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 8, 2021

Bicentennial Man (Original Score): The Gift of Mortality, James Horner

Suggested by Jonathan in Lake Oswego, Oregon

I watched the movie Bicentennial Man recently and was so moved by the score from the amazing James Horner. The movie in of itself was beautiful and begged the question what is it that makes us human. Robin Williams' speech at the end of the movie with this score piece playing along sure made for a special scene and in my opinion one of the best speeches Williams made in his career. Horner did an outstanding job to complement -and add to!- this scene with this selection, called "The Gift of Mortality."

Air date: October 7, 2021

Seal Lullaby, Eric Whitacre

Suggested by An anonymous listener in Canby, Oregon

I first heard this piece on a drizzly fall morning while I was sitting over the heater vent, my radio beside me. Today is my little brother's 3rd birthday -- perhaps in years to come his birthday will fall on a drizzly day such as the first time I heard this stunning piece. But no matter when I hear it, I shall always think of my dear little brother, so dear, so dear, so dear.

Air date: October 6, 2021

Le Tic-Toc-Choc, Francois Couperin

Suggested by Richard in Salem, Oregon

From Jean-Yves Thibaudet's newest album, "Carte Blanche," this would be a good, light piece for five o’clock!

Air date: October 5, 2021

Iza Ngomso – “Come Tomorrow”, Christopher Tin

Suggested by Joan in Yuma, Arizona

I was up way too early, not able to sleep, because of the sting and stench from the smoke of distant fires. I came across this music by Christopher Tin, an adaptation of lines from one Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poems 'Keramos', translated into Xhosa:
The mist and cloud will turn to rain, / The rain to mist and cloud again, / Tomorrow be today...

Air date: October 4, 2021

Sunrise Serenade, Op. 63, Aulis Sallinen

Suggested by Timmy in Warren, Oregon

I teach math at Pacific University. For obvious reasons, the past 18 months or so have been quite difficult for teachers! Throughout the pandemic I've used music to help retain my sanity. Part of what I enjoy is discovering new (to me) composers, and one of the composers I discovered during the pandemic was the contemporary Finnish composer Aulis Sallinen. I'd like to hear one of his pieces to inspire other listeners to investigate the music of this modern master -- and maybe inspire some local performers to play them!

Air date: October 1, 2021

Solace (A Mexican Serenade), Scott Joplin

Suggested by An anonymous listener in White Salmon, Washington

This keeps a person relaxed in stressful times

Air date: September 30, 2021

Andante Favori, Ludwig van Beethoven

Suggested by David in Portland, Oregon

I am a pianist in Portland myself and I recently finished Jan Swafford’s 1000-page biography of Beethoven which was really long, but inspiring. I would love to hear this beautiful slow rondo that was originally part of Beethoven's Waldstein sonata, but exchanged for a different rondo movement. This piece melts my heart with its melody and I can only imagine what it would have been like to hear him play in person: for Beethoven, what is difficult is beautiful.

Air date: September 29, 2021

Spanish Dances, Moritz Moszkowski

Suggested by Marilyn in Portland, Oregon

I am a flute player and have long enjoyed these pieces

Air date: September 28, 2021

Giulio Cesare: V’adoro, pupille, G. F. Handel

Suggested by Doug & Ron in Prescott, Ontario, Canada

We are Baroque opera fans. There is something comforting about it; it helps soothe our ragged souls.

Air date: September 27, 2021

Serenade to Music, Ralph Vaughan Williams

Suggested by Barbara in Shannon, Georgia

I have had several opportunities to sing in the chorus for Serenade to Music, with my voice teacher singing one or more of the solos and a very favorite choir director singing the deepest bass solos. Happy memories! (I hear the orchestral version played reasonably often, but the one with chorus and soloists is much more meaningful to me.)

Air date: September 24, 2021

Mina, Edward Elgar

Suggested by Bob in Mt. Angel, Oregon

Since, during your recent fundraiser, you mentioned the All Terrier Marching Band and Chorus as purveyors of a sizeable contribution, I thought this piece would be appropriate. Elgar wrote this piece for his cairn terrier, MIna.

