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: August 4, 2022

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: The Ecstacy of Gold, Ennio Morricone

Suggested by Jeffrey in Portland, Oregon

Both my wife and I had the coincidence, on two separate occasions, of having this song come up on our playlist while we bicycled up a challenging hill.

On her way to work one morning she biked along NE Brookwood Parkway when she reached an overpass leading over Highway 26. At that segment of Brookwood Parkway it is heavily trafficked, and when she reached the apex of the overpass the music reached a crescendo which in turn created an epic sense to her ride over the pass.

On a different day I was returning home from my studio on my bicycle while listening to the same piece. Near the beginning of the piece I had turned onto N Wheeler Ave which is a short but relatively steep hill that leads to Broadway just before the bridge. My bicycle at the time was a single gear bicycle and the climb had always been a slow battle of whispered curses, but that day with the music flooding my ears I felt empowered to make it to the top at the right moment. It truly became an soundtrack to my climb, and just as I was cresting the top the same crescendo that met my wife's climb began to play. It fit too perfectly.

Air date: August 3, 2022

Clair de Lune, Claude Debussy

Suggested by Pie in Portland, Oregon

I love this music... and I think that when the time it right, I will try and master it on the piano.

Air date: August 2, 2022

Scottish Fantasy: Andante sostenuto, Max Bruch

Suggested by Nancy in Tualatin, Oregon

I love this whole piece. When I had finished taking the Bar exam, I put the CD on in my car and blasted it all the way home! I play the violin myself, but also play a lovely arrangement of the slow movement on mountain dulcimer.

Air date: July 28, 2022

The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace – Benedictus, Karl Jenkins

Suggested by Anne in Woodburn, Oregon

This breathtaking music always inspires and fills me with hope. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Air date: July 27, 2022

The Boy in the Gap, Traditional Irish

Suggested by Gregory in McMinnville, Oregon

Hello!!! This delectable piece I came across accidentally and I have to say, the last time a song stopped me dead in my tracks and captivated my whole being was when I heard Eric Whitacre's "River Cam" on your station (would love to share that story another time!).

Martin Hayes, Dennis Cahill, and their fellow musical collaborators bring out the sheer beauty of traditional Irish music in a way that sends chills down the spine while warming the heart with a love of humanity - what truly great art should do!

Air date: July 26, 2022

Miserere, W. A. Mozart

Suggested by Lynn in Portland, Oregon

I have always been transfixed by Allegri's Miserere. And Mozart loved it, too.... he fell so in love with Allegri's piece when he heard it at St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome that he subsequently transcribed it from memory. I adore Mozart's own Miserere Mei Deus, too, so I'd like to suggest Mozart's version of this lovely text for your 5:00 Favorite.

Air date: July 25, 2022

Miserere, Gregorio Allegri

Suggested by Pie in Portland, Oregon

This is such a beautiful piece of music... and those high notes are magical!

Air date: July 21, 2022

A Medianoche, Hal Isbitz

Suggested by Gary in Vancouver, Washington

While recovering from Covid, I discovered this piece on pianist Scott Kirby's Facebook page and was inspired to learn it myself. Six months later, I have pretty well learned it, and am still busy brushing up on my ragtime repertoire.

Air date: July 20, 2022

Firebird Ballet: Berceuse & Finale, Igor Stravinsky

Suggested by Gregg in Cary, North Carolina

This piece was part of my "intro" to classical music as a recording of it was often played during the stage set-up and sound check for concerts by the rock group Yes back in the 1970s.
Additionally, the first season that I ever played in a community orchestra (2018-19) I got to play this (bass). I work at a classical radio station here in North Carolina and tune in and keep an eye on your station to see what we can be doing better here. :)

Air date: July 19, 2022

Night on Bald Mountain, Modest Mussorgsky

Suggested by Emma in Portland, Oregon

I am an 8th grader in middle school. I recently saw Fantasia (1940) again and was mesmerized by all the wonderful classical pieces brought into the film. I also loved Maestro Leopold Stokowski's fine conducting - without a baton. One of my favorite pieces from that film is A Night On Bald Mountain by Mussorgsky. I love the darkness and power of the piece and when I hear it I always picture the evil Chernabog opening his monstrous wings and grabbing the town's restless souls to worship him on Bald Mountain. I'd love to hear it for the Five O' Clock Favorite.

