Organist of Notre-Dame guests at the Philharmonie Berlin

Olivier Latry is a titular (chief) organist of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris and one of the leading virtuosos on his instrument – also as a master of improvisation and registration. He himself describes the profession’s demands as follows: “An interpreter, whose imaginative powers should be unlimited, orchestrates the music and explores its colours. In that pursuit, it is difficult to find the right balance between one's own emotions and the composer's style and message, which are not to be altered.” The French organist, born in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, entered Gaston Litaize’s class at the Conservatoire of Saint-Maur-des-Fossés in 1978. At the age of 18 he became organist of the Cathedral of Saint-Étienne in Meaux, and at 23 he won the competition for one of the three titular organist positions at Notre-Dame de Paris, which he still holds. Latry’s international career as a concert organist has taken him to more than 50 countries on five continents. Since his memorable appearance at the 1988 American Guild of Organists convention in Houston, he has made frequent tours of North America and ranks among the most popular organists in the US and Canada. In 1990, Latry succeeded his teacher Gaston Litaize as organ professor at Saint-Maur-des-Fossés. Three years later he was appointed to that post at the Paris Conservatoire, where he continues to train the new generation of international organists.