Scarlatti: Complete Piano Sonatas, Vol. 14

Featuring

Christoph Ullrich
Domenico Scarlatti

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Recording & Production

Christoph Ullrich is recording all 555 of Domenico Scarlatti's harpsichord sonatas on a modern Steinway concert grand piano for this complete series.

Performer Biography

Christoph Ullrich, the pianist, is the Artistic Director of the 'Taschen-Oper-Companie' (Pocket Opera Company) and co-founder of the 'Ohrwurm-Projekt' (Catchy Tune Project), which combines children's concerts with teaching concepts.

Composition History

Domenico Scarlatti's one-movement sonatas were preserved in 15 manuscript volumes, mostly containing 30 sonatas each, compiled under his supervision during his lifetime.

Compositional Technique

Most of Domenico Scarlatti's sonatas are structured in two parts, each repeated, with the first part modulating and the second returning to the initial key.

Composition History

The 15 volumes of Domenico Scarlatti's sonatas were bequeathed by his patroness, Queen Maria Bárbara de Braganza, to the castrato Farinelli, who brought them to Bologna.

Interpretation

Christoph Ullrich, the pianist, has decided to play all repeats in this recording, viewing them as an opportunity for commentary, variation, and improvisation.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Domenico Scarlatti viewed the simple two-part sonata form as a creative challenge, using his imagination to reinvigorate its external framework in each work.