Scarlatti Illuminated

"Great pianists have often been fascinated by baroque music, and have sought to bring it up to date through transcriptions. Until now I had not heard such versions of Scarlatti sonatas, however, and their full-blown orchestral textures are quite a shock...Moog's bright, sharp pianism sounds better in the originals: the arrangements need more gentle, rounded warmth." The Observer, 3rd February 2013

A Scarlatti recital with a twist. Joseph Moog has assembled a fascinating survey of Scarlatti sonatas, and included a selection of the 18th-century master's works as re-composed by some of the giants of the piano keyboard from the 19th and 20th centuries. The drama contained in Scarlatti's short one-movement sonatas has always exerted a hold over both musicians and listeners since their composition.

The development of the piano in the 19th century provided too great a temptation for composer pianist Carl Tausig, a rival of Chopin and star pupil of Liszt (and admired by Brahms and Wagner) to ignore these works. He, along with Ignaz Friedman (1882-1948) exploited drama and poetry in Scarlatti's music, using the new grand piano to its full extent.

Friedman was a pianist of extraordinary gifts, and a musical freedom that some thought bordered on the eccentric. Walter Gieseking's fantastical composition on a theme by Scarlatti forms the centrepiece of Moog's recital. Gieseking (1895-1956) was a child prodigy, playing all 32 Beethoven sonatas from memory at the age of 15: "The most difficult part was memorising them," he said, adding "and that wasn't very difficult." Gieseking's 'Chaconne on a theme by Scarlatti' is a stupendous work of dazzling virtuosity.