Louis Lortie

Composers

Biography

Born: April 27, 1959; Montreal, Quebec, Canada  
French-Canadian pianist Louis Lortie achieved international recognition by his mid-twenties. His strong, yet sensitively crafted playing has served him well in a repertory of considerable breadth, with a concentration on composers from the late Classical period to the early twentieth century. Through a particularly fruitful association with his record company, he has been able to preserve on disc many of his most impressive interpretations and to Read more enjoy a wide audience for his artistry.

After studying with Yvonne Hubert, Lortie made his first professional public appearance as soloist with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. He was then 13 years old and, wisely, elected not to pursue a concert career immediately. After winning first prize in Canada's two premiere competitions, the Canadian National Music Competition and the CBC National Competition when he was 16, he made what he considers his official debut with the Toronto Symphony in 1978 and joined the orchestra in a subsequent tour of Japan and the People's Republic of China. While in his early twenties, Lortie moved to Baltimore in order to work with Leon Fleisher and to expand his knowledge of the piano literature.

In 1984, Lortie was first prizewinner of the Busoni International Competition and a prizewinner as well at the Leeds Piano Competition. Along the way, he had traveled to Europe, living for a time in Paris, Florence, and Vienna. Following his exposure to European culture and the recognition resulting from his successes in competition, Lortie began to undertake a more extensive number of concert engagements and made his first recording in 1986.

Within the first few years of an active career, Lortie performed throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. His engagement calendar included dates with such orchestras as the Cleveland Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, the Houston Symphony, the Dallas Symphony, the Saint Louis Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the BBC Philharmonic, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the Deutsche Symphonie Orchester, and the Orchestre National de France. With the latter ensemble he performed on tour. Recital tours in Italy became yearly occurrences and, under the auspices of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Lortie was well-received throughout an extensive tour of Australia.

Over the course of a number of summers, Lortie performed with the Montreal Symphony in program series devoted to a single composer. Complete cycles of the 32 Beethoven sonatas have been given in London, Toronto, Berlin, and Milan. Acknowledging one of his London appearances, the Daily Telegraph described Lortie as "one of perhaps half a dozen pianists who is worth dropping everything to go and hear."

Few pianists have enjoyed such a long-term and mutually satisfying relationship with a recording company as that existing between Lortie and Chandos. Lortie has been afforded the opportunity to preserve his interpretations of composers extending from Mozart to Ligeti. Among them is his collection of the complete piano works of Ravel, a set that has received several awards. His recordings of Chopin's Preludes and Etudes are also of particular interest.

Having found exposure to a variety of performing traditions of great value, Lortie has taught at the piano institute at Imola, Italy, when his schedule has allowed. That school's philosophy is congenial to him and he has been pleased to work with advanced students similarly interested in a concert career.

In 1992, Lortie was honored by being made an Officer of the Order of Canada. Read less
Browse 1-25 of 43 Available Recordings
1 2
  • 1.
    Vincent D'indy: Orchestral Works, Vol. 5
    Vincent D'indy: Orchestral Works, Vol. 5
    Label: Chandos   Catalog: 10760 Release Date: 04/30/2013   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Vincent D'Indy
    Performer:  Louis Lortie
    Conductor:  Rumon Gamba
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Iceland Symphony Orchestra
    CD: $18.99
    In Stock
    MP3 Available
    BUY 
    CD:  $18.99 Add CD to Cart

    MP3:  $9.99 Add MP3 to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 2.
    Franck, Strauss: Violin Sonatas / Dumay, Lortie
    Franck, Strauss: Violin Sonatas / Dumay, Lortie
    Label: Onyx   Catalog: 4096 Release Date: 03/12/2013   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  César Franck,  Richard Strauss
    Performer:  Louis Lortie,  Augustin Dumay
    On sale! $21.98
    CD: $19.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    On sale!   $21.98   CD:  $19.99 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 3.
    Szymanowski: Symphonies No 2 & 4 / Gardner
    Szymanowski: Symphonies No 2 & 4 / Gardner
    Label: Chandos   Catalog: 5115 Release Date: 01/29/2013   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Karol Szymanowski
    Performer:  Louis Lortie
    Conductor:  Edward Gardner
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Recommendation
    On sale! $19.99
    CD: $14.99
    In Stock
    MP3 Available
    BUY 
    On sale!   $19.99   CD:  $14.99 Add CD to Cart

