ABOUT
photo: Marc de Pierrefeu
“extremely sexy” -Gramophone
“truly prodigious readings” -Scherzo
“Entre profession de foi et feuillets intimes, ce disque maîtrisé, épanoui, très personnel, confirme les promesses d’une claveciniste dont la discrétion n’a d’égale que le tempérament.” -Diapason
Born in 1992 in Berkeley, California, LILLIAN GORDIS fell in love with the harpsichord at age 9 and never looked back. Five years later, Pierre Hantaï discovered her during a tour to the United States, and, captivated by her touch, he encouraged her to move to France for further studies. Lillian moved to Paris at 16, where she was mentored by Hantaï and Bertrand Cuiller.
Hailed as a “Martha Argerich of the harpsichord” (ResMusica), Lillian regularly performs as a soloist in festivals across Europe and the United States and plays frequently in a duo with Jérôme Hantaï.
Her most recent Bach recording, released in January 2026 on the label Artalinna, has received multiple awards from Télérama (TTTT), Diapason (5 forks), and Crescendo (10 stars), and wide critical acclaim (Le Figaro Magazine, France Musique, ClassicAgenda, Concert Classic, Scherzo...). Her first Bach album (Paraty Productions, 2022) was awarded a Diapason d’Or and received praise in the press worldwide (Gramophone, Scherzo, Crescendo, France Musique, American Record Guide, Fono Forum, Qobuz…). Her first solo recording, Zones (Paraty Productions, 2019) was entirely dedicated to the sonatas of Domenico Scarlatti.
Recent performing highlights include her debut at the Berkeley Festival, guest-directing Scottish ensemble Dunedin Consort for a tour in Edinburgh and Glasgow, a duo appearance at the Valletta Festival in Malta, an album release, and solo recitals across Europe and the United States. Upcoming recitals include appearances at the Théâtre de Caen, the Washington Bach Consort Chamber Series, and the Festival de Valloire. Lillian will also record world-premiere commissions of two works written for her by Nico Muhly and Cashel Day-Lewis as part of her John Bull complete In nomine cycle in Fall 2026.
Lillian has been Eaton Chair in Baroque Music at CU Boulder since Fall 2024, where she teaches harpsichord, directs the Baroque ensemble and curates the Eaton Historical Performance Series. In the 2023-24 academic year, she served as Visiting Assistant Professor of Harpsichord at Oberlin Conservatory. Lillian holds dual nationality with the United States and France and resides in Paris.
