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Domenico Scarlatti: Piano Sonatas

2015Berlin Classics0300603BC

Works by Domenico Scarlatti

For her second solo album on Berlin Classics, Claire Huangci turns to Domenico Scarlatti, selecting 39 of the composer's 555 sonatas and presenting them in Baroque suites and Classical sonatas — illustrating Scarlatti's pivotal position in the transition from one era to the next. On the first disc, Huangci groups selected sonatas as if they were the movements of three imagined, full-length Baroque suites: an opening movement (prelude or toccata), followed by allemande, courante, sarabande and gigue, with additional intermezzo movements such as bourrées, passepieds, gavottes and minuets. On the second disc she instead groups mostly sets of three sonatas to form typical (fast–slow–fast) three-movement Classical sonatas, in expression, in harmonic modulation and particularly in compositional structure (exposition, development, recapitulation). The double album won the German Record Critics' Award (Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik) and Gramophone Editor's Choice. Huangci's own booklet notes are insightful and often humorously anecdotal, tracing how her Baroque training and a subconscious affinity led her to Scarlatti.

Press

It's gratifying to have followed Huangci's progression from a teenage prodigy to a mature artist of stature. I cannot imagine more imaginatively conceived and exquisitely realised Scarlatti playing on the modern piano than this.

After her debut with a Russian transcription programme, Claire Huangci now presents a well-conceived Scarlatti double album that deserves no less attention and applause than her debut. She does brilliant justice to the slender elegance of these sonatas — a genuine alternative to comparable top-rank Scarlatti interpretations such as those by Pogorelich and Tipo, Schiff or Zacharias. Music 4.5/5, Sound 4/5.

Ingo Harden, Fono Forum, 2015

Claire Huangci's new album is a valuable contribution to the reception of Scarlatti on the modern concert grand. Throughout, one hears her bubbling joy of playing, while she preserves an airy lightness that brings out the dance-like, playful forms beautifully. Interpretation 4/4, Sound 4/4.

Thomas Gehrig, Klassik.com, 2015

Throughout the entire Scarlatti journey Claire Huangci moves with infectious élan, with a feel for the delicate and the passionate. The sensual and intellectual pleasure of this Scarlatti experiment is in no way diminished. 4/5 stars.

Guido Fischer, Rondo, 2015

With ease and at times very rapid tempo the pianist plays this 'repertoire of her heart'. Bubbling joy of playing shines through in the faster movements. Claire Huangci succeeds in bringing us closer to these mischievous, virtuoso and profound masterworks in her own very personal way.

Anja Renczikowski, Piano News, 2015

An ingenious recording of Scarlatti's sonatas — as ingenious as it is convincing. Huangci has the ideal sound and the necessary fizz for this wonderful music that shifts between Baroque and early Classical. Scarlatti and Huangci: this seems to be becoming a new dream pairing.

Wilfried Schäper, Radio Bremen, 2015

Played with verve and a sure touch. Domenico Scarlatti's sonatas are little masterpieces — sometimes profound, sometimes playfully virtuosic — and when they are interpreted with as much verve and fingertip sensitivity as by Claire Huangci, listening becomes a real pleasure.

Klaus Gehrke, Deutschlandfunk, 2015

Many pianists have recorded Scarlatti sonatas. But no one has put together their selection as sensitively as Claire Huangci. The American pianist presents Scarlatti's music with such joy of playing that even simple scales and broken triads guarantee great listening pleasure.

Meinolf Bunsmann, hr2 kultur, 2015

Huangci grouped the sonatas by key into suites… she presents polished, perfect and refined results. The format shrinks a little, but the focus sits better: the music lies before us in all its clarity — and remains alive nonetheless. That convinces. Very much so. I recommend it.

Heinz Gelking, Image HiFi, 2015

The pianist brilliantly understands how to deploy the tonal possibilities of a modern Yamaha grand through the finest dynamic gradations and dance-like elegance, and shapes the changing characters in a vivid, suggestive way. Rarely has Scarlatti sounded so fresh and so experimentally modern.

Attila Csampai, HiFi & records, 2015

Tracklist

  1. 1
    Scarlatti: Sonata in G major, K. 13Presto
    4:07
  2. 2
    Scarlatti: Sonata in G major, K. 124Allegro
    2:31
  3. 3
    Scarlatti: Sonata in G major, K. 125Vivo
    2:02
  4. 4
    Scarlatti: Sonata in G major, K. 144Cantabile
    4:46
  5. 5
    Scarlatti: Sonata in G major, K. 454Andante spiritoso
    2:18
  6. 6
    Scarlatti: Sonata in G major, K. 470Allegro
    2:53
  7. 7
    Scarlatti: Sonata in G major, K. 284Allegro
    1:52
  8. 8
    Scarlatti: Sonata in G minor, K. 450Allegrissimo
    3:21
  9. 9
    Scarlatti: Sonata in G minor, K. 4Allegro
    3:25
  10. 10
    Scarlatti: Sonata in G minor, K. 76Presto
    2:03
  11. 11
    Scarlatti: Sonata in G minor, K. 8Allegro
    4:17
  12. 12
    Scarlatti: Sonata in G minor, K. 35Allegro
    2:22
  13. 13
    Scarlatti: Sonata in G minor, K. 31Allegro
    1:59
  14. 14
    Scarlatti: Sonata in G minor, K. 108Allegro
    2:26
  15. 15
    Scarlatti: Sonata in G minor, K. 476Allegro
    3:09
  16. 16
    Scarlatti: Sonata in D major, K. 435Allegro
    3:10
  17. 17
    Scarlatti: Sonata in D major, K. 140Allegro non molto
    3:58
  18. 18
    Scarlatti: Sonata in D minor, K. 32Aria
    2:31
  19. 19
    Scarlatti: Sonata in D major, K. 491Allegro
    2:33
  20. 20
    Scarlatti: Sonata in D major, K. 490Cantabile
    5:46
  21. 21
    Scarlatti: Sonata in D major, K. 397Minuet
    2:35
  22. 22
    Scarlatti: Sonata in D major, K. 278Con velocità
    2:25
  23. 23
    Scarlatti: Sonata in E major, K. 206Andante
    4:57
  24. 24
    Scarlatti: Sonata in A major, K. 322Allegro
    2:57
  25. 25
    Scarlatti: Sonata in E major, K. 135Allegro
    3:58
  26. 26
    Scarlatti: Sonata in F major, K. 518Allegro
    4:42
  27. 27
    Scarlatti: Sonata in D minor, K. 213Andante
    3:44
  28. 28
    Scarlatti: Sonata in F major, K. 6Allegro
    2:24
  29. 29
    Scarlatti: Sonata in A minor, K. 175Allegro
    3:41
  30. 30
    Scarlatti: Sonata in F major, K. 296Andante
    5:10
  31. 31
    Scarlatti: Sonata in A minor, K. 61
    2:44
  32. 32
    Scarlatti: Sonata in D major, K. 443Allegro
    4:46
  33. 33
    Scarlatti: Sonata in A major, K. 208Andante e cantabile
    3:44
  34. 34
    Scarlatti: Sonata in D major, K. 29Presto
    4:49
  35. 35
    Scarlatti: Sonata in G major, K. 260Allegro
    5:41
  36. 36
    Scarlatti: Sonata in G minor, K. deest
    2:46
  37. 37
    Scarlatti: Sonata in G major, K. 146
    3:05
  38. 38
    Scarlatti: Sonata in G major, K. 427Presto, quanto sia possibile
    2:13
  39. 39
    Scarlatti: Sonata in C major, K. 513Pastorale. Moderato - Molto allegro - Presto
    2:49