    MP3:  $9.99 Add MP3 to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 4.
    Best Of Mendelssohn
    Best Of Mendelssohn
    Label: Berlin Classics   Catalog: 300341 Release Date: 07/10/2012   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer:  Staatskapelle Berlin,  Günther Herbig,  Kurt Masur,  Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra  ... 
    Conductor:  Günther Herbig,  Kurt Masur,  Gothart Stier,  Helmut Koch  ... 
    CD: $13.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    CD:  $13.99 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 5.
    Chopin: Piano Works, Vol. 2 / Lortie
    Chopin: Piano Works, Vol. 2 / Lortie
    Label: Chandos   Catalog: 10714 Release Date: 03/27/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Louis Lortie
    Recommendation
    CD: $18.99
    In Stock
    MP3 Available
    BUY 
    CD:  $18.99 Add CD to Cart

    MP3:  $9.99 Add MP3 to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 6.
    Lutoslawski: Orchestral Works Vol 2 / Gardner, Lortie, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Lutoslawski: Orchestral Works Vol 2 / Gardner, Lortie, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Label: Chandos   Catalog: 5098 Release Date: 01/31/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Witold Lutoslawski
    Performer:  Louis Lortie
    Conductor:  Edward Gardner
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Recommendation
    SuperAudio CD: $19.99
    In Stock
    MP3 Available
    BUY 
    SuperAudio CD:  $19.99 Add to Cart

    MP3:  $9.99 Add MP3 to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 7.
    A Liszt Portrait [30-CD Set]
    A Liszt Portrait [30-CD Set]
    Label: Brilliant Classics   Catalog: 94215 Release Date: 05/31/2011   Number of Discs: 30
    Composer:  Franz Liszt
    Performer:  Hans Jürgen Kaiser,  Klára Takács,  Veronika Kincses,  György Korondi  ... 
    Conductor:  János Ferencsik,  Hartmut Haenchen,  Arpád Joó,  Michel Plasson  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Hungarian State Orchestra,  Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra,  Netherlands Philharmonic Chorus  ... 
    CD: $78.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    CD:  $78.99 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 8.
    Liszt: The Complete Annees De Pelerinage / Louis Lortie
    Liszt: The Complete Annees De Pelerinage / Louis Lortie
    Label: Chandos   Catalog: 10662 Release Date: 03/29/2011   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Franz Liszt
    Performer:  Louis Lortie
    Recommendation
    CD: $18.99
    In Stock
    MP3 Available
    BUY 
    CD:  $18.99 Add CD to Cart

    MP3:  $19.99 Add MP3 to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 9.
    Chopin: Complete Piano Works
    Chopin: Complete Piano Works
    Label: Brilliant Classics   Catalog: 94089 Release Date: 12/14/2010   Number of Discs: 15
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Bella Davidovich,  Louis Lortie,  Adam Harasiewicz,  Alwin Bär  ... 
    Conductor:  Dimiter Manolov,  Sir Neville Marriner,  Dmitri Kitayenko
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra,  Philharmonia Orchestra,  Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra
    Import CD
    $46.99
    Low Stock
    BUY 
    CD:  $46.99 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 10.
    Louis Lortie Plays Beethoven - Complete Piano Sonatas
    Louis Lortie Plays Beethoven - Complete Piano Sonatas
    Label: Chandos   Catalog: 10616 Release Date: 10/26/2010   Number of Discs: 9
    Composer:  Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer:  Louis Lortie
    CD: $54.49
    In Stock
    MP3 Available
    BUY 
    CD:  $54.49 Add CD to Cart

