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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 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.

Air date: August 24, 2021

Homesickness, Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou

Suggested by Richard in Portland, Oregon

I thought this was very, very nice when I first heard it a couple of weeks ago on your program. This radio station is doing a fabulous job playing the music of "overlooked" composers (people of color, women). It is just so sad to think of the millions of people that have been for years excluded from contributing their abilities to a civilized world.

Air date: August 23, 2021

Ashokan Farewell, Jay Unger

Suggested by Jill in Vancouver, Washington

Reminds me of growing up in the country in our home by the river. Riding horses and eating wild blackberries.

Air date: August 20, 2021

Sogno di Volare (The Dream of Flight), Christopher Tin

Suggested by Laura in Portland, Oregon

This is one of those pieces that gives me chills every. single. time. I listen to it. Christopher Tin has an incredible talent for composing music that simultaneously is grounding and makes you feel like anything is possible. I put this on when I want to take a deep breath and be inspired to carry on.

Air date: August 19, 2021

Vespers: Nyne Otpushchayeshi (Now let thy servant depart), Sergei Rachmaninov

Suggested by John in Maywood Park, Oregon

My dear friend's father died this week. His name was Blaze Nemeth. His family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, we donate to All Classical in his name. I also wanted to request a piece of music that is meaningful to me. "Now let thy servant depart" from Rachmaninoff's Vespers is -in my opinion- THE most beautiful and transcendent piece of choral music. Rachmaninoff himself said, "I should like this sung at my funeral."

Air date: August 18, 2021

Horn Concerto in E flat, Karl Mathias Reinhardt

Suggested by Sue in Portland, Oregon

I used to play the French Horn in an opera orchestra -- I even wanted to make a career of my favorite instrument. Instead I became an non-profit administrator, working with Amnesty International in Ottawa, Ontario, the Wayne State Center for Peace & Conflict Studies in Detroit, and finally (for 33 years) at the UN in New York. When my husband and I retired we moved to Portland in order to be near our children & grandchildren.

I love the fact that French Horn music is often played on All Classical Portland, and that it is also Christa Wessel's instrument! So, as my suggestion for the Five O'Clock Favorite I would love to hear any horn music that Christa would like to play for me.

Thank you! I love All Classical Portland, and listen many hours a day.

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