(PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – Pianist Christopher O’Riley, best known as the host of the classical music program From the Top on public radio and for his transcriptions of popular tunes by rock groups including Radiohead, Cocteau Twins, Arcade Fire and other, performs at The Colonial Theatre on Friday, August 17, 2012, at 8pm.

O’Riley’s repertoire spans classical styles, from Rachmaninoff, Beethoven, Chopin, Ravel and Busoni to contemporary artists such as Radiohead, Nirvana, Pink Floyd and Elliott Smith. His unique, passionate and heartfelt piano interpretations of both classical and popular music create unforgettable musical performances and astonishing audience experiences.  His most famous recording, True Love Waits, featuring his transcriptions of songs by Radiohead, was awarded four stars by Rolling Stone magazine.

O’Riley’s warm personality brought him to host NPR’s From the Top for the last 10 years. As host of the most popular classical music radio show on the air today, O’Riley works and performs with the next generation of brilliant young musicians, demonstrating to audiences, with humor and a lack of pretense, that these young artists are as interesting and diverse in their personal lives as they are in their music-making. In 2007, From the Top was ?lmed for public television in Zankel Concert Hall at Carnegie Hall and debuted on PBS in the spring.

O’Riley has toured the U.S. with the world-famous Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Orchestra, visiting 10 cities in 2 weeks, playing Bach, Mozart and Liszt concerti. He has appeared with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, the Minnesota Orchestra, the symphonies of Pittsburgh, Detroit, Colorado, Atlanta and Baltimore. The illustrious group of conductors with whom he has collaborated includes Marin Alsop, David Zinman, Leonard Slatkin, John Williams, Neeme Järvi, Bobby McFerrin, Hans Graf, Yoel Levi, Hugh Wolff and Andrew Litton.

Tickets for the Christopher O’Riley concert are $15-$45 and VIP tickets are $55 and include preferred seating and a post-show reception with Mr. O’Riley. Tickets may be purchased in person at the Colonial Ticket Office at 111 South Street or by calling (413) 997-4444 or online at The Colonial Theatre. The Ticket Office is open Monday-Friday 10am–5pm, Saturdays 10am–2pm or on any performance day from 10am until intermission.