D Scarlatti
Harpsichord Sonatas (A Man of Genius)
Francesco Corti (harpsichord)
Arcana A568 86:22 mins
Clip: D Scarlatti: Sonata K214 in D major – Allegro vivo (Francesco Corti)
What a resplendent panoply of Iberian colour emerges from Scarlatti’s breathtakingly original and unfailingly varied harpsichord sonatas. They comprise a microcosm of so much character that we traditionally associate with Spanish music; and none of it is lost in this fine recording by the Italian virtuoso, Francesco Corti. While less than a handful of the 16 sonatas that he has chosen enjoy frequent currency, the remainder may be unfamiliar to all but the real connoisseurs.
It has been perceptively observed that in his sonatas Scarlatti aimed at sounds distinct from their period, enriching them with an astonishingly wide expressive palette. Corti responds to their originality with playing that is unhurried, conversationally punctuated and which draws us in to the kinetic gesture of dance. So much is evidenced in the B flat Sonata, K249, while the percussive quality in the Sonatas K243 and K248 is realised with evocative aplomb. Hand-crossing is required for Sonatas K217 and K243, giving them an additional bravura aspect, but this is a comparatively infrequent occurrence in Scarlatti’s multi-faceted art, providing contrast with the introspective and intimate language of the Sonatas K208 and K213. The A minor Sonata, K217, on the other hand, is striking for its twitchy rhythm.
Setting the seal on an outstanding release is the bell-like clarity of Corti’s instrument by Philippe Humeau, after Italian models. The sound has been faithfully captured by the recording engineer and the imaginative cover features tarot-shaped playing cards of Scarlatti and his amiable employer and erstwhile pupil Maria Barbara, Princess of the Asturias. Nicholas Anderson