Air date: July 18, 2022

Fragile, Sting (arr. Walter Silva)

Suggested by Pie in Portland, Oregon

This is by far my favorite piece of music by Sting. The title says it all: how fragile we are. Our lives can change in an instant.

Air date: July 7, 2022

St. Matthew Passion: Erbarme Dich, J.S. Bach

Suggested by Dayanna in Vancouver, Washington

While watching my favorite anime, Bungo Stray Dogs, I discovered a new character in the series: He’s named after the author Fyodor Dostoyevsky. In this anime the character is a mysterious antagonist who plays the cello quite beautifully. So as to not raise suspicion, the way he communicated with his underlings was via requests on classical radio stations. This particular piece was played at the end of the last episode and it communicated to his underlings: “Now is the time.” I found this piece quite haunting in its own beautiful way, and it has stayed with me. I'd love to hear it again, but my request is purely for my enjoyment, and not intended to communicate with any underlings. :)

Air date: July 6, 2022

Enigma Variations: Nimrod, Edward Elgar

Suggested by Melissa in Keizer, Oregon

I walked down the aisle in my wedding processional to this gorgeous music this May. I have always loved this piece, and it especially pulls at my heartstrings now that it is attached to such a meaningful memory.

Air date: July 5, 2022

Serenade No. 10 “Gran Partita”: Adagio, W. A. Mozart

Suggested by James in Portland, Oregon

This beautiful music would make for a sweet and relaxing close to the workday.

Air date: July 4, 2022

Root Beer Rag, Billy Joel

Suggested by Dave in McMinnville, Oregon

I have this CD ("Whiplash" by the O-Zone Percussion Group) and I thought this would be a great way to share the fun with others. The Ozone Percussion Group is/was a student group from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Air date: June 30, 2022

The Moldau, Bedrich Smetana

Suggested by Steve in Portland, Oregon

The music has a program, describing the course of the river Moldau through the countryside into Prague. This piece is generally well known and is often heard by itself. It is a gorgeous piece of music and, to Czechs, The Moldau is a near national anthem. But also, it is part of Ma Vlast (My Country) -- a cycle of six tone poems, There is a lot of magnificent music in the cycle that, I think, most people don't know -- but should!

Air date: June 29, 2022

In A Landscape, John Cage (arr. Aaron Larget-Caplan)

Suggested by Jane in State College, Pennsylvania

I heard Aaron play this on Thursdays @ Three - his arrangement is breathtaking! This work of Cage’s has long been a favorite of mine, but it assumed the deepest meaning when a few years ago I was facing serious surgery and needed to make in advance some arrangements for my Celebration of Life should it be necessary. Thankfully I am still here, but “In A Landscape” made it through the rigorous selection process as a song that would remind others of my life and give them comfort. And this version on guitar is my new favorite version. Stunning.

Air date: June 28, 2022

Samson et Delila: Mon coeur s’ouvre a ta voix (My heart opens itself to your voice), Camille Saint-Saens

Suggested by Todd in Clackamas, Oregon

The short story: This was my Grandmother's favorite classical piece!

The longer story: My mother is a retired opera singer who sang with Portland Opera and Seattle Opera before moving to New York and touring around the USA. When she would perform in the Pacific Northwest, she would try to sing this aria for my Grandmother.
When I was 36 and raising my family in Portland, I had the joy of getting Portland Opera season tickets with my Grandmother (then aged 90). For many years it was our "Regular Date" as I would chauffeur her and her friend to the opera, so they didn't have to drive.
My time with my Grandmother taught me how to truly appreciate grand opera and classical music, which is why I listen to All Classical daily, even when I am working overseas. (Keep up the good work!!)

Air date: June 27, 2022

Rivers of Light, Eriks Esenvalds

Suggested by Pie in Portland, Oregon

I first heard this one early morning on All Classical Portland. It was so beautiful that I just have to hear it again - and it would be great for driving home.

Air date: June 23, 2022

Piano Quartet No. 1: 3. Allegretto poco moderato, Bohuslav Martinu

Suggested by Amy in Portland, Oregon

While attending grad school in Los Angeles, I enjoyed the local classical radio station there. One of the shows on the station used this piece for its introduction and I loved tuning in to hear it. It always struck a chord of beauty and calm for me in a place that was so big and busy.

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