Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)

Kate Molleson explores the life and music of Domenico Scarlatti


Domenico Scarlatti was well placed to build himself a glittering
career in the music business. He was prestigiously talented and
born into a family with powerful connections in the music
business. His home city of Naples was a major centre for the
fashionable new art form of opera. But there were challenges,
too. Competition was fierce and musicians often found their fates
helplessly tied to the fickle fortunes of their aristocratic
patrons. On top of all that, Domenico faced another, distinctly
personal, test to his career aspirations; he was working in the
shadow of a much more celebrated Scarlatti – his own father! It
would take several decades, and more than a few changes of
direction, before Domenico finally found his right path, becoming
one of the baroque period’s most significant composers. Today,
he’s rightly revered for the extraordinary catalogue of over 550
keyboard sonatas he left to posterity. This week, Kate Molleson
traces Scarlatti's story and looks at what else there is to
discover in his legacy alongside his celebrated keyboard works.


Music Featured:


Sonata in D, K 96 Sonata in Dm, K 9 Sonata in E, K 20 Antra,
valles, divo plaudeant Sinfonia in C Sinfonia in G Sonata in Am,
K 109 Sonata in A, K 279 Sonata in G, K 425 Amor d'un Ombra e
Gelosia d'un'aura (excerpts) O qual meco: Sinfonia & Aria,
‘Per che non dirmial meno’ Sonata in Dm, K 32 Sonata in C, K 308
Sonata in Gm, K196 Sonata in G, K 284 Messa breve 'La Stella':
Kyrie La Dirindina (extract from Scene 1) Sonata in D, K 443
Sonata in F, K 17 Stabat Mater Contesa della stagione: VIII.
‘Giorno felice’…‘Sia dolce e caro e grato’ Sonata in A, K 39
Sonata in A, K 208 Sonata in Am, K 175 Laetatus sum Sonata in Eb,
K 434 Sonata in Eb, K 475 Missa quatuor vocum, Gloria, Sanctus
& Benedictus, Agnus Dei Pur nel sonno almen tal’ora:
(extracts) Avison: Concerto grosso after Scarlatti, No. 5 in Dm
(extracts) Salve Regina in A Sonata in Cm, K11 Sonata in G, K547


Presented by Kate Molleson Produced by Johannah Smith


For full track listings, including artist and recording details,
and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after
broadcast) head to the series page for Domenico Scarlatti
(1685-1757) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001m56g


And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve
featured on Composer of the Week here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z