Loris Mittaz: The Swiss Pianist Transforming Adversity into Art
A prodigious talent from the Swiss Alps, Loris Mittaz is captivating audiences with his innovative compositions and breathtaking performances, proving that artistic vision can flourish even in the face of significant challenges.
At 24, the pianist from Chermignon has rapidly ascended the music scene, garnering acclaim for both his technical skill and his deeply emotive artistry. His journey is a testament to the power of resilience and the transformative potential of music.
Finding Harmony in Darkness
Mittaz’s story resonates with the poignant perspective offered by the legendary Ray Charles, who once observed, “I’m blind, but you always find someone more unfortunate than you… I could have been black.” This quote, highlighting the relativity of suffering, mirrors Mittaz’s own experience. Approaching his tenth birthday, Mittaz began to lose his sight, a devastating blow for a young boy deeply passionate about football. “In my family, we were all football fans! My father, my two brothers and me. I saw myself as a footballer, until I noticed that my eyesight was getting worse and worse. It was very hard for me to give up football,” he recalls.
His mother, a former saxophone player, recognized the need for a new outlet and intuitively steered him towards music. “My guys were all football, football, football,” she shared. “I had the intuition to offer my son music, and more precisely the piano, as a diversion from the dirty tricks of life… I had taught him a few melodies on a little children’s keyboard, so, when I bought him a real instrument, we also found a piano teacher for him.”
The film Intouchables, with its powerful soundtrack, proved to be a pivotal moment. “I had a click while going to the cinema,” Mittaz explained. “I loved the soundtrack of the film! I said to myself: one day, I will know how to interpret it. And I took up the challenge.” He and his first piano teacher focused heavily on film music, allowing him to build a world of imagery within his mind.
From EJMA to a Unique Voice
Driven to expand his horizons, Mittaz enrolled at the EJMA (School of Jazz and Current Music) in Sierre. Despite lacking formal music theory knowledge, he thrived under the guidance of dedicated instructors. “I knew nothing about music theory, even though I already had a good level on the piano, but there, I found teachers who made me a young performer and composer with a future ahead of him.”
He quickly embraced both improvisation and composition, developing a distinctive style. “I love the process of composition, because I have to start by forming images in my head. I mix feeling, touch, smells,” he described. This approach led to the formation of Moodjo, a group that allowed him to tour regionally and secure an artist residency in Port-Franc (Sion).
A Rising Star on the Swiss Stage
A performance at the Crans-Ambassador Hotel proved to be a turning point, catching the attention of Gérard Bagnoud, then president of Crans-Montana Classics. This led to an invitation to perform at the festival, an experience Mittaz described as both exhilarating and isolating: “I played in front of more than 300 people gathered in a chapel and I felt amazing, and paradoxically alone in the world, a unique feeling…”
A collaboration with actor and videographer Anthony Vuignier further propelled his career. The pair embarked on a striking music video project, filming in unconventional locations across the Swiss landscape. “I had already played in crazy places… And then, Anthony’s film transformed me into an adventurer. I played in the cold and in the wind, at the Plaine-Morte glacier. At La Tièche, I felt my music in perfect resonance with the waterfall.”
A Parisian Debut and Future Aspirations
Fueled by the support of his community, Mittaz traveled to Paris to record his debut album, a collection of original compositions performed with a 22-piece string orchestra. The project was championed by pianist Sofiane Pamart, who encouraged him to fully embrace his artistic potential. “He told me: “You have to bring out everything you have in you if you want to truly live your life!” It was a fantastic boost,” Mittaz recalled. The album was previewed at the Théâtre du Baladin in Savièse on October 18th.
Looking ahead, Mittaz harbors ambitious dreams, including a performance on the Tseuzier dam and a show at the legendary Stravinsky stage at the Montreux Jazz Festival. He is also pursuing a medical massage certification, currently completing a 40% internship at the Geneva Clinic with plans for a federal diploma by 2026. “Two activities that prevent me from being overwhelmed with music and further increase my absolute taste for freedom,” he concluded.
Loris Mittaz’s story is a powerful reminder that creativity knows no bounds, and that even in the face of adversity, the human spirit can find a way to soar.
