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: December 1, 2025

Chaconne in F minor, Johann Pachelbel

Suggested by Anne in Portland, Oregon

Everyone knows Pachelbel's Canon, but this piece is so beautiful and lyrical, and a little haunting. It seems to evoke longing and I wonder what Pachelbel was thinking about when it was composed. Originally written for organ, the first time I heard it arranged for orchestra, I had a great desire to be sitting in the middle of the orchestra so that I was completely surrounded by the music. When I find a piece of music that really moves me, especially if it is a hidden gem, I simply want everyone to hear it and enjoy it as I do. Thanks for the joy you bring in sharing the beauty of classical music.

Air date: November 28, 2025

Children’s March: “Over the Hills and Far Away”, Percy Grainger

Suggested by Liam in Keizer, Oregon

Even though I'm a cellist, I love a good symphonic band, and this piece hits just the right spot. There is something magical about this 20th century selection. What I particularly love about this piece is Grainger's written instruction to have the performers sing their parts midway through, no choir needed. It's truly wonderful. I hope you enjoy.

Air date: November 26, 2025

A John Field Suite: 1. Polka, Hamilton Harty

Suggested by Eliza in Vancouver, Washington

This jaunty little tune caught my attention a year or two back after one of my cats, Bashir ("buh-shear"), was recovering from a serious medical episode. I listened to it while watching him run around, playful and spritely and full of life, when just days prior he was hospitalized and fighting to stay alive. The song's cheerful, at times mischievous tune reminds me of him every time I hear it. He's so deserving of the happy, heartful life he leads, and to me, this arrangement sounds like the joy of being alive. It's a celebration of excitement and heart, and that's what Bashir brings to everything he does.

Air date: November 25, 2025

Family Portrait; Egon & Gertie, Rachel Grimes

Suggested by Zosia in Portland, Oregon

When I was a kid, my dad would occasionally put on the album Music for Egon Schiele by Rachel's in the evenings to help me wind down toward bedtime, and it was just part of the atmosphere so I didn't think much about it. Years later, as an adult, I was sitting in the Fresh Pot coffeeshop on Hawthorne and some music came on the speakers that overwhelmed me with a potent nostalgia, followed by the intrigue of wondering where I knew this music from, having forgotten its context from my youth. Some quick research helped me remember why I knew this music, and I purchased the album on vinyl and discovered a whole new level of appreciation for it, which my dad and I now share. It is difficult to select just one song because the album for me truly feels of a piece, which is why I am recommending the first two songs of the album to be played, if possible. I heartily recommend taking an afternoon and lying on the floor and diving deep into the sounds and feelings of this whole album.

Air date: November 24. 2025

Grand Canyon Suite: On The Trail, Ferde Grofe

Suggested by Harold in Portland, Oregon AND Richard in Portland, Oregon

Harold's story:
This is the first piece of classical music I remember hearing. I think I was around six at the time. My family had just bought one of those new fangled "STEREO" record players (yes, I'm that old), and my dad played for me the Grand Canyon Suite. As a kid I especially remember "On the Trail" with the donkeys plodding along, then speeding up as they are descending into the canyon, and then complaining about going too fast. But I love the imagery in all of the pieces. I guess this is where I first fell in love with music.

Richard's story:
When I was a child growing up in Detroit, Michigan, my parents had a small, but diverse collection of LP records. I was especially drawn to Ferde Grofe's Grand Canyon Suite. I would stare at the large photograph of the canyon on the record cover and imagine the scenes portrayed by Grofe, such as the clip-clopping of the mules on the trail and the thunderstorm. This led to two of my great loves in life--classical music (I still play the piano) and the grandeur of the west (which prompted my move to Oregon 47 years ago). I went to the Grand Canyon for the first time after my freshman year of college and returned two years later with my now wife of 51 years, hiking to the bottom and back up. We repeated the journey with our 3 adult children 25 years after that. So, the seeds of my move to Oregon and my love of classical music were planted when I listened to The Grand Canyon Suite--certainly the most consequential piece of music in my life.

Air date: November 21, 2025

Violin Concerto in a minor, Op. 3, No. 6 (L’Estro Armonico, “Harmonic Inspiration”), Antonio Vivaldi

Suggested by Tanner in Vancouver, Washington

I want to hear this piece of music because I play the violin, and I have played this song for many events, and it is a very well-composed piece of music. I also want to hear this piece of music because it is a very pretty song.

Air date: November 20, 2025

Piano Concerto No. 3: Movement 1, Sergei Prokofiev

Suggested by Nancy in Portland, Oregon

When I was 20, I played this with the St. Louis Symphony. I'll never forget the experience! I kept studying, won a Fulbright to Germany, and completed my doctorate in piano in 1975.

Air date: November 19, 2025

Fratres, Arvo Part

Suggested by Dave in Federal Way, Washington

I recently became aware of this piece and I really need to hear it again! It's beautifully haunting and hauntingly beautiful at the same time, and is a relaxing piece for the afternoon commute. I think others will enjoy it as much as I do!

Air date: November 18, 2025

Prayer for Ukraine, Valentin Silvestrov

Suggested by Pie in Portland, Oregon

I originally heard this on John Pitman's weekend show. Love and compassion are the answer.

