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: March 9, 2022

Lincolnshire Posy, Percy Grainger

Suggested by Peter in Portland, Oregon

My Dad, Jim Albert, was Director of Bands at Eastern Washington University from 1968 - 1977. He shared his love for all music with his kids. But his enthusiasm for this piece helped spark my lifelong participation in wind bands, including excellent community bands (Portland Wind Symphony, Oregon Symphonic Band, Lake Oswego Millennium Concert Band) for the last 30 years

Air date: March 8, 2022

Symphony No. 2: 4th movement, Johannes Brahms

Suggested by Anna in Newberg, Oregon

I played this piece the first year I attended the Young Musicians and Artists Camp and I immediately fell in love with it. I can still listen to it and imagine how it sounded on the Willamette University stage. Getting to play a piece of music that was so packed with drama was exciting to experience at such a young age. There is a bit of summer nostalgia that comes with listening to the last movement of this symphony for me as it was a great closer piece for the last concert of camp. I love the drama that Brahms brings with this movement but I can also vividly remember the orchestra conductor being in love with the whole symphony and being so expressive! I knew in that moment that I wanted to love music as much as he did and teach music with the same passion.

Air date: March 7, 2022

Carnaval: Eusebius, Florestan & Coquette, Robert Schumann

Suggested by Jonathan in Newberg, Oregon

It's not very often I encounter music that has a relatively simple composition, while simultaneously conveying complex emotions. These pieces by Schumann depict characters which were his imaginary friends with their own personalities. The characters Eusebius and Florestan have contrasting personalities which is cleverly revealed through the music’s tempo, harmonies, dynamics and articulation. These pieces are not only great examples of incredible composition, but also produce complex and specific emotions while remaining easy to listen to, catchy, and relatable.

Air date: March 4, 2022

Widmung, Robert Schumann

Suggested by Graham in Newberg, Oregon

This was a piece that I had the opportunity to learn and perform in school. It is a short piece, but it carries a lot of emotion with it and through it I was able to watch myself grow as a student and a musician. It also has a connection to a musical mentor in my life who has been a great inspiration for me and has urged me to continue in music.

Air date: March 3, 2022

Harold in Italy: Procession of the Pilgrims, Hector Berlioz

Suggested by Adam in Hillsboro, Oregon

One of my favorite pieces from the Romantic period is “Harold in Italy” by Hector Berlioz. This 4-movement piece has a very virtuosic viola solo. Berlioz had actually composed this piece on commission from the violinist Niccolo Paganini, who had just bought a Stradivarius viola. What I found interesting, however, is that Paganini never actually liked the music because he said it was too “flashy” for him.

It tells the story of protagonist, Harold. The first movement is called “Harold in the Mountains” and we can hear the different emotions of Harold climbing this mountain... the sadness, the fear, the happiness, all brilliantly brought together by the viola soloist. There is a short theme that is played by the soloist that will occur throughout the entire piece that is beautiful. The second movement, titled “Procession of Pilgrims,” will remind listeners of sitting in church. The third movement, “Serenade” is a much more upbeat and cheerful movement that depicts a mountaineer singing to his beloved, which is played by the English Horn. The fourth movement, titled “The Orgy of the Brigands,” Berlioz uses many different callback methods to give hints back to the other movements. This movement is far more intense than the past movements and it seems as though Berlioz pulls out all the stops in the final moments of this piece, as he often likes to do in his other compositions.

There is something about emotion in this composition -and in the storytelling- that always gets me giddy. I think this is a brilliant piece. The fact that Berlioz told a story with a protagonist as well as side characters makes me wonder what I could do in my own compositions. I am personally surprised that this is not one of his most known pieces because it is beautifully written as well as extremely virtuosic.

Air date: February 22, 2022

Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, J.S. Bach

Suggested by Nathan in Newberg, Oregon

I'm a music major at George Fox University and I play percussion. During my last semester, I played a marimba adaptation of this piece, and its energy makes it one of the most unforgettable pieces I have played.

Air date: February 21, 2022

Sei mir Gegrüsst, Franz Schubert

Suggested by Lelde in Portland, Oregon

My husband, Peter passed away some years ago on Valentine’s day. This piece of music is my greeting to him, in celebration of our love.

Air date: February 18. 2022

Nocturne No. 11 in G minor, Op. 37, No. 1, Frederic Chopin

Suggested by Ceara in Ridgefield, Washington

Chopin has been one of my favorite composers ever since I first played his music. I grew up playing piano and was trained classically, yet I had a difficult time connecting with the pieces I was given to play, especially the livelier “uppity” pieces. On rare occasions, my teacher would let me choose something to play, albeit from her selection. On one of these occasions, I asked to play something moodier, as “classical is too happy,” to quote my younger self. My teacher laughed yet humored me, previewing several pieces for me until she reached Chopin and I instantly fell in love. This nocturne by Chopin has continued to be one of my favorites years later.

