The Daily Telegram
If Sunday’s performance is any measure at all, Cheli most definitely has a brilliant career ahead of him. He played this concerto exactly as listeners should get to hear it played — powerfully when needed, feather-light and with a beautiful expressiveness when required, and with blazing agility that was enough to almost make you look for smoke rising from the keyboard.
The Columbus Dispatch
“Goad and pianist Dominic Cheli brought spark and sensitivity to the concerto. Even with the symphony behind them, their instruments seemed to dance with each other; at times, the moody whine of the trumpet offset the commanding power of the piano.”
Palm Beach Daily News
“It was a point of relaxation before he launched into the “Fantasy in B minor,” Op. 28 by Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915). Composed in 1900, between his third and fourth piano sonatas, it is, despite its title, in fact a sonata-allegro and infrequently performed due to its prodigious difficulties. Cheli surmounted those completely, releasing a tonal flood from his Steinway D.”
Town Topics
In his opening piano solo line, Cheli emerged from the orchestral texture seamlessly with thoughtful and sensitive playing, positioning the piano as a fellow instrument in the orchestra, rather than set off with its own part.
Symphony Magazine
Able to “devour the piano – play anything” Cheli’s playing (is) “spontaneous yet perfect. It was the best of how a young person can play.”
The LA Times
Pianist Dominic Cheli transfixed the audience. This young man was mesmerizing — his fingers were one with each key.
The LA Times
Dominic Cheli, a graceful young pianist studying at Colburn who already has something of a recording career, was soloist in Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto…Instrumental solos were clean, fresh and impressive.
Apparel News
Pianist and Colburn Student Dominic Cheli made a stunning Disney Hall debut with a performance in Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No.3 in C major, Op.26
The Virginia Gazette
Cheli delivered, thematically, one helluva brilliant performance. He blended the sweet with the sensational in a mighty display of exacting keyboard skill that often found fingers flying with such flurry they became a blur of activity. It was a dazzling moment by a pianist whose name is destined for Schub-ian heights.
Joe’s Concert Reviews
I was just blown away by how difficult the piece appeared (I looked at the score beforehand) and how Cheli seemed to coax the different moods from the piece.
WHRO
Pianist Dominic Cheli exhibited thoughtful playing and deep musical connection during the first half of the program…Cheli plays with delicacy and a regal poise.
Santa Barbara Voice magazine
From shy ingénue pre-play, to barnstorming Goliath in performance, Cheli’s huge hands flew over the keyboard in lithe contradiction to their presumed gravity; sundry complexities flowing from Prokofiev’s pen were neatly turned to velvet submissions, in this pianist’s intelligent dissection of fact from froo-froo.
The Heartland Journal
Cheli transformed the piano into a mini-orchestra of its own, echoing the agility of a violin, the singing of a flute or the deep responsive voice of a double bass. His touch was resonant and rich, with unerring accuracy.
The Daily Gazette
“Cheli particularly impressed with his technical mastery, musical sensibility, and his ability to maintain exceptional balances with the strings. The crowd loved it and responded with cheers and loud applause.”
St. Louis Post Dispatch
“First, though, came a Bach prelude on piano, performed with exuberance and accuracy by a gifted 16-year-old pianist, Dominic Cheli.