In this wide ranging interview, Pianist Christopher O'Riley talks about his newest CD "The Well Tempered Clavier Book 2" and his personal ties to Pittsburgh.
Chris explains his approach to selecting the best tempo in Book 2. He also compares both books with special attention to individual preludes and fugues. He finds Book 2 to more challenging than those in Book One. Chris explains why he likes the Boesendorfer compared to the Steinway, and reflects on what Bach experienced in his life.
Later in the interview, Chis talks about his friendship with Andy Warhol and his work with musician James Galway. He reminisces on his past Heinz Hall appearances, studying at Taylor Alderdice High School, and his friends at WQED. The next CD for Chris is in the works! Titled "Lotus Land," it's an album of arrangements that includes Billy Strayhorn, Joni Mitchell, Radiohead, Harold Arlen and many mor. It will be out on November 7.
Life in Los Angeles is good for the former Pittsburgher who hasn't forgotten Mineo's Pizza and hopes to return soon!
You can learn more about Christopher O'Riley at https://christopheroriley.com/. You can find his newest CD with Navona Records, or listen to WQED-FM to hear the latest release!
Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.
Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region.
Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.