Rarely is a pianist’s voice as familiar to audiences as their playing style. But for Christopher O’Riley, former host of NPR’s “From the Top,” listeners may first recognize his soothing, radio-friendly voice before picking up on his masterful piano skills.
Christopher O’Riley will perform a solo concert at the Vilar Performing Arts Center (VPAC) on Thursday, Jan. 17, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $58 for adults and $10 for students and are available now by calling 970-845-8497 or visiting http://www.vilarpac.org.
For nearly 20 years, Christopher O’Riley hosted “From the Top,” NPR’s weekly radiobroadcast showcasing the best young classical musicians in the U.S. As a celebrated pianist, O’Riley has performed as a soloist with virtually all the major orchestras in America, including the New York Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony and the San Francisco Symphony.
As host of the Emmy Award-winning television series “From the Top at Carnegie Hall,” O’Riley has collaborated with many of the most well-known names in classical music, including Yo-Yo Ma, Bobby McFerrin, Midori, Béla Fleck, Joshua Bell and Hilary Hahn, among others. O’Riley has also received the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant and performed recitals throughout North America, Europe and Australia.
Known for his voracious love of all types and genres of music, O’Riley’s own repertoire encompasses everything from Beethoven, Stravinsky, Liszt and Gershwin to piano arrangements of songs by Radiohead, Elliott Smith, Pink Floyd and Nirvana. For his performance at VPAC, O’Riley’s program will include sections from Berlioz’s “Symphonie fantastique: An Episode in the Life of an Artist, in Five Parts” and Franz Liszt’s “Piano Sonata in B Minor.”
This show is part of the VPAC Pick 5 Ticket Package, where you can get 1 ticket to 5 different shows for $150. Contact the box office or visit the website for a list of available shows.
if you go …
What: Christopher O’Riley.
When: Thursday, Jan. 17, 7 p.m.
Where: Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek
Cost: $58 for adults and $10 for kids.
Tickets: 970-845-8497 or http://www.vilarpac.org.