CLASSICAL PIANISTS

INTERPRETATION

PIANO CONCERTO

MASTERCLASS

CONTACT US

ABOUT US


WOMEN PIANISTS

THE LEFT HAND

FOUR HANDS

ACCOMPANISTS

IS IT MUSIC

INDULGE ME

HOME PAGE


COMPOSERS PLAY

CLASSICAL COMPOSERS

CHAMBER MUSIC

GUEST PAGES

LINKS

PRIVACY




ROBERT LORTAT
French pianist (1885 - 1938)



Robert Lortat studied with Louis Diémer (1843-1919) at the Paris Conservatoire.  Diémer, father of the modern French piano school, had been the teacher of Alfred Cortot and Robert Casadesus.  Lortat toured extensively and was known for presenting concert cycles consisting of a group of six recitals of Chopin's music.

Known as one of the great interpreters of Chopin's music in the first half of the 20th century, Robert Lortat had an elegant way with Chopin.  His was not a eclectic and highly personalized approach.  Rather, he offered a clear insight into the notes penned by Chopin with a beautiful and rich tone and an unhurried style imbued with delicacy and subtlety.  Just listen to the seventh étude from Op 25 and try not to swoon.

Robert Lortat was the first to record all of the Chopin études in 1931.  Though Backhaus had recorded Op 10 and 25 in 1928, his set did not include the 3 new études.  As you will see below, he recorded quite a bit of Chopin's music.  I don't know what else he recorded but I would give much to hear some of the mazurkas and nocturnes.

I include the Franck as a curiosity though it does not reflect Robert Lortat's exquisite pianism.  It is the only recording I have found of music by anyone other than Chopin.  Alas, some piano rolls are created much more equal than others.



Chopin  12 Études, Op 10

1 in C major
02:092 in A minor
03:373 in E major
07:394 in C minor
09:515 in G major
11:296 in E minor
14:277 in C major
15:538 in F major
18:239 in F minor
20:2010 in A major
22:3311 in E major
24:4712 in C minor

recorded in 1931




Chopin  12 Études, Op 25

1 in A major
02:122 in F minor
03:403 in F major
05:344 in A minor
07:195 in E minor
10:296 in G minor
12:327 in C minor
16:568 in D major
18:069 in G major
19:0710 in B minor
23:1311 in A minor
26:5312 in C minor

recorded in 1931




Chopin  Trois Nouvelles Études

1 in F minor
01:392 in D major
03:103 in A major

recorded in 1931




Chopin  24 Préludes, Op 28

recorded in 1928




Chopin  Piano Sonata 2 in B minor, Op 35

i Grave. Doppio movimento
04:27ii Scherzo
08:54iii Marche funèbre - Lento
14:42iv Finale - Presto

recorded in 1928




Chopin  Waltzes

recorded in 1930


1
in E major, Op 18



2 in A major, Op 34~1



3 in A minor, Op 34~2



4 in F major, Op 34~3



5 in A major, Op 42



6 in D major, Op 64~1 "Minute Waltz"



7 in C minor, Op 64~2



8 in A major, Op 64~3



9 in A major, Op 69~1 "L'adieu"



10 in B minor, Op 69~2



11 in G major, Op 70~1



12 in F minor, Op 70~2



13 in D major, Op 70~3



14 in E minor, Op posth




César Franck  Prélude from Prélude, chorale et Fugue

Duo Art piano roll




For those of you who enjoy murder mysteries, here is my first with a strong musical polemic as background

Murder in the House of the Muse

which is also available as an audiobook.



And this is the more recently published second mystery in the series:

Murder Follows the Muse



Follow these links to our main subject categories

[?]Subscribe To This Site
  • XML RSS
  • follow us in feedly
  • Add to My Yahoo!