Programs & Hosts

Five O’Clock Favorite

Hosted by
Christa Wessel

Five O’Clock Favorite

Every weekday at 5pm 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: May 12, 2023

The Long Road, Eriks Esenvalds

Suggested by Laredo in Vancouver, Washington

I first heard this piece when Portland State Chamber Choir came to my high school and performed it for our choir. This song tells the story of a woman who married her high school sweetheart. He died young and she mourns his loss, never marrying again. The song details her love for him throughout her life and how she feels his presence from the other side. There are flutes throughout this piece that symbolize that experience for her. To me this piece is extremely moving and beautiful. Thought I would share!

I love you night and day
as a star in the distant sky.
And I mourn for this one thing alone that to love, our lifetime was so short.
A long road to heaven’s shining meadow,
and never could I reach its end.
But a longer road leads to your heart,
which to me seems distant as a star, to me.

High above the arch of heaven bends and light so clear is falling. Like a flow’ring tree the world is blooming.
Overwhelmed, my heart both cries and laughs.

A long road to heaven’s shining meadow, and never could I reach its end.
But a longer road leads to your heart, which to me seems distant as a star.

Air date: May 11, 2023

Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, Ralph Vaughan Williams

Suggested by Lunaea in Portland, Oregon

I heard this for the first time in the late 1970s, playing on the radio at a hippie herb store in Santa Cruz, California... and I was transfixed, standing among the fragrant jars, listening to the end to find out the name of the most beautiful music I'd ever heard.

Air date: May 10, 2023

Old American Songs, Set One: The Dodger, Aaron Copland

Suggested by Jeff in Portland, Oregon

This little gem was played on more than one occasion during Ed Goldberg's time hosting Saturday Matinée.

From 1950, and from a campaign song linked specifically with the 1884 election of Grover Cleveland, “The Dodger” satirizes several professions, but Copland retained only three in his version: the political candidate, the preacher, and the lover. All of which makes us think long and hard about hypocrisy generally, and draws our attention to the outright comedy that's part of our own everyday "dodgin' of so much." When life throws or drops some gnarly event at us, it's good to dodge it -- and laugh.

Air date: May 9, 2023

Empire of the Sun: Exultate Justi, John Williams

Suggested by Theo in Oregon

This piece embodies the joy, the beauty and life of Spring.

Air date: May 8, 2023

Howl’s Moving Castle: Merry-Go-Round of Life, Joe Hisaishi

Suggested by Steve in Salem, Oregon

I have a lot of favorite pieces by Joe Hisaishi, who scored many of the Studio Ghibli films, but this one is at the top. The music floats on feelings of sweet nostalgia, the drama of life, and heartfelt longing all at once, and never fails to be a fresh breeze to weary sails. Kind of like our wonderful hostess, Christa Wessel!

Air date: May 5, 2023

Symphony No. 3, “Organ”: Finale, Camille Saint-Saens

Suggested by Daniel in Vancouver, Washington

When I was 19 I fell in love and had a long distance relationship with a much older man. For spring break my freshman year of college, I visited his hometown and we spent a week together. The culmination of our visit was a trip to the Chicago Symphony to hear one of his favorite pieces of music, Symphony no 3 by Saint-Saëns. I had never heard such incredible music, and experiencing it live and in person was powerful to the point of being overwhelming. That trip was nearly 25 years ago, and though we didn’t last as a couple, the memory of seeing this piece performed live has remained a treasure in my heart.

Air date: May 4, 2023

Symphony No. 5: Movement 1, Ludwig van Beethoven

Suggested by Brian in Portland, Oregon

Many, many years ago, when I was a ninth grader in the high school band and orchestra at the Kamehameha Schools in Hawaiʻi, our band instructor David Lorch introduced us to a surprise guest instructor -- Leonard Bernstein! We didn't know how famous Mr. Bernstein was, but the deference that Mr. Lorch gave Mr. Bernstein told us that this was a VERY IMPORTANT PERSON.

Mr. Bernstein spoke with us about the role of music and the arts in a great society, about the importance of civil rights (this was the height of the Vietnam War), and told us that we, as Native Hawaiian children, were equal in potential to any other musician, without regard to their race, who aspired to be a member of a great orchestra anywhere in the world.

Mr. Bernstein then said "Let's play some music". He sang the first 8 notes of Beeethoven's 5th Symphony, and asked if we were familiar with it. We excitedly agreed! Then he hummed the first note to give us a starting pitch and raised his baton. One of my classmates raised his hand and said "We don't have the sheet music!" Mr. Bernstein smiled, looked at us, and said "You don't need the sheet music. Listen with your ear, and play with your heart."

He again raised his baton then began. Amazingly, almost all of us hit the correct notes. We played the first 20 measures or so of Beethoven's 5th Symphony with amazing passion. Mr. Bernstein paused, put his baton down, clapped for us and said "Bravo". He asked how we felt. There was an amazing sense of joy, of accomplishment in the room. And Mr. Lorch was simply beaming! Mr. Bernstein thanked us, and said to always remember that feeling of playing from the heart.

That one experience firmly cemented my lifelong love of music.

Air date: May 3, 2023

Rhapsody in Blue, George Gershwin

Suggested by Diane in Newport, Oregon

As I started a jog down the Red Jacket Trail when I lived in Minnesota, the music Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin came on. Just as it started, going from low to high note, a BLUE tanager flew right over my head from in back and high up in front of me. I thought, "That's God's choreography."

Air date: May 2, 2023

The Black Stallion: Main Theme, Carmine Coppola

Suggested by Les in Oregon City, Oregon

This brief piece from the soundtrack to The Black Stallion is a lilting sarabande, and much like composer Erik Satie's Gymnopedies. Carmine Coppola's melody is warm and contemplative.