Air date: November 17, 2025

Violin Concerto No. 2: III. Rondo “La Campanella”, Nicolo Paganini

Suggested by Lin in Salem, Oregon

Here's how I discovered this piece: A couple of weeks ago I saw a YouTube video of Beaverton Symphony Orchestra performing Paganini's La Campanella, featuring a talented local young violinist that played it with such grace and confidence. And I immediately knew I wanted to suggest this as a five-o'clock favorite. This piece has such dazzling character, and the brilliant energy of the violin is truly the shining star. I believe the virtuosic violin passages reflect the fact that Paganini himself was a violin virtuoso. This must be a difficult piece that requires advanced skill from the violinist, but the playful nature of this music makes it sound so much fun and gives it an effortless quality. It's truly a showpiece that brightens the atmosphere. Purely happy music that people will remember.

Air date: November 14, 2025

Peer Gynt: In the Hall of the Mountain King, Edvard Grieg

Suggested by James in Aloha, Oregon

The movie Fantasia pops to mind readily. With our current weather trend... seems to fit.

Air date: November 13, 2025

Academic Festival Overture, Johannes Brahms

Suggested by Andrew in Portland, Oregon

This was the first piece played at the first symphony concert I ever attended, 30 years ago. It opened by eyes, and ears, and I have been a devoted fan of Brahms ever since.

Air date: November 12, 2025

Emer’s Dream, Colm Mac Con Iomaire

Suggested by Hallie in Scappoose, Oregon

(Artist's name is pronounced: COLE'm Mackon-Om-ruh)
I found this artist while following a band he was playing in and picked up his solo album at a show ... the album was described as 'contemporary Irish classical' and I was in love with it immediately, though it wasn't anything like the band I went to see. He plays violin, and the moods that pass through it and him and the audience as he plays creates a kind of magic that pulls you along and over and through whatever you thought you were doing before and when it ends, it lands you in the lap of the next moment feeling uplifted and bereft - wondering how you will go on with the song over. It is addictive, yet you can't overdose. Enjoy the whole album (and his next one) and wait impatiently with me for him to make another.

Air date: November 11, 2025

The Pacific: Honor, Hans Zimmer

Suggested by Anonymous in Vancouver, Washington

For Veterans Day, please consider this bit of music. I am a combat-wounded veteran of the Vietnam War. This music is from the title music for the miniseries called The Pacific. It is haunting, melancholy, sad, and yet powerful. I wish to dedicate this to all the living and fallen of that terrible war. May you rest in peace, brothers. This music is dedicated to all of you “Nam” vets out there. I wish to remain anonymous. I love your channel, keep up the good work.

Air date: November 10, 2025

Central Park Morning, David Chesky

Suggested by Kurt in Milwaukie, Oregon

I recently discovered this short, sweet piece of music while watching an episode of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood with my young kids. The episode featured the Empire Brass Quintet, for whom the music had originally been written, I later learned.

Air date: October 31, 2025

Lt. Kije Suite: Romance, Sergei Prokofiev

Suggested by Mary in Stayton, Oregon

Around Halloween we hear a lot of music evocative of the season. Lieutenant Kije is, to me, the original Invisible Man, celebrated in this beautiful suite by Prokofiev and based on Prokofiev's score for a movie titled Lieutenant Kije. The film depicts a clerical error in which the name, Lieutenant Kije, is entered into the attendance rolls of a military company--an error because there is no person by this name. When the mistake is discovered, rather than admitting the error, there is an elaborate effort made to create Kije and to provide him with a detailed backstory. The Invisible Man, indeed.

Air date: October 30, 2025

Ma Vlast: The Moldau, Bedrich Smetana

Suggested by Tami in Dayton, Oregon

I first heard this when my daughter was in ballet and the director used parts of it in a dance recital. Loved it even more when I heard the entire piece.

Air date: October 29, 2025

Il Gattopardo: Il valzer del Gattopardo, Paolo Buonvino

Suggested by Davide in Portland, Oregon

I just finished watching the historical Netflix mini-series Il Gattopardo (The Leopard), a recent remaking of the 1963 film that starred Burt Lancaster, Claudia Cardinale, and Alain Delon. This song is the main theme within the mini-series, and is so melancholic and lovely; it really reflects this new retelling of the fall of the Sicilian aristocracy. Just absolutely haunting, it is a waltz about the end of an era. I've been listening to it on repeat.

Air date: October 28, 2025

Trumpet Concerto in E-flat Major, Joseph Haydn

Suggested by Philip in Lake Oswego, Oregon

This is one of the earliest pieces of classical music I remember hearing as a child. I remember the LP cover distinctly: purple background with musicians dressed in period clothing sitting on the bars of music that stretched across from left to right. The album also contained a Mozart French Horn concerto (your preferred instrument I believe Christa?) that shared the same bright liveliness of the brass, with a stick-in-your ear melody, and kettle drums to boot! Hearing it brings tears to my eyes thinking of the joy my dad took in this music, and it is also one of my favorite Sunday morning pieces. Thank you!

Air date: October 27, 2025

Let It Be, Lennon & McCartney

Suggested by Anne in Portland, Oregon

I saw Anderson and & Roe recently as part of Portland Piano International's Boundless Concert Series and was so inspired by their creativity. I was also touched by how much they love Portland and wanted to be here. The unspoken context was support for our community while the support for the arts seems to be waning.

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