Air date: September 23, 2021

Morgen!, Richard Strauss

Suggested by Ron in Woodburn, Oregon

I love the voice of Lucia Popp. She's one one of my favorite sopranos. Her voice is so rich and "creamy," especially when singing music by Richard Strauss.

Air date: September 22, 2021

La Bella Noeva, Anonymous

Suggested by James in Lake Oswego, Oregon

An anonymous Renaissance love song, performed with great love and feeling. I've listened to this performer (Marco Beasley) and group (Accordone) with great pleasure over the last several years. This beautiful music makes our lives richer and connect us both to the past and to one another.

Air date: September 21, 2021

Mass in B Minor: Dona Nobis Pacem (Grant Us Peace), J.S. Bach

Suggested by Allison in Milwaukie, Oregon

The first time I heard this, I was in music school, and my teacher asked us to listen for the powerful ascension of the melody - and how perfectly it was written in order to communicate the message of the text, "grant us peace." As a music student, I got the idea. But it wasn't until years later that I truly understood how powerful it was. The ascending melody now speaks to my spirit, with encouragement, as a reminder to seek peace, and grant *myself* peace, even when it's hard to find it. It sometimes feels like climbing a mountain, but there is peace to be found, and I find it often in this music. I ask for this music today in memory of my mother Cathy.

Air date: September 20, 2021

Warsaw Concerto, Richard Addinsell

Suggested by Timothy in Portland, Oregon

Written for the British 1941 film, Dangerous Moonlight, I am so uplifted and transfixed when I hear this piece by Richard Addinsell. It is one of my favorite compositions and I hope you enjoy it as well!

Air date: September 8, 2021

Die Nachtigall (The Nightingale), Franz Schubert

Suggested by Brent in Newberg, Oregon

I'm in this recording, back row, third from the left. :-) I sang for 10 years with Robert Shaw in Atlanta, both in the Atlanta Symphony Chorus and in his professional choruses. This recording was made in Spivey Hall near Atlanta; I was teaching there at the time and Mr. Shaw loved its acoustics and recorded several albums there. The song is one of quite a few Schubert wrote for men's chorus, many of them accompanied by his beloved guitar. The first two verses are quiet and gentle, and the final verse breaks into a lilting dance that practically invites everyone to link arms and celebrate: "Thus, friends, did many heavenly songs fade.../ on winged tones they wafted peace/ and blissful sorrow into our tender hearts." This one's a special memory for me because so many of the men in the chorus were good friends (one of my best friends was on my right), and it's a blast to sing.

Air date: September 7, 2021

Dances With Wolves: Farewell & End Title, John Barry

Suggested by Emma in Portland, Oregon

I recently saw Dances With Wolves. It was a beautiful film with a moving story, majestic landscapes and a magnificent score by John Barry. Barry's music swept me away. I would like to hear Farewell and End Titles for the 5:00 Favorite.

Air date: August 27, 2021

Strange Meadowlark, Dave Brubeck

Suggested by Debbie in Heron, Montana

I've loved the music of Dave Brubeck since high school, when, for a modern dance class, I picked "Take Five" to choreograph a dance to. I have the fondest memories of that time and have always loved Dave Brubeck.

Air date: August 26, 2021

Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten, Arvo Part

Suggested by Bert in Portland, Oregon

I have listened to classical music for the past 5 decades, but only just discovered the music of Estonian composer Arvo Part after reading the book "Horizon," by Barry Lopez. The author met the composer on the Oregon coast (at one of his favorite places - Cape Foulweather), and he described Pärt's music as "austere and contemplative.... human suffering and Divine consolation are prominent in his compositions, and the resolution he sometimes finds is majestic."

I am fond of many of Arvo Part's works, but Mr. Lopez connected strongly with "Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten." He described it as an experience of grief and anxiety giving way to peace.

Air date: August 25, 2021

Facades, Philip Glass

Suggested by Diane in Hillsboro, Oregon

I love this piece for its mesmerizing minimalism. It makes me think of the sun's movement across the sky as evidenced by its beam moving across the floor of my room.

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