Air date: February 17, 2022

Symphonie Fantastique: 2. “At the Ball”, Hector Berlioz

Suggested by Owen in Dundee, Oregon

The Symphonie Fantastique was inspired by Berlioz’s romantic obsession with actress Harriet Smithson. That obsession ironically later came apart when they met, married and ultimately divorced. This music displays a sort of timeline of Berlioz’s obsession from initial infatuation to absolute grief at the thought of never being with her.

I feel like I had a similar timeline in my life. Back in high school, I had a crush on a girl and our bond grew tremendously over our mutual love of music. I never told her about my crush until after graduation, when we both were at different universities, and I was devastated to find out she had felt the same way about me for some time as well.

She is now in a committed relationship with another man, and although I couldn’t be more happy for her and wish her nothing but the best, part of me still wonders about "what could’ve been" and how different things would have turned out if I just asked her out on one date.

I find a lot of myself in Berlioz’s work, as I felt less alive by never acting on my feelings. However, I’m happy to know -through Berlioz’s piece- that I’m not alone in feeling this way, and I feel comforted by that knowledge. The Symphonie Fantastique acts as a consolatory piece for me and helps me move on.

Air date: February 16, 2022

Minuet in G, Ludwig van Beethoven

Suggested by Karen in Portland, Oregon

This is the first piece of classical music I ever heard. It was in the late 1940’s and my family and I lived in a small city in northern Illinois. My third grade teacher, Miss Randall (adults didn’t have first names then, so that is how I knew her), was a lover of classical music and she shared her love with our class. She would bring in her 78 rpm records from home and play them on the “phonograph” (as we called it then) in our classroom. This minuet was the first piece she played for us and I was hooked — for life! It inspired me to beg my parents to let me take piano lessons, which they did the following year. That of course opened a new world to me, This piece takes me back to that first introduction to classical music, which has so enriched my life ever since.

Air date: February 15, 2022

Prelude in D-flat, “Raindrop”, Frederic Chopin

Suggested by Daisy in Bend, Oregon

Chopin's "Raindrop" Prelude is one of my favorite romantic pieces to both play and to listen to. I first heard it around this time last year when I began to study piano in college, and I instantly wanted to learn it because of the drama and color the piece portrays. The contrast between the bright, calm opening theme and the dark, dissonant middle section is so beautifully written. You can hear the individual repeated raindrops in the beginning, as well as the thunderstorm that follows. Living in the PNW, I enjoy listening to it on drives through the rain. It really comes to life when paired with the natural, beautiful scenery I'm surrounded by every day.

Air date: February 14, 2022

Intermezzo in A Major, Op. 118 No. 2, Johannes Brahms

Suggested by Gabriela in Newberg, Oregon

This was one of the first pieces I ever heard my boyfriend play. And it was after our juries were over, he sat me down in our music theory class room and he played it for me. And I cried, it was so beautiful, and it felt like... envisioning a future with him. And I knew I was safe and loved and in the right relationship. It also is just a truly beautiful piece and I want to include it in our ceremony when we get married :) Don't tell him tho ;)

Air date: February 11, 2022

Scheherazade: III. The Young Prince and the Young Princess, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Suggested by Hoda in Philomath, Oregon

I first heard this as a part of the soundtrack to a series called "Romanoffs," and I thought it was the most beautiful piece I'd ever heard. It's one of those that when you encounter it, you ask yourself: "where has this thing been all my life?" I think it's peaceful, yet incredibly romantic.

Air date: February 10, 2022

Girl with the Flaxen Hair, Claude Debussy

Suggested by Lieutenant Colonel David Beatty in Woodburn, Oregon

I am sponsoring today's music in memory of my father and mother, Russ and Delois Beatty. When I was a wee lad of 9, my father sat first chair clarinet in an orchestra in West Germany and toured all over Europe. One winter, the families were invited to go along on a tour of Bavaria and I was taken out of school for a few weeks and got to ride on the band bus. The orchestra’s director had the most beautiful daughter I’d every seen, who was just my age, and I developed a terrible crush on this lovely girl with flaxen hair – the sort of color and fine texture of corn silk. I was smitten. Everyone said we looked so cute dancing together.

A year later my dad returned to the states and I never saw her again, alas. Imagine my delight when I came across a recording of Debussy’s The Girl With The Flaxen Hair done by my father’s old orchestra! The recording was done 35 years after he had left it but never mind. When I hear this recording I’m taken back to cold winter nights in great halls in Germany, with the beautiful girl with the flaxen hair dancing in my youthful arms.