    MP3:  $96.99 Add MP3 to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 11.
    Schumann, Chopin Piano Concertos / Lortie, Jarvi, Philharmonia Orchestra
    Schumann, Chopin Piano Concertos / Lortie, Jarvi, Philharmonia Orchestra
    Label: Chandos   Catalog: 10603 Release Date: 06/29/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin,  Robert Schumann
    Performer:  Louis Lortie
    Conductor:  Neeme Järvi
    Recommendation
    CD: $11.99
    In Stock
    MP3 Available
    BUY 
    CD:  $11.99 Add CD to Cart

    MP3:  $9.99 Add MP3 to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 12.
    Lortie Plays Chopin Vol. 1 / Louis Lortie
    Lortie Plays Chopin Vol. 1 / Louis Lortie
    Label: Chandos   Catalog: 10588 Release Date: 05/25/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Louis Lortie
    Recommendation
    CD: $18.99
    In Stock
    MP3 Available
    BUY 
    CD:  $18.99 Add CD to Cart

    MP3:  $9.99 Add MP3 to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 13.
    Mendelssohn: Piano Concertos No 1 & 2, Symphony No 5 / Lortie, Quebec
    Mendelssohn: Piano Concertos No 1 & 2, Symphony No 5 / Lortie, Quebec
    Label: Atma Classique   Catalog: 2617 Release Date: 09/29/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer:  Louis Lortie
    Conductor:  Louis Lortie
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Quebec Symphony Orchestra
    Recommendation
    CD: $17.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    CD:  $17.99 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 14.
    Reference Gold - Mendelssohn: Piano And Cello Sonata Op 58, Etc / Jan Vogler, Louis Lortie
    Reference Gold - Mendelssohn: Piano And Cello Sonata Op 58, Etc / Jan Vogler, Louis Lortie
    Label: Berlin Classics   Catalog: 115182 Release Date: 07/14/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer:  Louis Lortie,  Jan Vogler
    CD: $14.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    CD:  $14.99 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 15.
    Mendelssohn: Cello Sonatas Nos 1 & 2 / Vogler, Lortie
    Mendelssohn: Cello Sonatas Nos 1 & 2 / Vogler, Lortie
    Label: Berlin Classics   Catalog: 17562 Release Date: 12/03/2008  
    Composer:  Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer:  Jan Vogler,  Louis Lortie
    On sale! $20.98
    CD: $16.99
    Back Order
    BUY 
    On sale!   $20.98   CD:  $16.99 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 16.
    Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue, American In Paris, Etc / Dutoit
    Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue, American In Paris, Etc / Dutoit
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 425111 Release Date: 10/15/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  George Gershwin
    Performer:  Louis Lortie
    Conductor:  Charles Dutoit
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Montreal Symphony Orchestra
    ArkivCD $16.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    ArkivCD:  $16.99 Add to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 17.
    Beethoven: The Piano Sonatas Op 10 Nos 1-3 / Louis Lortie
    Beethoven: The Piano Sonatas Op 10 Nos 1-3 / Louis Lortie
    Label: Chandos   Catalog: 9101 Release Date: 07/14/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer:  Louis Lortie
    CD: $18.99
    In Stock
    MP3 Available
    BUY 
    CD:  $18.99 Add CD to Cart

