Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Evgeny Zarafiants: Domenico Scarlatti: Complete Keyboard...

533

Evgeny Zarafiants: Domenico Scarlatti: Complete Keyboard Sonatas, Vol. 6

By

Sign in to view read count
Evgeny Zarafiants: Domenico Scarlatti: Complete Keyboard Sonatas, Vol. 6
In the Twentieth Century, it was the prominent pianists from the former Eastern Bloc who championed the cause of Domenico Scarlatti and his Keyboard Sonatas. Russians Vladimir Horowitz, Emil Gilels, Nikolai Demidenko and Mikhail Pletnev, Hungarians Bela Bartok and Andreas Schiff, Romanian Dinu Lipatti and Croatian Ivo Pogoreli, they all recorded Scarlatti sonatas on piano in the late 20th and early 21st Centuries. Joining this group is Novosibirsk-native Evgeny Zarafiants with his Volume 6 to Naxos' Complete Keyboard Sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti.

Zarafiants approach to Scarlatti is most comparable to Jeno Jando's Volume 3 in this series. Zarafiants introduces his collections with sprightly played sonatas that sound as if recorded on the harpsichord or pianoforte. This is best heard on the Sonata in E major, "K.135," marked "allegro" (and a very brisk allegro it is). His articulation is more precise than Horowitz with equal force and power.

Zarafiants transforms other sonatas, such as the Sonata in G major, "K.259," marked "andante" and Sonata in F major, "K.419," marked "Presto" drawing from them performances as if the music were composed yesterday. The pianist perfect casts Scarlatti's "nursery rhyme" melodies as in Sonata in G major, "K.169," marked "allegro" and Sonata in C major, "K.502," marked "Allegro."

Sonata in F major, "K.19" marked "Allegro" is played romantically as if Scarlatti were seeing beyond the Baroque horizon and past Classicism. The most contemplative piece is the Sonata in C sharp minor, "K.247," marked "Allegro" (perhaps a slow one). Scarlatti's use of color is well served by Zarafiants, who endeavors to uncover all shades.

The Naxos Scarlatti series is uniformly fine. It is difficult to assign superiority to any one recording in the series. Evgeny Zarafiants makes a compelling musical argument for his Volume 6.

Track Listing

Sonata in E major, K.135/L.224/P.234: Allegro; Sonata in A major, K.429/L.132/P.132: Allegro; Sonata in D major, K.478/L.12/P.503: Andante cantabile; Sonata in G major, K.169/L.331/P.247: Allegro; Sonata in G major, K.259/L.103/P.469: Andante; Sonata in C major, K.502/L.3/P.408: Allegro; Sonata in F major, K.419/L.279/P.524: Presto; Sonata in F major, K.19/L.383/P.75: Allegro; Sonata in B flat major, K.112/L.298/P.94: Allegro; Sonata in E flat major, K.123/L.111/P.180: Allegro; Sonata in F major, K.274/L.297/P.491: Andante; Sonata in A major, K.405/L.43/P.436: Allegro; Sonata in F sharp major, K.318/L.31/P.302: Andante; Sonata in F sharp minor, K.67/L.32/P.125: Allegro; Sonata in C sharp minor, K.247/L.256/P.297: Allegro; Sonata in G major, K.63/L.84/P.32: Allegro; Sonata in G major, K.63/L.84/P.32: Allegro.

Personnel

Evgeny Zarafiants: piano.

Album information

Title: Domenico Scarlatti: Complete Keyboard Sonatas, Vol. 6 | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Naxos

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.