Search - Horowitz, Scarlatti :: Celebrated Scarlatti Recordings

Horowitz's Sparkling Scarlatti is Beyond Perfection

Hank Drake | Cleveland, OH United States | 01/19/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Volume Two of Sony's reissue of the Complete Columbia Masterworks Recordings of Vladimir Horowitz contains the pianist's legendary all Domenico Scarlatti album, his fourth recording for Columbia. His first three Columbia LPs (Volume One) had been mixed composer recitals, and were strong sellers. By 1964, Horowitz had enough clout to record whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. Although Columbia marketing executives weren't thrilled with the prospect of promoting an all-Scarlatti record, Horowitz's producer, Tom Frost, asserted (rightly) that "Horowitz could play the C-major scale and it would sell."Horowitz had recorded Scarlatti before, beginning with the Scarlatti-Tausig Cappriccio in 1928. But, by the 1960s, Horowitz was increasingly concerned about the authenticity of printed editions of Scarlatti's music. He was well aware that the printed editions he (and everyone else) had been using for decades had been altered by Alessandro Longo, who changed dynamics and ornamentation. So, he consulted with scholar Ralph Kirkpatrick (whose book on Scarlatti is considered by many to be the "Bible" on the Italian composer) and spent a great deal of time researching the correct performing style for Scarlatti. Regardless of the printed edition he was using, the hallmarks of Horowitz's Scarlatti were always there: perfect transference of Scarlatti's sound world onto the modern piano; infinite grades of detachment and color; careful use of the sustaining pedal; flawless judgment of dynamics--from soft-softer-softest on the lower end, yet never pushing the piano too far into the forte range. To give himself maximum selection, Horowitz recorded over twenty Sonatas in seven recording sessions, but only twelve contrasting pieces were originally issued on LP. For this CD reissue, Sony has released an additional six Sonatas, also from the original sessions at Columbia's 30th Street Studio. The microphones for these sessions were placed a bit closer to the piano than for his previous Columbia recordings, so there is less ambiance. The impression is as if one were listening to Horowitz play in one's home. The remastering has opened up the dynamics, and brought forth a fuller, more natural piano sound, reducing noise without overly capping the high-frequencies. Tape edits, which were clearly audible in an earlier CD version(a botched job with a purple cover, avoid it), have been smoothed over here."

One of the most perfect piano recordings ever

Gordon R Cameron | Los Angeles, CA United States | 01/30/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am not in general a huge fan of Horowitz -- many of his performances are, in my opinion, excessive and too free-form -- but he was inspired when he made these Scarlatti recordings.Scarlatti's sublime Baroque miniatures are perfectly served by Horowitz's tasteful yet idiosyncratic playing. Horowitz does not apologize for using a piano (this in spite of some musicians' opinions -- among them Alfred Brendel -- that Scarlatti should only be played on a harpsichord); he does not play the piano as if it were a harpsichord. He takes advantage of the range of touch and sonority in the instrument, and he uses the pedal. Throughout the recordings, Horowitz walks a delicate tightrope between musical restraint and worldly sensuality. His colossal piano technique never gets to show off -- there are no stormy octave passages in this music -- but experienced pianists know Scarlatti's music is some of the most difficult ever written, and Horowitz makes it all sound like the easiest thing in the world.Whether you are familiar with Scarlatti, or Horowitz, or Baroque piano music, or not -- get this CD. You won't regret it."