Olivier Latry

Biography: Olivier Latry

French organist Olivier Latry is one of the most distinguished concert organists in the world today. One of three titular organists at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris, he is also Professor of Organ at the Paris Conservatory of Music, Organist Emeritus with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra in Canada, Artist in Residence at the Dresdner Philharmonie for the 2021-2022 season, the William T. Kemper Artist in Residence at the University of Kansas until 2024, and he maintains a full schedule of concert performances appearing regularly as a soloist at prestigious venues and festivals, and with leading orchestras around the world.

Having performed in more than fifty countries on five continents, Mr. Latry does not want to specialize in any specific repertoire, but rather wishes to explore all styles of organ music, as well as the art of improvisation. Mr. Latry has inaugurated many significant concert hall organs around the world, including Verizon Hall (Philadelphia USA), The Palace of the Arts (Budapest, Hungary), and The Musikverein (Vienna, Austria), and La Maison Symphonique (Montréal, Canada). He also performed a concert as part of the inaugural concert series at the Royal Festival Hall in London (UK) and took part at the inaugural concert at the Philharmonie de Paris. At the turn of the twenty-first century, to celebrate Olivier Messiaen as one of the greatest composers of the 20^th century, he performed three complete cycles (six recitals each) of Messiaen’s organ music, at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris, the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in New York City and St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.

In addition to concerts and teaching, Mr. Latry has made many acclaimed recordings. His most recent releases include two CDs on the la Dolce Volta label: a 2019 recording entitled “Bach to the Future” (the last commercial recording made of the Notre-Dame Cathedral organ before the devastating fire), and the most recent release in 2021 entitled “Inspirations” which features works by Franz Liszt recorded on the organ at the Philharmonie de Paris. In celebration of Mr. Latry’s 60^th birthday, Deutsche Grammophon is releasing a box of ten CDs which will include his complete recordings with the label (Bach, Berlioz, Franck, Alkan, Liszt, Wagner, Mozart, Rachmaninov, Prokofiev, Messiaen, Florentz, and Escaich). Mr. Latry has also recorded the Poulenc Concerto and the Barber Toccata Festiva with the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Jongen Symphonie Concertante with the Liège Orchestra.

Mr. Latry was born in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, in 1962 where he began his musical studies. He later attended the Academy of Music at St. Maur-des-Fossés, studying organ with Gaston Litaize. From 1981 to 1985 he was titular organist of Meaux Cathedral, and at the age of 23 won the competition to become one of the three titular organists of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris along with Philippe Lefebvre and Jean-Pierre Leguay; the three of them succeeding Pierre Cochereau. In 1990 he succeeded his teacher, Gaston Litaize, as organ professor at the Academy of Music at St. Maur-des-Fossés, and then subsequently in 1995 was appointed Professor of Organ at the Paris Conservatory where he continues to teach today along with his distinguished colleague, Thomas Ospital.

In recognition of his distinguished work in the field of organ performance and teaching, Mr. Latry has received many prestigious awards and honorary degrees including the Prix de la Fondation Cino et Simone Del Duca (Institut de France–Académie des Beaux-Arts) in 2000, and “Honoris Causa” Fellowships from the North and Midlands School of Music (UK) in 2006, and from the Royal College of Organists (UK) in 2007. He was also presented the International Performer of the Year award by the New York City chapter of the American Guild of Organists in April 2009 and received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from McGill University in Montreal Canada in 2010.