Search - Domenico Scarlatti, Elaine Thornburgh :: Scarlatti: Sonatas

Hands-down, Best Scarlatti Recording in History

04/18/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There have been a number of famous recordings of the harpsichord sonatas of Domenico Scarlatti - Ralph Kirkpatrick, Scott Ross, Gustav Leonhardt, Wanda Landowska, and Vladimir Horowitz at the piano. The American harpsichordist Elaine Thornburgh's recording not only takes its place among these, but far surpasses all of them in command of Scarlatti's unique style and absolute panache and spirit. A disciple of Alan Curtis and Gustav Leonhardt, Elaine Thornburgh understands Scarlatti like no other. She has the preciseness and Baroque spirit, plus a personal flair and fire that is indicative of her true understanding of the truly unique music of this most unusual and misunderstood composer. It is nice that she performs many of the sonatas in pairs and triptychs, as Scarlatti himself had most likely intended as evidenced in his harmonic patterns. Included is the famous K. 490-491-492 triptych in D, and the K. 263 and 264 pair in e and E. Furthermore, she performs on two Italian one-manual instruments by John Philips of Berkeley, who offers his musicological thoughts on the sonatas and Scarlatti's harpsichord in the helpful and well-written liner notes. It is a shame that this recording is not better known, for this CD heralds a new era in understanding the genius of Scarlatti - and the brilliance of Elaine Thornburgh."