Customer Reviews

Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonatas

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This two-disc set received a great deal of praise when it was issued a few years ago, and with good reason: it is without question the most illuminating and ingenious recording of Scarlatti that I know (and I have heard hundreds of them). Although there is nothing "authentic" in this piano recording, in the sense of the pianist returning to original instruments or tuning, the listener does have the sense that Pletnev is connected to the origins of the music. Few people realize that Domenico Scarlatti was a little-known Italian court composer (his father wrotes operas) who went off to Iberia, and who subsequently gained inspiration from the folk music he heard in his exotic posting -- the sonatas are in many cases "translations" of the dances and songs of rural Portugal and Spain. That spirit, of song and rhythmic dance and compelling vocal lines, shines through in Pletnev's reading, in a way I have never heard with other performers. The experience of hearing these pieces is ultimately one of joy and revelation -- and it is as good on the 20th hearing as it is on the first! I've bought this set a dozen times over for friends ... doesn't that say something? An absolute classic.

Not much needs to be said. This set and the single disc by Mark Swartzentruber are two extremely fine piano collections of Scarlatti's wonderful sonatas. They both surpass even the justifiably classic Horowitz interpretations.

With performances at this level, it hardly matters what music is being played or what instrument it's on. The music unfolds as a completely fresh experience, even if one already knows all the notes as a player or listener. In a performance this great, every moment means something, and every moment leaves the immediate impression that the music could hardly go any other way (even if it's been surprising).

Pletnev takes bold liberties with the score, both in tempo fluctuations and in dynamics. "Anything goes" in the service of the expression, and it all arises directly and naturally out of the musical content; nothing seems pasted on or willful. No artificial colors or flavors. Thorough preparation, yet an improvisatory freedom. It sounds as if he's having a great time.

If you like this declamatory approach, you'll also like Swartzentruber, plus Enrico Baiano, Edward Parmentier, and Pierre Hantai on harpsichord.

Obviously these sonatas could also be played more strictly and objectively, for structure, but that's for others to do on some other day. Scarlatti's music is inventive enough that it works regardless of the approach. For the dramatic and directly communicative angle, full of intensity and joy and humor, it just doesn't get better than this.

Disc two was on the stereo at the mucic store last night and after hearing three pieces I quickly forgot what I had came to buy and got Pletnev's Scarlatti instead.

This is highly recommendable for all wanting to by a bunch of Scarlatti sonatas for good price played by one of the todays finest pianists. Great entertainment.

Pletnev is a pianist that just keeps surprising me. He is usually associated with the Romantics, Tchaikovsky and other mostly-Russian composers. But on this CD he shows his talent for interpretation of late-Baroque music. His technique is flawless, as always and his tone conveys all the intricacies of Scarlatti's music. Pletnev also adds a little warmths that makes the sonatas sound rich and humorous. This recording brings the sound of the archaic clavier to life!! Cheers to Mikhail Pletnev for another fine recording.

This is one of the first recordings of Scarlatti I acquired for my collection and if there are any abberent idiosyncrasies I am unaware of them. Everything sounds fine to me and I haven't noted any discrepancies in comparing these performances with the fine series from Naxos. However, I have found Pletnev's Bach rather odd as I do the Bach of Andras Schiff. Perhaps it is the result of individual teacher's passing down a slightly different tradition of playing or the pianists own research and studies. He can play the keyboard, no doubt of that. I find his performances very enjoyable. For those who don't know enough to know better than to enjoy. I might also recommend any of the recordings by Horowitz, Perahia or Pogorelich.

Everything ,according to Marcus Aurelius, is opinion. I suppose all pianistic translations of Scarlatti are opinions of some kind.

To date, I have CDs by Horowitz (wonderful), Pogorelich (brilliant) and Pletnev (beautiful). Note that all three are Russians. I wonder what the sound would be like from a Spanish pianist like De Larrocha; didn't she record some Scarlatti in the past? Her CDs of Granados and Albéniz are "sui generis" miracles.

The reason I mention Spanish pianists is that the 3 CDs mentioned above deal mostly with music below K400. The later sonatas tend to somewhat easier to play, but have a much more spanish flavor.

I am really entranced by Pletnev's control and his command of his instrument. This whole CD is a work of art

These are all 5 star (CD + pianist + music + composer)

Delivery incredibly fast. Product arrived in excellent conditions.
I will buy again and again from this seller.

If you like bizarre accents and distorted tempos to the point of recomposition--Pletnev's performance of K 404 is a perfect example--then you will love this album! Other works are fast, and that's all they are. K 113 is a case in point, played so quickly that one hears nothing of the dialogue of the hand-crossing.

It's not all bad--sometimes Pletnev's technique can show a new dimension that works as music--K 214 is a good example. And Pletnev does offer a nice variety, divided about 50/50 between same ol' and less familiar sonatas.

But I've listened to the album over 10 times and much of what struck me as new and exciting at first now just sounds weird and distorted. I recommend Ivo Pogorelich or Michael Lewin if you want to hear Scarlatti played well on piano.

There is another release of this exact same CD from Virgin Classics that is priced at only $11!!!! Look closely at the labels and save yourself the bucks. Otherwise, this is definitely a five star CD.