Reviews
“Orth, a piano phenom from Richardson, channeled the virtuosity of Franz Liszt in his haunting fantasy Totentanz (“Dance of Death”). Orth’s melodic piano solos [were\ spine tingling....The audience rewarded him with a standing ovation and a curtain call, as if to say, rightly, that they look forward to a big career.”
Stephanie Allmon, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram
“Kyle Orth…spectacular concert pianist he is....His interpretation of Liszt's Totentanz was scintillating — hands flying up and down the piano as if possessed by the ghost of the Hungarian master. Chords crashed, runs flashed with lightning but seemingly effortless speed, and he explored the sheer virtuosic joy of the piece.....Orth gleaned...in the quieter moments. The end provoked not only loud applause but a kind of guttural roar from the audience."
"Very early in his career Orth has made the leap from the technical musical expertise that many possess to a unique sound that few ever achieve. He should not be missed."
"Can the spirit of a long-dead musician and composer be conjured by an artist more than a century later? Maybe. Maybe not. But in the sheer power and excitement of Orth's virtuosity we glimpsed what it must have been like to experience the Hungarian master. The opening chords were hammered in a frightening, towering manner, as if Death - Liszt's recurrent obsession - was bashing down a door striding into the world of the living.
"Orth's runs are flawless, his chord work lightning, his dynamic range remarkable, and yet it was in some of the quieter moments that he showed the growing maturity of his vision. Hints of Chopin fluttered out from the menacing forest of Liszt's darkness, and in one transcendent moment, Orth played two keys with an elegant simplicity of touch. Virtuosity must have its more gentle moments to be fully itself, and this pianist realizes this with a maturity beyond his years.
"The standing ovation was deserved. We can only hope that Kyle Orth will grace our auditorium at least one more time before other, more famous stages come calling - as they inevitably will."
Graham Dixon, Ph.D. The Midland Reporter Telegram
“TCU sophomore Kyle Orth...was very large in talent when sitting proudly erect at the Steinway. Playing Beethoven’s Sonata Op. 81a, ‘Les Adieux,’ he began with a pensive delicacy, and his crisp and stately precision would then show a great command of the tremendous musical variety of the piece. Next, performing Debussy’s rhythmic and shimmering, ‘L’isle joyeuse, L. 106,’ he skillfully combined a focused intensity with thunderous power.”
David Dow Bentley III, The People’s Critic
Pianist Uses Talent to 'Bless People'
The Dallas Morning News
By CAITLIN HARRISON
charrison@neighborsgo.com
Kyle Orth’s parents didn’t give him much of a choice when they signed him up for piano lessons at 8 years old — and he wasn’t too fond of it at first.
Now 20 years old, the Richardson native said he’s thanking them.
“I didn’t really take it seriously until I turned 15 or so,” he said. “Then I really started to fall in love with it.”
A sophomore pianist and composer studying music performance at TCU, Orth has played with local symphonies including the Lewisville Lake Symphony as well as the Dallas, Plano and Richardson symphony orchestras.
He has also won dozens of music competitions and performed in front of more audiences than he can remember, including playing for Gov. Rick Perry at SMU....
Orth aims to use his talents as a gift.
“The main reason that I’m in music is to bless people with it,” he said. “Music is a powerful force, and it can touch people’s lives, so for me to be able to speak to someone’s heart is really the whole goal.”
He frequently performs in nursing homes, and he also gives lessons to students ranging in age from 5 to 26.
“There’s something rewarding about giving somebody lessons and being able to watch a piece grow from rough edges to a masterpiece,” he said....
Orth, who will perform with the Israel Symphony Orchestra in [July\, said symphony performances are his favorite part of playing piano.
“I think some of the best works ever written are for piano and orchestra,” he said. “It’s really neat because you get to collaborate with them, and it’s something that really connects with audiences.”
charrison@neighborsgo.com
Kyle Orth’s parents didn’t give him much of a choice when they signed him up for piano lessons at 8 years old — and he wasn’t too fond of it at first.
Now 20 years old, the Richardson native said he’s thanking them.
“I didn’t really take it seriously until I turned 15 or so,” he said. “Then I really started to fall in love with it.”
A sophomore pianist and composer studying music performance at TCU, Orth has played with local symphonies including the Lewisville Lake Symphony as well as the Dallas, Plano and Richardson symphony orchestras.
He has also won dozens of music competitions and performed in front of more audiences than he can remember, including playing for Gov. Rick Perry at SMU....
Orth aims to use his talents as a gift.
“The main reason that I’m in music is to bless people with it,” he said. “Music is a powerful force, and it can touch people’s lives, so for me to be able to speak to someone’s heart is really the whole goal.”
He frequently performs in nursing homes, and he also gives lessons to students ranging in age from 5 to 26.
“There’s something rewarding about giving somebody lessons and being able to watch a piece grow from rough edges to a masterpiece,” he said....
Orth, who will perform with the Israel Symphony Orchestra in [July\, said symphony performances are his favorite part of playing piano.
“I think some of the best works ever written are for piano and orchestra,” he said. “It’s really neat because you get to collaborate with them, and it’s something that really connects with audiences.”
©2011 Kyle Orth. All rights reserved.
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