Scarlatti, D: Keyboard Sonata K124 in G major

Trevor Pinnock, a global figure in the early music movement for more than thirty years, gives critically acclaimed performances of keyboard music by Scarlatti, Rameau, Greene, Arne and Handel.

‘The playing is first rate and the recording outstanding in its presence and clarity. There are few better anthologies of Scarlatti in the catalogue.’ Penguin Guide of Scarlatti

‘Pinnock chose a mellow instrument here, making his stylish, crisply rhythmic performances even more attractive. Excellent recording.’ Penguin Guide of Rameau

“For my first recording I wanted to conceive a recital programme that would be diverse yet coherent, encompassing different periods of the piano repertoire…..” So states Cathy Krier in the booklet accompanying this release and she lives up to her promise playing music by Chopin, Dutilleux, Scarlatti, Haydn and Mullenbach. Born in Luxemborg and at the start of a glittering career, Cathy Krier has already received international acclaim for the emotional subtlety and maturity of her playing.

The anonymous harpsichord used for these performances was built in Naples, the birthplace of Scarlatti, around 1710, and has been recorded here for the first time. It is the only remaining harpsichord with a gut register, known as “tiorbino”. Mathieu Dupouy studied at the Paris Conservatoire and has devoted himself to the harpsichord, clavichord and piano.

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.