I would love to hear a recording of The Girl With The Flaxen Hair by the Five Star Brass backed by the Band of the United States Air Forces in Europe under the direction of my friend Major Denny Layendecker. Thank you.

Air date: February 9, 2022

Horn Concerto No. 1, W.A. Mozart

Suggested by Barbara in Portland, Oregon

I grew up in a home without any music, and my first exposure to classical music was at a music appreciation class my first year at Barnard College. What made it especially wonderful is that we had to trek across the street to Columbia University for that class, and there were men in the class! But still, as a commuter student living at home, I had very little money to buy my own records (this was 1958).

After I graduated, a friend arranged a blind date for me with a friend of the man she was going out with. Bill was a classical music lover, and he bought me my first classical music record: Mozart's Horn Concertos with Dennis Brain. I was thrilled by the gift, and played that record over and over. There was something about the sound of the French horn, so rich and fluid, like warm honey. When I moved into my first apartment in Manhattan I bought a KLH stereo and lots of classical records, beginning with Mozart, and then Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Rachmaninoff... What a world that record opened up for me!

Air date: February 8, 2022

Pues Que Tu, Reina del Cielo, Juan del Encina (attributed)

Suggested by Darren in Mt. Angel, Oregon

I feel The Rose Ensemble's rendition of this 16th century song as much as I hear it. I love the progression of the song and the variety of vocals -- it starts as a simple plea that is repeated by different individuals and builds to a larger cry of many to Mary for "remedy to our troubles". It's absolutely beautiful.

I enjoy introducing this music to my family and friends along with the music of other similar groups such as The Waverly Consort. I grew up on classic rock, rap, and grunge. And now, in my later years, I spend most of my time trying to catch up on all of the music like this that I have missed. I love All Classical and I listen to it, at least a little bit, almost every single day.

Air date: February 7, 2022

Marche Slave, Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Suggested by Jordan in Newberg, Oregon

I can still remember the day when my high school band director presented me with a large stack of scores and told me to “read up”, given my recent interest in composition. Marche Slave sat right on top of that stack. It instantly wormed its way into my heart and became one of my all-time favorite pieces to listen to over and over again. In fact, Marche Slave inspired my first orchestral composition, which in turn regrew my passion for composition after leaving high school and entering the new world of collegiate music

Air date: February 4, 2022

Beautiful Dreamer, Stephen Foster

Suggested by Eleanor in Portland, Oregon

In the early 1950s when I was a pre-teen and enjoyed playing the piano, my parents gave me a book of Stephen Foster's music. One of my favorites was "Beautiful Dreamer" - and I still have the book & sometimes play the song! I have heard Thomas Hampson perform that very song & would truly enjoy hearing his beautiful rendition again as a Five O'clock Favorite. Thank you!

Air date: February 3, 2022

Fur Elise, Ludwig van Beethoven

Suggested by Gabriel in Portland, Oregon

The same way Fur Elise was a significant pivoting point in music history, the piece was also a great pivot point in my own life when it came to piano skill.

At George Fox University, in the fall semester of 2020, I timidly brought the piece into my lesson with the 5’7 titan of piano Dr. Anton Zotov. Smiling, Dr. Zotov asked me to play the piece for him. After hitting all the right notes in a perfect blend of chaos, Dr. Zotov began what turned into an eight month course of instruction that would help me prepare the piece. My tempo had been as smooth as a rhino charging on a gravel road, and my pitch about as consistent as a middle schooler's emotions. I had a lot of corrections that needed to be made, so of course, I sat down and took them in patiently. At first, I loathed the work. The hours were long and gritty.

But as the weeks went on, and as the piece began to integrate into my muscle memory, I found that I could not get the music out of my head. The dynamics were just right, and the legato flow of the piece was so peaceful. It helped me find a temporary escape from the business of university life; reminiscent of the way my nimble fingers put together epic Lego Star Wars sets when I was young, my fingers adapted to this piece and put it together the way it was intended to be.

Then finally, the day came for me to perform it for my piano jury. I absolutely aced the piece; it was a spectacular feeling. Since then, I have always held this composition in high regard. I will always remember the hard work and discipline it took me to perfect the piece fondly. As Dwayne Johnson said, “It’s about drive, it’s about power!”

Air date: February 2, 2022

Pur ti miro (from The Coronation of Poppea), Claudio Monteverdi

Suggested by Ruth in Portland, Oregon

I first heard this piece on Joshua Bell's album "Romance of the Violin." It was so lovely I investigated online and found many other versions of this ethereal piece to enjoy. The violin version is gorgeous; the vocal versions go beyond description. I would love to hear a version sung by Philippe Jaroussky with Nuria Rial. It makes me want to cry.

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