Christopher O’Riley has received positive reviews nationwide for his excellence on the ivory keys. After January 26th’s performance at the Franco American Heritage Center, Lewiston Auburn can add themselves to his multitude of fans.
Below is a letter of review from Carol Dilley, Director of Dance at Bates College. Take a moment to read it through. If you missed on Christopher O’Riley, and are feeling it tug at you now, trust us when we say, do not make the same mistake twice by missing out on our February performances and events. February’s event calendar is jam packed with award winning artists, exciting nights out and passionate dance.
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Dear LA Arts,
What a privilege it was to hear a concert of that caliber, drama and surprise last night in the Franco American Heritage Center. I arrived with a vague expectation of enjoying a piano concert of somewhat contemporary music but I was completely unprepared for the stature and dramatic impact of the artist, Christopher O’Reilly. The first half of the evening caught me completely off guard. His performance of the complete Berlioz/Lizt Symphonie Fantastique was intimate, explosive and left everyone panting for breath. He played the piece as if it were his own music playing him, not his rendition of someone else’s transcription of someone else’s music from 150 years ago. Concerts should always feel that immediate but they rarely do. It was like being thrown a surprise party. The second half was also wonderful and I very much enjoyed the contemporary rock arrangements I had come to hear. Just would have been a satisfying evening in itself but the treat of the unexpected first half in the intimate Franco Center Hall right here in Lewiston made that perhaps my favorite piano concert ever.
In this artist you have found exactly the right tone that was familiar enough for the less adventurous in the audience, contemporary enough for those of us with a passion for the vanguard of that art forms and dramatic enough so that you didn’t need to be a music scholar to feel the impact of his artistry. Thank you again for your efforts.
Carol Dilley
Director of Dance
Bates College