Backstage Pass with Christopher O'Riley and Sir James Galway

Pictured: Christopher O'Riley

Credit: Wendy Lynch

In celebration of From the Top’s show at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre on March 19th, host Julia Figueras welcomes pianist and From the Top host Christopher O’Riley and flutist Sir James Galway to WXXI’s studio for a special Backstage Pass. It airs Tuesday, March 18, 2014 at 2 p.m. on Classical 91.5. The two will perform and talk more about their Rochester appearance. They will also chat with Julia about reaching out to audiences, bringing classical to the non-classical listener, and breaking down the walls of musical classification.  Plus she’ll ask what they were like as kids, too—their inspirations and expectations.

Christopher O'Riley has redefined the possibilities of classical music through media, contemporary music and innovative programming. In addition to hosting From the Top's radio and television programs and appearing with top orchestras and festivals around the world, O'Riley is also an interpreter of some of the most important contemporary popular music of our time. He lives by the Duke Ellington adage, "there are only two kinds of music, good music and bad."

Sir James Galway, along with his wife, Lady Jeanne Galway, will perform at Kodak Hall during From the Top's Rochester show. Sir Galway, nicknamed "The Man with the Golden Flute," is regarded as both the supreme interpreter of the classical flute repertoire and a consummate entertainer. He and O’Riley have performed together on several occasions.

Backstage Pass is a live monthly performance program that gives listeners the backstage experience of meeting artists up close and personal. The program is made possible in part by a grant from the Gouvernet Arts Fund at Rochester Area Community Foundation. This episode will repeat on Saturday, March 22 at 1 p.m. on Classical 91.5 and can be seen live online at WXXI.org/backstagepass.