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Athene

Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonatas / Joanna Leach

$14.99

Details

Composer
SCARLATTI, DOMENICO
Artist
Joanna Leach
Format
CD
Label
Athene
Released
Mar 01, 2006
Catalog #
ATH23025
UPC
809730302527

About

This disc fits into the semi-authentic category – that is, the instrument is from the past and is therefore authentic of its own period, but it is not specifically linked to the repertoire on the disc. The piano is Leach's own Stodhart square piano of 1823.

Leach's performances are characterised by clarity of thought and texture; they are intimate, measured, satisfying. Their neat musicality lacks the last grain of virtuosity. Many Scarlatti ‘favourites', such as Kk380 and Kk491 are to be found on the disc.

Some intellectual sleight of hand is usually necessary to link a period instrument contingently available with what is recorded, since the connection is by definition post hoc . In this case, one could easily argue that Scarlatti wrote demonstrably virtuosic, display pieces, and wrote them in a context of domestic performance (it is well known that his keyboard sonatas were principally written for Princess Maria Barbara of Portugal , who became Queen of Spain). The square piano clearly gives a suitably intimate sound, and its light action suits the rapidity of the notes. Great pianists of the past, such as Horowitz, who frequently programmed Scarlatti, themselves favoured light pianos.

As the booklet explains, Leach was originally a performer on modern pianos, but found period instruments suited her approach. The Athene label, which is now part of the Divine Art stable, was a way of setting down her distinctive and thoughtful interpretations, among which her Haydn and John Field are especially well regarded.

Good modern recorded sound, and Divine Art's usual crisp presentation. We also learn from the notes that Joanna Leach's long and distinguished career has been seriously threatened by illness; her determination to continue recording is all the more to be commended.

-- Ying Chang, Classical Pointers

Tracklist 16 tracks

  1. 1 Keyboard Sonata in B Minor, K.27/L.449/P.83 03:51
    Track
    1
    Title
    Keyboard Sonata in B Minor, K.27/L.449/P.83
    Duration
    03:51
    Composer
    Domenico Scarlatti
    Performer
    Joanna Leach
  2. 2 Keyboard Sonata in F Minor, K.466/L.118/P.501 05:42
    Track
    2
    Title
    Keyboard Sonata in F Minor, K.466/L.118/P.501
    Duration
    05:42
    Composer
    Domenico Scarlatti
    Performer
    Joanna Leach
  3. 3 Keyboard Sonata in C Major, K.461/L.8/P.324 04:31
    Track
    3
    Title
    Keyboard Sonata in C Major, K.461/L.8/P.324
    Duration
    04:31
    Composer
    Domenico Scarlatti
    Performer
    Joanna Leach
  4. 4 Keyboard Sonata in D Minor, K.1/L.366/P.57 03:03
    Track
    4
    Title
    Keyboard Sonata in D Minor, K.1/L.366/P.57
    Duration
    03:03
    Composer
    Domenico Scarlatti
    Performer
    Joanna Leach
  5. 5 Keyboard Sonata in A Minor, K.54/L.241/P.147 04:59
    Track
    5
    Title
    Keyboard Sonata in A Minor, K.54/L.241/P.147
    Duration
    04:59
    Composer
    Domenico Scarlatti
    Performer
    Joanna Leach
  6. 6 Keyboard Sonata in A Major, K.113/L.345/P.160 04:21
    Track
    6
    Title
    Keyboard Sonata in A Major, K.113/L.345/P.160
    Duration
    04:21
    Composer
    Domenico Scarlatti
    Performer
    Joanna Leach
  7. 7 Keyboard Sonata in F Minor, K.481/L.187/P.504 07:31
    Track
    7
    Title
    Keyboard Sonata in F Minor, K.481/L.187/P.504
    Duration
    07:31
    Composer
    Domenico Scarlatti
    Performer
    Joanna Leach
  8. 8 Keyboard Sonata in E Minor, K.198/L.22/P.132 03:29
    Track
    8
    Title
    Keyboard Sonata in E Minor, K.198/L.22/P.132
    Duration
    03:29
    Composer
    Domenico Scarlatti
    Performer
    Joanna Leach
  9. 9 Keyboard Sonata in A Major, K.208/L.238/P.315 04:02
    Track
    9
    Title
    Keyboard Sonata in A Major, K.208/L.238/P.315
    Duration
    04:02
    Composer
    Domenico Scarlatti
    Performer
    Joanna Leach
  10. 10 Keyboard Sonata in A Major, K.209/L.428/P.209 04:46
    Track
    10
    Title
    Keyboard Sonata in A Major, K.209/L.428/P.209
    Duration
    04:46
    Composer
    Domenico Scarlatti
    Performer
    Joanna Leach
  11. 11 Keyboard Sonata in D Major, K.491/L.164/P.484 05:35
    Track
    11
    Title
    Keyboard Sonata in D Major, K.491/L.164/P.484
    Duration
    05:35
    Composer
    Domenico Scarlatti
    Performer
    Joanna Leach
  12. 12 Keyboard Sonata in D Major, K.492/L.14/P.443 04:43
    Track
    12
    Title
    Keyboard Sonata in D Major, K.492/L.14/P.443
    Duration
    04:43
    Composer
    Domenico Scarlatti
    Performer
    Joanna Leach
  13. 13 Keyboard Sonata in D Minor, K.64/L.58/P.33 02:13
    Track
    13
    Title
    Keyboard Sonata in D Minor, K.64/L.58/P.33
    Duration
    02:13
    Composer
    Domenico Scarlatti
    Performer
    Joanna Leach
  14. 14 Keyboard Sonata in F-Sharp Minor, K.25/L.481/P.81 04:44
    Track
    14
    Title
    Keyboard Sonata in F-Sharp Minor, K.25/L.481/P.81
    Duration
    04:44
    Composer
    Domenico Scarlatti
    Performer
    Joanna Leach
  15. 15 Keyboard Sonata in D Minor, K.9/L.413/P.65 03:34
    Track
    15
    Title
    Keyboard Sonata in D Minor, K.9/L.413/P.65
    Duration
    03:34
    Composer
    Domenico Scarlatti
    Performer
    Joanna Leach
  16. 16 Keyboard Sonata in E Major, K.380/L.23/P.483 05:24
    Track
    16
    Title
    Keyboard Sonata in E Major, K.380/L.23/P.483
    Duration
    05:24
    Composer
    Domenico Scarlatti
    Performer
    Joanna Leach