Domenico Scarlatti: Piano Sonatas
Works by Domenico Scarlatti
Awards & critic picks
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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
Tracklist
- 1Scarlatti: Sonata in G major, K. 13 — Presto4:07
- 2Scarlatti: Sonata in G major, K. 124 — Allegro2:31
- 3Scarlatti: Sonata in G major, K. 125 — Vivo2:02
- 4Scarlatti: Sonata in G major, K. 144 — Cantabile4:46
- 5Scarlatti: Sonata in G major, K. 454 — Andante spiritoso2:18
- 6Scarlatti: Sonata in G major, K. 470 — Allegro2:53
- 7Scarlatti: Sonata in G major, K. 284 — Allegro1:52
- 8Scarlatti: Sonata in G minor, K. 450 — Allegrissimo3:21
- 9Scarlatti: Sonata in G minor, K. 4 — Allegro3:25
- 10Scarlatti: Sonata in G minor, K. 76 — Presto2:03
- 11Scarlatti: Sonata in G minor, K. 8 — Allegro4:17
- 12Scarlatti: Sonata in G minor, K. 35 — Allegro2:22
- 13Scarlatti: Sonata in G minor, K. 31 — Allegro1:59
- 14Scarlatti: Sonata in G minor, K. 108 — Allegro2:26
- 15Scarlatti: Sonata in G minor, K. 476 — Allegro3:09
- 16Scarlatti: Sonata in D major, K. 435 — Allegro3:10
- 17Scarlatti: Sonata in D major, K. 140 — Allegro non molto3:58
- 18Scarlatti: Sonata in D minor, K. 32 — Aria2:31
- 19Scarlatti: Sonata in D major, K. 491 — Allegro2:33
- 20Scarlatti: Sonata in D major, K. 490 — Cantabile5:46
- 21Scarlatti: Sonata in D major, K. 397 — Minuet2:35
- 22Scarlatti: Sonata in D major, K. 278 — Con velocità2:25
- 23Scarlatti: Sonata in E major, K. 206 — Andante4:57
- 24Scarlatti: Sonata in A major, K. 322 — Allegro2:57
- 25Scarlatti: Sonata in E major, K. 135 — Allegro3:58
- 26Scarlatti: Sonata in F major, K. 518 — Allegro4:42
- 27Scarlatti: Sonata in D minor, K. 213 — Andante3:44
- 28Scarlatti: Sonata in F major, K. 6 — Allegro2:24
- 29Scarlatti: Sonata in A minor, K. 175 — Allegro3:41
- 30Scarlatti: Sonata in F major, K. 296 — Andante5:10
- 31Scarlatti: Sonata in A minor, K. 612:44
- 32Scarlatti: Sonata in D major, K. 443 — Allegro4:46
- 33Scarlatti: Sonata in A major, K. 208 — Andante e cantabile3:44
- 34Scarlatti: Sonata in D major, K. 29 — Presto4:49
- 35Scarlatti: Sonata in G major, K. 260 — Allegro5:41
- 36Scarlatti: Sonata in G minor, K. deest2:46
- 37Scarlatti: Sonata in G major, K. 1463:05
- 38Scarlatti: Sonata in G major, K. 427 — Presto, quanto sia possibile2:13
- 39Scarlatti: Sonata in C major, K. 513 — Pastorale. Moderato - Molto allegro - Presto2:49
