Scarlatti, D: Keyboard Sonata K127 in A flat major

“The descriptions which have come down to us today about Scarlatti the performer are small in number, but revealing. When the Irish musician and composer Thomas Roseingrave was in Venice he was invited to perform in a musical academy. His listeners, having been delighted with one of his improvisations, persuaded a young man attired from head to foot in black to seat himself at the harpsichord. When this enigmatic young man began to play, Roseingrave “thought that ten hundred devils had been at the instrument”. The young man dressed in black was none other than Domenico Scarlatti. The image of the ten hundred Devils might suggest to us something akin to brutality. However, the Devil in music is none other than the one which can overcome inconceivable difficulties with an astonishing elegance. That Scarlatti was so acclaimed in Paris can only confirm for us that he was a delicate and exquisite performer. In endeavouring to keep myself at a distance from any other form of Devil, I have wanted, with this recording, to get close to a Scarlatti who sings, who feels and senses, and who plays, by preparing a little opera whose arias take the names of sonatas. Let us follow then these characters with attention across the differing scenes and the varying situations. Perhaps by this route we can discover that what words cannot say about Domenico Scarlatti.” Diego Ares

Rec.date: 2011

Reissue

A selection from the 600 sontas by Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757) that illustrate two facets of his musical personality.

CD1 depicts the genius of the composer – some of his greatest and most remarkable sonatas have been selected by Carbonara. These works illustrate the exploratory and innovative nature of the sonatas. CD2 gathers together a selection of sonatas that illustrate the gambler, or the reckless side of the composer. These sonatas are just as innovative as those on CD1, but there is a devil may care craziness to some of the music. These are dramatic extreme works that give some idea of the incredible technique Scarlatti possessed as a player, and of his remarkably fertile imagination.

2CDs of Scarlatti sonatas containing some unknown and rarely recorded works.

New recordings made in 2009.

Extensive booklet essay by the artist on each sonata.

Carbonara has recorded Ravel’s complete piano music for Brilliant Classics, and a CD of piano music by Nino Rota. He studied with Andreas Staier, Alicia de Larrocha and Leon Fleischer.