Alfred Denis Cortot (Nyon, Switzerland, September 26, 1877 – Lausanne, Swit… Read Full Bio ↴Alfred Denis Cortot (Nyon, Switzerland, September 26, 1877 – Lausanne, Switzerland, June 15, 1962) was a Swiss pianist and conductor. He is renowned for his poetic and deeply melancholic interpretation of Romantic period piano works, particularly those of Chopin and Schumann.
Born in Nyon in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, Cortot studied at the Paris Conservatoire with Emile Descombes (reputedly a pupil of Chopin) (as did Maurice Ravel), and with Louis Diémer, taking a premier prix in 1896. He made his debut at the Concerts Colonne in 1897, playing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3. Between 1898 and 1901 he was a choral coach, and subsequently assistant conductor, at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus, and in 1902 he conducted the Paris premiere of Götterdämmerung by Wagner. He formed a concert society to perform Wagner's Parsifal, Beethoven's Missa solemnis, Brahms' German Requiem, and new works by French composers.
In 1905, Cortot formed a trio with Jacques Thibaud and Pablo Casals, which established itself as the leading piano trio of its era, and probably of any era. From 1907 to 1923 Cortot taught at the Paris Conservatoire, where his pupils included Clara Haskil, Dinu Lipatti, Vlado Perlemuter, and even Marguerite Monnot (French composer of most of the best songs of Edith Piaf and of the stage musical Irma la douce). In 1919 he founded the École Normale de Musique de Paris. His courses in musical interpretation were legendary. Extremely widely traveled as a pianist, he also appeared as guest conductor of many orchestras. He died in Lausanne.
Controversially, he supported the German occupation in France during the Second World War (he played in Nazi-sponsored concerts, for example), serving as Minister of Culture for the Vichy regime, and befriending Hitler's assistant Albert Speer. His Vichy connections, in particular, led to him being declared persona non grata after the Liberation. The motives for his wartime activities have been disputed; they may have arisen from nothing more than his lifelong championship of Teutonic musical culture. Moreover his wife, Clothilde Breal, daughter of the semanticist, Michel Breal, was of Jewish origin and Clothilde Breal's cousin, Lise Bloch, was married to Leon Blum, the first Jew to become President du Conseil or Prime Minister in France. Cortot and the Blums maintained a close friendship. At any rate, he was banned from performing publicly for a year, and his public image in France suffered greatly (though he continued to be well received as a recitalist in other countries, notably Italy and England).
As the foremost piano interpreter of Chopin and Schumann, Cortot made editions of both those composers' music, which were notable for his own meticulous commentary on technical problems and matters of interpretation. He had famous memory lapses - particularly notable from the 1940s onwards, when non-musical matters were very much on his mind - and occasionally left wrong notes on his records. This was in stark contrast to his technically flawless student, Lipatti.
Cortot was also the author of the piano exercise book: "Rational Principles of Pianoforte Technique". This book contains many finger exercises to aid in the development of various aspects of piano playing technique. It was originally written in French but has since been translated into other languages.
Technical flaws notwithstanding, Cortot was among the very greatest musicians of the century, and represented the end of an era. He is considered the last exponent of a personal, subjective style that deprecated precise technique in favor of intuition, interpretation and authentic spirit. This approach was replaced by the modern "scientific" way of playing, which places logic and precision at the forefront and equates authenticity with metronomic and literal "interpretations". Cortot's recordings and musical annotations have seldom been out of print.
Born in Nyon in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, Cortot studied at the Paris Conservatoire with Emile Descombes (reputedly a pupil of Chopin) (as did Maurice Ravel), and with Louis Diémer, taking a premier prix in 1896. He made his debut at the Concerts Colonne in 1897, playing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3. Between 1898 and 1901 he was a choral coach, and subsequently assistant conductor, at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus, and in 1902 he conducted the Paris premiere of Götterdämmerung by Wagner. He formed a concert society to perform Wagner's Parsifal, Beethoven's Missa solemnis, Brahms' German Requiem, and new works by French composers.
In 1905, Cortot formed a trio with Jacques Thibaud and Pablo Casals, which established itself as the leading piano trio of its era, and probably of any era. From 1907 to 1923 Cortot taught at the Paris Conservatoire, where his pupils included Clara Haskil, Dinu Lipatti, Vlado Perlemuter, and even Marguerite Monnot (French composer of most of the best songs of Edith Piaf and of the stage musical Irma la douce). In 1919 he founded the École Normale de Musique de Paris. His courses in musical interpretation were legendary. Extremely widely traveled as a pianist, he also appeared as guest conductor of many orchestras. He died in Lausanne.
Controversially, he supported the German occupation in France during the Second World War (he played in Nazi-sponsored concerts, for example), serving as Minister of Culture for the Vichy regime, and befriending Hitler's assistant Albert Speer. His Vichy connections, in particular, led to him being declared persona non grata after the Liberation. The motives for his wartime activities have been disputed; they may have arisen from nothing more than his lifelong championship of Teutonic musical culture. Moreover his wife, Clothilde Breal, daughter of the semanticist, Michel Breal, was of Jewish origin and Clothilde Breal's cousin, Lise Bloch, was married to Leon Blum, the first Jew to become President du Conseil or Prime Minister in France. Cortot and the Blums maintained a close friendship. At any rate, he was banned from performing publicly for a year, and his public image in France suffered greatly (though he continued to be well received as a recitalist in other countries, notably Italy and England).