Air date: May 1, 2023

Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture, Peter Tchaikovsky

Suggested by James in Aloha, Oregon

I am 8 years old and I listen to All Classical Portland in the car with my Mom and Dad. I wanted to request this piece because I thought it was EPIC when I first heard it and I really want to hear it again. Thanks a lot.

Air date: April 28, 2023

Zadok the Priest, G. F. Handel

Suggested by John in Portland, Oregon

I love the grand finale and importance of the King. I attribute it to God himself!

Air date: April 27, 2023

Romance in F sharp, Op. 28, No. 2, Robert Schumann

Suggested by Lance in Hillsboro, Oregon

I recently experienced the death of a dear friend, and this piece was a soothing balm for my soul. Whether you’re dealing with grief and loss, or just need a moment of rest from the chaos of life, this piece provides amazing solace and peace.

Air date: April 26, 2023

Carmina Burana: Selections, Carl Orff

Suggested by John in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

We have season tickets to the Madison Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra. The final concert this year will feature a performance of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana. I really enjoy this composition and was looking forward to attending the performance. But, upon checking our calendar, I discovered we wouldn't be able to go to this concert since we will instead be attending our grandson’s graduation from Lewis & Clark College in Portland the weekend of the concert. Because of this, I'd love it if you'd feature a part of Carmina Burana on the Five O’clock Favorite.

Air date: April 25, 2023

Koyaanisqatsi, Philip Glass

Suggested by Jeff in Portland, Oregon

"Koyaanisqatsi" is a Hopi word meaning "life out of balance." Philip Glass wrote the score to this non-narrative motion picture which offers prophetic warnings on man and nature, construction and destruction. Seeing it in the cinema - with Dolby sound - the film was 70mm sensory overload for me. It's a perfect five o'clock favorite for those who've seen this movie and recall its frenzied time lapse photography of urban life and, most especially, traffic. Philip Glass, ever the adventurist composer, throws everything he's got into the soundtrack. I recommend the title theme particularly as a contemplative observation of the gravity of human involvement in the natural world. This film - and its music - shook me to the very core and made me more aware than ever of our, that is to say MY impact long before "Climate Crisis" became the watchword of our era.

Air date: April 24, 2023

Dancing at Lughnasa, Bill Whelan

Suggested by Elizabeth in Portland, Oregon

I fell in love with this piece after I heard it on an episode of The Score. This music makes me want to get up and dance because of the upbeat and enthusiastic melody. Whenever I need some positivity in my day, I just listen to this music and it makes me smile. So thank you to Edmund Stone for sharing such wonderful movie music that I would not have found on my own.

Air date: April 21, 2023

Grand Canyon Suite: On the Trail, Ferde Grofe

Suggested by Mike in Tualatin, Oregon

This is the first piece of classical music I can remember hearing. (Well) Over 60 years I was in kindergarten in Southern California. One day we had a very rare rainy and stormy day. Since we could not go outside and play our teacher had us all lie down and she put on Ferde Grofe's Grand Canyon Suite. She told us if we closed our eyes we could hear the Sunrise, the donkeys clip-clopping down the trail, and that there would even be a thunderstorm. Those mental images have stuck with me to this day and I am sure it is what started my life long love of classical music. “On the Trail” is the movement that I think of first when I think back to that day.

Air date: April 20, 2023

Adagio for Strings, Samuel Barber

Suggested by Susan in Portland, Oregon

This was one of the first classical pieces I fell in love with. In 1971, my freshman year in college, my roommate, a music major, came back from a music history class and said, "You have to hear this!" and placed a record on the stereo. Out came the sounds of Barber's "Adagio for Strings" conducted & played by George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra. It was love at first hearing.

Air date: April 19, 2023

10 Pièces pour orgue: No. 4. Toccata in B Minor, Eugene Gigout

Suggested by Carter in Portland, Oregon

I recently acquired a free tone wheel organ off of Facebook Marketplace. My roommate and I both play piano and have been learning to play the organ now. We discovered Eugène Gigout while exploring classical organ pieces, and he's been a favorite of mine since then. I think classical organ music is often overlooked, and I especially enjoyed this particular piece, so I thought I'd share.

Air date: April 18, 2023

Carolan’s Dream; Sheebeg and Sheemore, Turlough O'Carolan

Suggested by David in Portland, Oregon

My suggestion for a Five O’Clock Favorite is some music by the Irish itinerant harpist Turlough O’Carolan. My introduction to O’Carolan’s music was in the late 1970s and I was an instant fan - fan as in fanatic! At that time I was a member of a handbell ensemble and I transcribed a number of his pieces for our group to play. The music suited the handbells perfectly and it was always a big hit when performed at our concerts. Forty five years later and it has never gotten old for me.

Fast forward to 2016 when I travelled to the west of Ireland with two of my sisters to visit the area where our Irish ancestry is rooted. It was a wonderful, eye-opening experience. By chance we were not far from the place where O’Carolan is buried, so I went and visited his grave. What I did on a whim turned into a surprisingly stirring moment for me, both for the moving inscription on his tombstone: "Turlough O'Carolan, harper, composer, poet singer. Our great solace in our great need." and for the hundreds of coins, pebbles, and other tokens left there by his admirers. I left one too.

Air date: April 14, 2023

The Mission: Gabriel’s Oboe, Ennio Morricone

Suggested by Lynn in Vancouver, Washington

This beautiful piece of music has been a favorite of mine since I watched the movie The Mission when it first came out in the mid 80s. While the movie, and the entire score by Ennio Morricone is powerful, Gabriel’s Oboe is haunting and breathtaking. I grew up listening to the major works of Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven, etc., and had never really appreciated contemporary classical music. This piece changed all that for me, and opened up my mind to many composers and compositions.

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