A Lotta Scarlatti
Domenico Scarlatti was one of three major Baroque composers all born in 1685 (Handel and Bach being the others). Scarlatti and Handel became friends after an amicable competition was held in Rome when both were 23. Later, Scarlatti left Rome for Lisbon to educate the princess in keyboard performance. Apart from a brief return to Italy, Scarlatti remained at the Lisbon court (the princess eventually became queen), and wrote over 500 sonatas for her and the court’s enjoyment. He lived there until his death in 1757.
John Pitman has always enjoyed Scarlatti’s sonatas, as well as the “friendly dispute” between colleagues as to whom is the best interpreter. He was intrigued by the recent appearance of no fewer than three new CDs of these works by some very fine pianists: The Russian Igor Kamenz and the American, Orion Weiss (both recently performed in Portland), and the German Joseph Moog. Each approaches Scarlatti’s music with subtle differences, yet all are fine performances.