As the foremost piano interpreter of Chopin and Schumann, Cortot made editions of both those composers' music, which were notable for his own meticulous commentary on technical problems and matters of interpretation. He had famous memory lapses - particularly notable from the 1940s onwards, when non-musical matters were very much on his mind - and occasionally left wrong notes on his records. This was in stark contrast to his technically flawless student, Lipatti.
Cortot was also the author of the piano exercise book: "Rational Principles of Pianoforte Technique". This book contains many finger exercises to aid in the development of various aspects of piano playing technique. It was originally written in French but has since been translated into other languages.
Technical flaws notwithstanding, Cortot was among the very greatest musicians of the century, and represented the end of an era. He is considered the last exponent of a personal, subjective style that deprecated precise technique in favor of intuition, interpretation and authentic spirit. This approach was replaced by the modern "scientific" way of playing, which places logic and precision at the forefront and equates authenticity with metronomic and literal "interpretations". Cortot's recordings and musical annotations have seldom been out of print.
Barcarolle
Alfred Cortot Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Barcarolle' by these artists:
Alice Gondolier du Rialto Mon château c'est la lagune, Mon jardi…
All Angels Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour, Souris à nos ivresses, Nuit pl…
André Rieu Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour Souris à nos ivresses Nuit plus d…
Andrea Bocelli Le temps fuit et sans retour Emporte nos tendresses Loin d…
Andrea Bocelli / Lorin Maazel / LSO Le temps fuit et sans retour Emporte nos tendresses Loin de …
Andrea Bocelli London Symphony Orchestra Lorin Maazel Le temps fuit et sans retour Emporte nos tendresses Loin d…
Andrea Bocelli/London Symphony Orchestra Le temps fuit et sans retour Emporte nos tendresses Loin de …
Barcarolle (The Tales of Hoffman) - Offenbach Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour Souris à nos ivresses Nuit plus d…
Charlotte Church Night of stars, and night of love, Fall gently o'er the…
Charlotte Church/London Welsh Male Voice Choir/The London Symphony Orchestra Night of stars, and night of love, Fall gently o'er the…
Jacques Offenbach Belle nuit, nuit d'amour, Souris nos ivresses, Nuit plus dou…
James Galway & London Symphony Orchestra Night of stars, and night of love, Fall gently o'er the…
Katherine Jenkins Le temps fuit et sans retour Emporte nos tendresses, Loin …
Kathleen Brennan/Tom Waits A cloud lets go of the moon Her ribbons are all…
Lesley Garrett / Philharmonia / Greenwood Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour Souris à nos ivresses Nuit plus d…
London Symphony Orchestra Night of stars, and night of love, Fall gently o'er the…
Nana Mouskouri Tour à tour venin et velours L'amour est un grand manège Où…
Nat King Cole Les contes d'Hoffmann Jacques Offenbach, Barcarolle Le temp…
Paul Mauriat Jacques OFFENBACH Belle nuit ô nuit d'amour, Sourit à nos i…
Rudi en Zita Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour Souris à nos ivresses Nuit plus d…
The King Cole Trio Les contes d'Hoffmann Jacques Offenbach, Barcarolle Le t…
Tom Waits A cloud lets go of the moon Her ribbons are all…
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flora gutierrez
Excelente interpretación.
Cortot es un maestro del "tempo rubato".
zombieperson
1:54 - 2:15 These rubatos... they are so on point!
Simply incredible interpretation.
limitattitude
There is no lingering so the impact isn't sentimental yet, managing an exquisite balance, he makes every note count, nothing is perfunctory. The emotions evoked are brave and tender. Not an easy mixture to pull off!
There is a curious lightness in this music: it is painful, beautiful, reflective; it touches the ear like a warm breeze touches the skin, or the late afternoon light, the eye.
THANKS for posting.
Solomon Aries
@Tristen Benson yup, I have been watching on flixzone for since december myself :D
Tristen Benson
Pro trick : watch series on flixzone. Been using them for watching loads of movies during the lockdown.
zamyrabyrd
I happen to like this performance and most other Chopin's music played by Cortot. The improvisatory quality is the most endearing (apropos of the composer himself), the lightness of the phrasing, the slightly off balance of the same that give the impression of rocking in a boat and last but not least, the finely gradated dynamic levels.
Alex Pashkov
That is Great - damn,we lost so many things since he died...!One of the most interesting figures on a piano horizont - probably,we`ll never have somebody like him anymore...PITY!
SarrasaniPianoCircus
Great playing! We must ever remember of him and of Samson Francois when we speak about Chopin interpreters.
flugelmaniac
This is I think one of the most correct interpretations of this piece. Cortot captures the 'Italianate' style in his phrasing, something which is often not heard at all. Really nice!
Franco Riva
We love you cortot !!! Great pianist ; fantastic musician!!! Genius !!!