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 18, 2022

Arabesque No. 1, Claude Debussy

Suggested by James in Portland, Oregon

As a young man I used to watch the PBS "Star Gazers with Jack Herkmeier" program, which included explanations and pictures of various expected astrological events in the coming days or weeks. Jack's little image was superimposed all over pictures of the universe as he explained what was to ensue. Every episode began and ended with this composition and I grew to love it, even before I grew to love all classical music. Just recently I discovered that the programs are archived, so I watched one and it took me back to my youth. Thank you to 89.9 radio, Claude Debussy, PBS, and Jack Herkmeier for pointing me in the right direction.

Air date: May 17, 2022

The Almond Tree, John Ireland

Suggested by Pie in Portland, Oregon

I first heard this while parallel parking my mom's car, and it really stuck with me. I just think that it is a great piece of music.

Air date: May 16, 2022

An die Musik, Franz Schubert

Suggested by Ursula in Portland, Oregon

When I was younger I did not much care for "lieder." Ignorance, I guess. As I have aged and come through a few health battles I appreciate the comforting words and find I listen with more intent. An die Musik is a sort of hymn for me, with music and words that transport me to a different realm and lets me be comforted. I might also add that All Classical comforts me as well, helping me cope when I'm in a distressed state. So here is a great "thank you" to the MUSIC and the comfort that you ALL provide.

Air date: May 13, 2022

Nocturne for Strings in B, Antonin Dvorak

Suggested by Wayne in Portland, Oregon

I recently came across an album called "Friday The 13th - Classical Collection" and among the expected selections (such as Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor, and "Funerals" by Franz Liszt) was this Nocturne by Dvorak. Though I don't find it spooky, I feel there is a sense of disquiet in this piece... despite the apparent soothing quality suggested by the title.

Air date: May 12, 2022

Rise of the Guardians: Still Dream, Alexandre Desplat

Suggested by Dorthea in Hillsboro, Oregon

I first heard parts of this soundtrack on "The Score" and got curious about the movie. In spite of its quite martial title, the film is a poetic tale (with lots of tongue-in-cheek moments) about taking on responsibility and not giving in to fear, even if you're on your own. This selection, "Still dream," sung by Renee Fleming, is the opening part of the end title and summarizes the message of the movie very well: We still need to dream, hold on to our hopes and prayers, and don't lose our sense of wonder... a message that goes for kids as well as adults.

Air date: May 11, 2022

Warsaw Concerto, Richard Addinsell

Suggested by Timothy in Portland, Oregon

The Warsaw Concerto is a rich and powerful piece written for the film entitled, Dangerous Moonlight. The story centers around Poland's struggle against the invasion of Germany (WWII). The music evokes the feelings of grief, passion, hope, and romantic love. It is a favorite of mine due to its melancholic beauty.

Air date: May 10, 2022

Ladies in Lavender: Main Theme, Nigel Hess

Suggested by Richard in Castle Rock, Washington

My favorite poem has different names. I prefer: "The Old Violin". The poem is set in the late 1800's, I'd guess. The auctioneer, with little expectations, holds up an old violin, battered and scarred. When the bidding stalls at 3 dollars he's ready to drop the hammer. As he lowers the hammer, he stops. "From the room, far back, a gray-haired man comes forward and picks up the bow. And wiping the dust from the old violin and tightening the loose strings, he plays a melody, pure and sweet, as a choiring angel sings." The auctioneer again holds up the old violin. This time, its value increases a thousand fold! Every time I think of this poem, I try to imagine what melody he played, to so entrance the audience. I suggest, while listening to "Ladies in Lavender," you picture in your mind that gray-haired man, playing before that hushed audience. For me, it will always be the violin that will pull the most on my heart strings.

Air date: May 9, 2022

To a Wild Rose, Edward McDowell

Suggested by Pie in Portland, Oregon

Beautiful song and easy as "Pie" to play in the piano. Pardon the pun. I played it at a recital for residents a nursing home when I was like 10 years old in Cincinnati, Ohio where I grew up. I've always loved that piece of music.

Air date: May 6, 2022

Salut d’amour, Edward Elgar

Suggested by Eleanor in Portland, Oregon

Itzhak Perlman's recording is such a beautiful version of this piece. I recently recalled seeing Mr. Perlman when he made his first American appearance on the Ed Sullivan TV show in 1958 - (when I was only 21 and in nursing school!). He was just 13 yrs old at the time and played Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto. All of us watching the Ed Sullivan show that evening were awed by his talent! It was wonderful to see and hear him years later when my husband and I were subscribers to the Oregon Symphony concerts here in Portland... What a gift!

Air date: May 5, 2022

Symphony No. 2: III. Adagio, Sergei Rachmaninov

Suggested by Donna in Vancouver, Washington

My late husband had no classical background when we married, but listened to All Classical every day as he worked in his shop. He began to be able to identify composers the more he listened. I asked him if he could identify Rachmaninoff. He answered "Yes, when I see the funny look on your face". This movement makes me cry but they are good tears.

When I listen to Rachmaninoff I listen for his many melodies going on at the same time. A friend and I played a two piano version of his Vocalise. Practicing alone I was trying to decide which melody to bring out and when we played together, she had another beautiful melody at the same time as mine. What a gift!

Air date: May 4, 2022

Redemption Song, Bob Marley

Suggested by Debbie in Heron, Montana

My husband Dave and I were sitting in our kitchen playing Parcheesi when this piece of music came on the air. I immediately had a feeling of comfort and relaxation. I had to stop playing so I could look it up on your website and find out it's title. I thought this is a perfect piece to be played on the 5 O'Clock Favorite.

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.

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