In-School Performances

CHRISTOPHER O’RILEY

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“HE CERTAINLY BROUGHT IMAGINATION AND TALENT TO THE ENDEAVOUR.”
Los Angeles Times
“O’RILEY PLAYED SO DELICATELY THAT HE SEEMINGLY LEFT NO FINGERPRINTS ON THE KEYS, YET HIS MELODIES SUNG OUT WITH SWEET CLARITY.”
The Washington Post
“SCRUPULOUSLY POLISHED IN PHRASING AND ARTICULATION, TONE AND TEXTURE.”
Pittsburgh-Live
“O’RILEY’S PLAYING IS LACED WITH AN OTHERWORDLY ELEGANCE THAT CAN’T BE DUPLICATED.”
Spendid.com
“...HE CONVEYED THE THRASHING INTENSITY OF A ROCK BAND WITH PUNGENTLY SPIKY CHORDS AND THICK TEXTURES.”
The New York Times
Performance Highlights

05.25.13
Matt Haimovitz / Christopher O’Riley
Tannery Pond Concerts
New Lebanon, NY

05.29.13
Christopher O’Riley
Yoshi's 
San Francisco, CA 

Listen

from the album - Out of My Hands
Heart Shaped Box (Cobain)
Mother (Amos)
All I Need (Radiohead)
from the album - Shuffle.Play.Listen
Empty Room (Arcade Fire)
Pyramid Song (Radiohead)
Variations on a Slovak Folksong (Martinu)
Radio Spot for
Out of My Hands
30 Second Radio Spot

Tours & Projects

Out of My Hands - Touring 13-14

Since the triumphant release of True Love Waits, pianist Christopher O’Riley’s reimagining of works by Radiohead, Elliott Smith and Nick Drake have garnered critical accolades and international acclaim, including the only four-star review ever given by Rolling Stone to a Classical pianist.

His latest White Tie Classics/Mesa-BlueMoon release, Out Of My Hands, includes music of R.E.M., Portishead, Cocteau Twins, Pink Floyd, Nirvana, The Bad Plus, The Smiths, Tears for Fears as well as material from Radiohead and Elliott Smith.

As host of the popular NPR music program, From the Top, Mr. O’Riley is well-known for his eloquent and compelling musings on music and popular culture. His latest performances stretch the piano beyond the classical repertoire and into the rich uncharted territory of contemporary and alt-rock. Announcing the program from the stage allows Mr. O’Riley to share discoveries, such as World Premieres this past season by From The Top alum, Tim Woos (a piece written when he was 15 years old), Kenneth Fuchs’ set of “Falling Canons,” inspired by texts drawn from Don DeLillo’s 9/11 novel, Falling Man, and David Neal Lewis’ “Tale of Three Kitties.” The music flows seamlessly from one genre to another, from the familiar to the fresh. From Robert Pollard to Rickie Lee Jones to Maurice Ravel; A Perfect Circle to Piazzolla; Thomas Ades’s “Darknesse Visible” to Tears for Fears’ “Mad World,” to Toru Takemitsu to Nine Inch Nails.

Christopher O’Riley is recognized as one of the leading American pianists of his generation, touring extensively as a recitalist and chamber musician and appearing with every major orchestra. He has released numerous recordings on a variety of labels including SONY, Harmonia Mundi and now White Tie Records.