Abstract
As a musician dedicated to redefining the French interwar musical landscape, Cortot left a deep imprint on the development of the European as well as Romanian musical art and pedagogy. A versatile personality, a true artisan of multiple spheres – pianist, teacher, writer, politician –, Cortot was one of the most influential personalities of the musical art. This paper evokes his personality through the filter of his biographical data, of the writings about him, as well as through that of his activity as a teacher. Highlighting his personality is all the more necessary as the academic year 2019-2020 marked the joint 100th anniversary of the foundation of the two institutions: the “Gheorghe Dima” National Academy of Music and the École Normale de Musique de Paris, a prestigious institution founded by Cortot, where many pianists and teachers from Cluj received specialized training. As custodians of his teachings, they celebrate a noble lineage through their performances.
Keywords: Alfred Cortot, piano, École Normale de Musique, “Gheorghe Dima” National Academy of Music, centennial anniversary
DOI: 10.47809/MP.2020.35.02.04