to play. About that same time Larry Adler appeared at the Civic Auditorium and my uncle took me to see him. What a thrill! I would love to hear this piece again.

Air date: April 13, 2022

Anima Christi, Marco Frisina

Suggested by Anne in Woodburn, Oregon

This piece never fails to life my spirits and console me. It is a beautiful reminder of Christ's love for us and of our own unworthiness of His mercy. I hope you enjoy this magnificent piece.

Air date: April 12, 2022

Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, J.S. Bach

Suggested by Susan in Keizer, Oregon

I don't have a story to tell about this... it's just my all-time favorite.

Air date: April 11, 2022

Rhapsody in Blue, George Gershwin

Suggested by Kathleen in Beaverton, Oregon

This haunting piece of music transports me to a mysterious universe where all is lost, then found again in the melody

Air date: April 1, 2022

The Lark Ascending, Ralph Vaughan Williams

Suggested by Janice in Portland, Oregon

I love music that puts you in a specific place. When I first heard this piece I pictured myself walking along an English road. It fills me with joy and I love it’s calming effect. Someday I hope to travel to the English countryside, listening to this amazing work.

Air date: March 31, 2022

Goyescas: The Maiden and the Nightingale, Enrique Granados

Suggested by Tami in Portland, Oregon

I started taking piano lessons around age eight and, while I enjoyed it, it was difficult to connect with music that sometimes sounded, well, old-fashioned to my youthful years. One day my piano teacher played an Alicia de Larrocha recording of a piece I was starting to learn and it completely blew me away. The way she was able to combine technical excellence with raw emotion was unlike anything I had heard before. I am 43 now and still 'get the feels' when I hear her performances. Thanks for considering my suggestion!

Air date: March 30, 2022

The Almond Tree, John Ireland

Suggested by Pie in Portland, Oregon

There's no significant story attached to this for me... but when I first heard it on All Classical Portland I was struck by its beauty.

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