Rating: 5/5
Review:
Exceptionally good
I thought Angela Hewitt's first CD of Scarlatti was
excellent. This, her second, is at least
as good and in some ways to me is better.
Hewitt has again made a careful selection from the abundance
of Scarlatti's sonatas, choosing seventeen which are varied in mood and
feel. She has grouped them into small
programmes of about five designed to be heard together, which works extremely
well. She even includes two specifically
because they are not too difficult so that listeners may be encouraged to try
to play them. (Without her notes, I
wouldn't have known which they are because there's no diminution in quality or
interest.) It's a very engaging
programme.
Hewitt plays quite superbly, I think. Technically, she is impeccable, of course,
and there is an elegance, thoughtfulness and an underlying love of this music
which is apparent throughout. The
opening two sonatas Kk 491 and 492, both in D major, held me spellbound on
first hearing; I don't think I've ever heard Scarlatti given such meaning or such
grace before. The whole disc is of
similar quality and has kept it through repeated listenings. It really is a magnificent performance, I
think.
The recorded sound is excellent and Hewitt's notes are as
full, scholarly and fascinating as always.
I have quite a lot of Scarlatti on both piano and harpsichord, much of
which I love, but I think if I had to choose a single disc to keep it would be
this one. It's exceptionally good and
very, very warmly recommended.
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