Olivier Latry

French organist Olivier Latry is one of the most distinguished concert organists in the world. One of three titular organists at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, he is also a professor of organ at the Paris Conservatory of Music, organist emeritus with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra in Canada, and the William T. Kemper artist in residence at the University of Kansas.

Latry performs regularly at venues such as the Berlin Philharmonie, Philharmonie de Paris, Disney Hall, San Francisco’s Davies Symphony Hall, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie, Philadelphia’s Verizon Hall, Leipzig’s Gewandhaus, Vienna’s Musikverein and Konzerthaus, Budapest’s Palace of Arts, London's Royal Festival and Royal Albert halls, Lucerne's Culture and Convention Centre, Tokyo's Suntory Hall, the Mariinsky Theatre, Moscow’s Zaryadye Hall, Rotterdam’s de Doelen, and Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall. He has appeared as a soloist with leading orchestras including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Berliner Philharmoniker, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Münchner Philharmoniker, Philharmonia Orchestra, Wiener Symphoniker, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, and the Orchestre National de France.

In addition to concerts and teaching, Latry has made many acclaimed recordings. His most recent releases include a recording of Couperin’s Messe des Couvents, recorded on the organ at the Chapelle Royale du Château de Versailles for Versailles Concerts, and “Live from Vienna,” recorded with Phil Blech Wien on the organ at the Musikverein in Vienna for Deutsche Grammophon. He also released two CDs on the La Dolce Volta label: a 2019 recording titled “Bach to the Future” (the last commercial recording made on the Notre Dame Cathedral organ before the devastating fire) and “Inspirations,” featuring works by Franz Liszt recorded on the organ at the Philharmonie de Paris. The latter was awarded the Liszt Society's Grand Prize in October 2022. In celebration of Latry’s 60th birthday, Deutsche Grammophon released a box set of 10 CDs including his complete recordings with the label, featuring works by Bach, Berlioz, Franck, Alkan, Liszt, Wagner, Mozart, Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, Messiaen, Florentz, and Escaich. Latry has also recorded Poulenc’s Concerto for Organ, Strings, and Timpani and Barber’s Toccata Festiva with the Philadelphia Orchestra, as well as Jongen’s Symphonie Concertante with the Liège Orchestra.

Latry is also an author. His book, “At the Organ of Notre-Dame” explores aspects of his life, teaching, and the organ of Notre Dame Cathedral. It is published by Dr. J. Butz Musikverlag in Bonn, Germany, and is available in English.

Born in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, in 1962, Latry began his musical studies there. 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. At the age of 23 he 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 succeeded 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 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, Latry has received many prestigious appointments, awards and honorary degrees including the Prix de la Fondation Cino et Simone Del Duca from the Institut de France—Académie des Beaux-Arts in 2000, as well as Honoris Causa fellowships from the North and Midlands School of Music in the U.K. in 2006 and from the U.K. Royal College of Organists 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. Latry was also artist-in-residence at the Dresdner Philharmonie for the 2021–22 season, a position he had held previously in 2017–2019. In 2022 he was named a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, and he was awarded the Danish Frobenius Prize.