    MP3:  $9.99 Add MP3 to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 18.
    Liszt: Works For Piano And Orchestra / Lortie, Freire, Mayer, Et Al
    Liszt: Works For Piano And Orchestra / Lortie, Freire, Mayer, Et Al
    Label: Brilliant Classics   Catalog: 93700 Release Date: 06/10/2008   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Franz Liszt
    Performer:  Louis Lortie,  Nelson Freire,  Stephen Mayer
    Conductor:  George Pehlivanian,  Michel Plasson,  Tamás Vásáry
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Hague Residentie Orchestra,  Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra,  London Symphony Orchestra
    Recommendation
    CD: $17.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    CD:  $17.99 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 19.
    Liszt: Works For Piano & Orchestra / Lortie
    Liszt: Works For Piano & Orchestra / Lortie
    Label: Chandos   Catalog: 10371 Release Date: 06/27/2006   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Franz Liszt
    Performer:  Louis Lortie
    Conductor:  George Pehlivanian
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Hague Residentie Orchestra
    Recommendation
    CD: $24.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    CD:  $24.99 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 20.
    Bear Essentials - Classics For Funerals
    Bear Essentials - Classics For Funerals
    Label: Chandos   Catalog: 2418 Release Date: 02/22/2005   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Sir William Walton,  Giuseppe Verdi,  Maurice Ravel,  Sergei Rachmaninov  ... 
    Performer:  Louis Lortie,  Emma Kirkby,  Philip Kenyon,  Yvonne Kenny  ... 
    Conductor:  Richard Hickox,  Neeme Järvi,  Andrew Parrott,  George Guest  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra,  London Symphony Orchestra,  London Symphony Chorus  ... 
    CD: $18.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    CD:  $18.99 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 21.
    Louis Lortie Plays Ravel's Complete Music For Solo Piano
    Louis Lortie Plays Ravel's Complete Music For Solo Piano
    Label: Chandos   Catalog: 10142 Release Date: 01/20/2004   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Maurice Ravel
    Performer:  Louis Lortie
    CD: $24.99
    In Stock
    MP3 Available
    BUY 
    CD:  $24.99 Add CD to Cart

    MP3:  $19.99 Add MP3 to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 22.
    Romantic Classics
    Romantic Classics
    Label: Chandos   Catalog: 24114 Release Date: 01/20/2004   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Sir William Walton,  Alexander Glazunov,  Sergei Rachmaninov,  Ludwig van Beethoven  ... 
    Performer:  Earl Wild,  Israela Margalit,  Craig Ogden,  Luba Edlina  ... 
    Conductor:  Richard Hickox,  Neeme Järvi,  Jascha Horenstein,  Sachio Fujioka  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra,  Royal Scottish National Orchestra,  Royal Philharmonic Orchestra  ... 
    CD: $18.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    CD:  $18.99 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 23.
    Bear Essentials - Dining Classics
    Bear Essentials - Dining Classics
    Label: Chandos   Catalog: 24113 Release Date: 10/21/2003   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Thomas Augustine Arne,  Unico Graf Van Wassenaer,  Federico Moreno-Torroba,  Stanley Myers  ... 
    Performer:  Norbert Kraft,  Craig Ogden,  Míceál O'Rourke,  Howard Shelley  ... 
    Conductor:  Adrian Shepherd,  Yuli Turovsky,  Yan Pascal Tortelier,  Matthias Bamert  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cantilena,  I Musici de Montreal,  BBC Philharmonic Orchestra  ... 
    CD: $18.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    CD:  $18.99 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 24.
    Gidon Kremer - Happy Birthday / Kremerata Baltica
    Gidon Kremer - Happy Birthday / Kremerata Baltica
    Label: Nonesuch   Catalog: 79657 Release Date: 01/28/2003   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Ladislav Kupkovic,  Edward Bor,  Vato Kakhidze,  Adrien François Servais  ... 
    Performer:  Gidon Kremer,  Vato Kakhidze,  Lasma Muceniece,  Marta Sudraba  ... 
    Conductor:  Gidon Kremer
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Kremerata Baltica
    Recommendation
    On sale! $18.96
    CD: $13.99
    Special Order
    BUY 
    On sale!   $18.96   CD:  $13.99 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 25.
    Franck: Symphony In D, Symphonic Variations / Lortie, Et Al
    Franck: Symphony In D, Symphonic Variations / Lortie, Et Al
    Label: Chandos   Catalog: 9875 Release Date: 02/27/2001   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  César Franck
    Performer:  Louis Lortie
    Conductor:  Yan Pascal Tortelier
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    CD: $18.99
    In Stock
    MP3 Available
    BUY 
    CD:  $18.99 Add CD to Cart

    MP3:  $9.99 Add MP3 to Cart
    WISH LIST

1 2