Olivier Fortin

Olivier Fortin began studying the harpsichord at age eight, graduating with distinction from the Québec Conservatory in 1995. He continued his training with Dom André Laberge, and received several scholarships for studies in Paris with Pierre Hantai and in Amsterdam with Bob van Asperen. In 1997 he was awarded top prizes at the Montreal Bach Competition and the Bruges Festival, and in 1998 he received the Capriccio Stravagante Prize. Olivier Fortin is a frequent grant recipient of the Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec.

He is increasingly esteemed as a soloist and chamber musician, touring and recording throughout Europe, the United States and Canada with Masques, Capriccio Stravagante, Opera Quarta, Tafelmusik, Chanticleer, the Studio de Musique Ancienne de Montreal, Les Voix Humaines, and Les Musiciens du Louvre.

Olivier Fortin's recording for 2 harpsichords, "Bach - Vivaldi: Concerti & Praeludia" with Skip Sempé (Astrée) received unanimous praise: "If you think of the harpsichord as an austere instrument, then think again - the sumptuousness of Sempé and Fortin's sound will take your breath away. This is one of the most exciting discs of Baroque music I have heard in a long time" (Stereophile). Most recently, Fortin has appeared in the Festivals of Berkeley, La Roque d’Antheron, Aldeburgh, Montreal Baroque, Music Before 1800 and the Frick Collection in New York, the Folle Journée in Nantes, Bilbao and Lisbon, and the Festival Bach de Lausanne.

Olivier Fortin’s ensemble Masques records for Analekta. He has also performed in recordings of Handel and Couperin with the Capriccio Stravagante Orchestra (Astrée), and of music of Matthew Locke with Masques (Dorian), a project initiated by the 1999 - 2000 Dorian - Early Music America Competition in which Masques was awarded first prize. Further recordings include French music for 2 harpsichords featured on "Versailles: L'Ile Enchantée" with the Capriccio Stravagante Orchestra (Alpha), Purcell with Chanticleer (Teldec) and "The Virgin Harpsichord" (Astrée), an anthology of Elizabethan virginal music with Skip Sempé and Pierre Hantaï.

Olivier Fortin teaches harpsichord and chamber music at the Conservatoire du Quebec.