Alfred Cortot

Alfred Cortot
Cortot, c. 1920s
Born
Alfred Denis Cortot

(1877-09-26)26 September 1877
Nyon, Vaud, Switzerland
Died15 June 1962(1962-06-15) (aged 84)
Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland
Occupations
  • Classical pianist
  • Conductor
  • Academic teacher
  • Music editor
OrganizationsÉcole Normale de Musique de Paris

Alfred Denis Cortot (/kɔːrˈt/ kor-TOH, French: [alfʁɛd dəni kɔʁto]; 26 September 1877  15 June 1962) was a French pianist, conductor, and teacher who was one of the most renowned classical musicians of the 20th century. A pianist of massive repertory, he was especially valued for his poetic insight into Romantic piano works, particularly those of Chopin, Franck, Saint-Saëns and Schumann. For Éditions Durand, he edited editions of almost all piano music by Chopin, Liszt and Schumann.

A central figure of the French musical culture in his time, he was well known for his piano trio with violinist Jacques Thibaud and cellist Pablo Casals.