Cortot, Alfred (Denis) (1877-1962)

French pianist and conductor. After serving as a répétiteur (tutor) in Bayreuth, Germany, he founded the Société des Festivals Lyriques in Paris, France, and conducted the first performance in France of Wagner's Götterdämmerung in 1902. In addition to his continuous activity as a pianist and conductor he gave many lectures on piano technique and interpretation and collected a valuable library of rare works.

He studied at the Paris Conservatory, where he gained the premier prix in 1896. In 1905 he formed a piano trio with Jacques Thibaud and Pablo Casals. From 1907 to 1917 he taught at the Paris Conservatory and in 1918 was joint founder of the École Normale de Musique. He was charged with Nazi collaboration in 1944.