Richard Fortin

RICHARD FORTIN

Juno and Gemini nominee Richard Fortin is an accomplished composer, arranger, and producer whose work encompasses a broad spectrum of musical production that includes television, films and studio recordings.

Richard Fortin wrote music for Alliance Atlantis and he is also a recipient of 2 Gold albums from Sony and Universal as well as 4 awards from the U.S. for his music for films. His symphonic works have been performed in South, Central and North America. He has worked with internationally acclaimed musicians such as Michael Kamen, David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, Chet Atkins, Zamfir, Ray Cooper (percussionist for Madonna) and Alex Lifeson (Rush). He also worked on the album "Persona" featuring Eric Clapton and Yo Yo Ma.

Among others, Richard Fortin produced Liona Boyd (Camino Latino), Patricia O'Callaghan and Elaine Overholt who was vocal trainer for Richard Gere and Renee Zellweiger in "Chicago". Liona Boyd has recorded some of his music on her albums: Persona, Encore, The Spanish Guitar, Dancing on the Edge and Camino Latino on which his music was performed by prestigious guitarists Steve Morse of Deep Purple and the legendary Al DiMeola.

The highlight of the evening turned out to be three pieces by composer Richard Fortin. The first one,"The Capricious Bird", was full of delightful programmatic effects.
Gaynor Jones Calgary Star

This music was brilliantly clever.with a flavor of impressionism, but quite virtuosic-real display pieces for Liona Boyd and the guitar.
The Murray Ledger & Times

Fortin's Concerto is a pictorial pastiche of South American imagery and mood. The piece was,in Klein's words, "wonderfully atmospheric". Fortin's orchestration required the PSO to sound, by turns, like a jaunty ensemble of Andean flutes, pipes and strummed instruments; a Latin percussion band; and a sumptuous,full-bodied symphony.
Cheryl North San Mateo County Times

The concerto proved to be a colorful, dramatic and evocative work that was a joy to hear from first note to last. There are also sumptuous passages of tone-painting that ravish the ear.
William R. Trotter Special to the Greensboro News and Record

His work was full of heart-felt melodies and dance rhythms and utilized the richest and lushest orchestral palette since Ottorino Respighi. This work was a crowd-pleaser from start to finish.The piece recalled Joaquin Rodrigo's Fantasia para un gentilhombre but Fortin's lush,cinematic,pull-out-all-the-stops style reminded most listeners near me of Respighi on a good day. From start to finish this concerto brimmed with lyrical melodies,gorgeous atmospheric effects and infectious rhythms.
Seth Williamson Special to the Roanoke Times & World News