Robert Lortat

Robert Lortat (12 September 1885 – 5 May 1938) was a French pianist, well known in his native Paris and in other musical centres including London.

Ill health caused by German gas during the First World War restricted his post-war career and led to his early death at the age of 52.

[1] He studied at the Paris Conservatoire under Louis Diémer, whose other students included Alfred Cortot, Robert Casadesus and Alfredo Casella.

[4] In the first half of 1914 Lortat gave four lecture-recitals on Faure's music at the Université des Annales in Paris, and later repeated them in London, as well as performing the composer's complete piano works there as part of a "Fauré Festival" in which other performers included Leonora Speyer, Frank Bridge, Ivor James and the composer.

The critic Louis Vuillemin described him as "one of the most accomplished virtuosos of this period [with] unparalleled insights into Gabriel Fauré's piano works".