Customer Reviews

Teatro Imaginario

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A harpsichordist friend, with several well-recieved recordings of his own, practically begged me to get this CD, saying it was simply the best Scarlatti he'd heard, on the harpsichord or off. I'd thought he was going way overboard... until I heard it. While I'm not ready to cast away my Horowitz yet, this is in a similar league, as pure music-making.

Rarely have I encountered a performer so at one with her instrument (which is *amazingly* well recorded) and her material. Mathews' playing has both a transparency and a a 'bite' which is difficult to render into words. It's the very opposite of glib, if that makes any sense.

The selection of works is off-beat, which is a huge plus. There are a few of the chestnuts which everyone seems to play, but most of the album seems to be a highly personal choice. Certainly the best CD I've purchased in the last year, and probably longer.

This CD is a gem. The playing is intelligent, well-structured and personal,the music making is imbued with the most wonderful sense of timing and nuance, moving freely within the strict formal boundaries of this music. Music-making which is scenic, declamatory and energetic.

When you hear this record, you're led to ask "Just where has Patrice Mathews been?" A bit of snooping (including the VGO recordings web site) indicates this is her first commercial recording. It shows, and in the very best sense: Mathews' assured, astute and 'deep' playing reflects decades of probing and familiarity with Scarlatti, in all his range and passion. Unlike so many virtuosos who regard Scarlatti as a Poor Person's Bach, or whip it into a frenzy to get it to work on the piano, Mathews' razor-sharp inflections and glassy evenness -- one is led to compare her with Argerich here -- let each work emerge on its own terms.

This is not to say her playing exhibits a one-size-fits-all approach. Rather the opposite: her range is literally astonishing. From the kaleidoscopic, ebullient jangle of the opening work and D major allegro, to the wintry landscape of the F# minor, to the almost bleak contours of the D minor andante, to (perhaps my favorite) the irrepressible quirkiness of the C major allegro, one is aware of a great artistic presence, with a technique perfectly matched to its instrument.

If your idea of Scarlatti is Horowitz and Pletnev, you owe it to yourself to hear this very special recording, which is, if there is any justice in the music world, destined for fame. Highly, highly recommended.

A friend gave me this, after hearing about it on a forum and reading the review by David Hurwitz at ClassicsToday.com, because I have been not very Scarlatti-friendly when it's played on a harpsichord.

I have to admit it changed my mind, at least for this CD. This is playing that is not only sharply brilliant where it should be but is also expressively reflective in other sections, something that rarely works on harpsichord (usually so clangy!).
There is a beauty of sound in Scarlatti's quieter moments that can glow more on a harpsichord when played as it is on this CD than when heard on a piano. But I love Horowitz's playing of Scarlatti too.

Domenico was a quirky composer with a less-known dreamer side to him. Mathews (who is she?) shows us how richly complex his music was. A thought-filled performance with some knock 'm dead playing too. The sound they produced is excellent, clean with very good presence. Thanks to my friend for this gift!

Dazzling performances! The closely miked sound is full and rich, as if one were seated at the keyboard of the wonderful John Phillips Italian harpsichord. This is one of only a handful of CDs I would want with me if I were stranded on a desert island.

I give it 6 stars!

Ms. Mathews' rendition of these Scarlatti Sonatas is delightfully expressive! With its supple rhythmic vitality, sense of musical gesture, wide ranging emotional pallete,TEATRO IMAGINARIO has finesse. These are visceral interpretations not to be missed, a recording for the connoisseur and the uninitiated alike.

Patrice Mathews doesn't just play the keyboard, she paints these sonatas in a rich palette of colors, textures, and lighting. It is a delight to listen to. I played several selections for my elementary school music students to expose them to the sound of the harpsichord. They were captivated with the vivid intensity of this recording. Everything about it is a joy. Thank you, Patrice, for sharing your musical vision with us. We look forward to hearing more from you.

Patrice Mathews makes these difficult Scarlatti pieces seem effortless. I have been cured of the common misconception that harpsichord music lacks feeling. The instrument, composer, and performer come together here for something truly enjoyable.

I'm not one to listen to a lot of harpsichord music, but here is one fine exception. I found the Scarlatti Sonatas musically varied, and Ms. Mathews demonstrates this variety with style. I especially appreciated the Presto in A Major (first tract) for its exceptional energy and creativity. This CD, as a whole, shows a more introspective side to Scarlatti, as opposed to the usual mechanistic virtuosity of other similar recordings.