Christopher O'Riley

Christopher O'Riley is an American classical pianist and radio show host, who is also known for his renditions of songs by the band Radiohead using only a piano.

O'Riley has produced many recordings of classical music. His debut album, a collection of the works of Ferruccio Busoni, including the seldom performed Fantasia Contrappuntistica, was released in 1983. He has since released several recordings, including works of Maurice Ravel, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Jean-Philippe Rameau, John Adams, Igor Stravinsky, and Alexander Scriabin, as well as a recording of Rhapsody in Blue with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

True Love Waits: Christopher O'Riley Plays Radiohead, his recording of his own piano arrangements of songs by Radiohead, was released in 2003. O'Riley's second Radiohead-derived album, Hold Me To This: Christopher O'Riley Plays Radiohead, followed two years later and contains a different selection of songs. Both albums have had commercial success on the classical crossover charts.

O'Riley claims his renditions have introduced the music of Radiohead to a classical audience as well as introducing classical music to a wider audience, as he sometimes performs both his usual repertoire and Radiohead songs at the same concert. O'Riley describes himself as a Radiohead fan in interviews, and says he was attracted to the multilayered nature of the band's music. He does not sing, but his Radiohead interpretations usually stick to the original song's structure and incorporate the vocal melody. He compares them to the work of classical composers who sought material in popular songs and dances, although O'Riley notes he is not a composer.

His renditions are met with praise from many Radiohead fans, especially on the Internet, while some would have prefered more improvisatory arrangements (such as those of jazz pianist Brad Mehldau), or feel he is unfairly profiting from the band's name. O'Riley's work, however, has been favorably distinguished from other classical rock-tribute albums by music critics, who note O'Riley's quality of playing (True Love Waits received 4 out of 5 stars from Rolling Stone magazine). The band has never publicly commented on his work.

O'Riley is the host of the National Public Radio program "From The Top", on which many young musicians are heard and interviewed. O'Riley first began performing Radiohead songs as a time-filler during a break in the program, to supplement preludes and miniatures by composers such as Debussy and Rachmaninoff. Many of these short classical pieces are found on his CD release At the Break.

O'Riley resides in the Hollywood Hills. According to reports, he is currently at work on a piano tribute to late singer-songwriter Elliott Smith.