Domenico Scarlatti: Complete Keyboard Sonatas, Vol. 7
Considering the virtuoso nature of Scherbakov's previous recorded repertoire (Shostakovich Preludes and Fugues, Liszt arrangements of Beethoven Symphonies, Godowsky piano music), it's surprising that he has selected such a genteel collection of Scarlatti. There is little of the composer's overt virtuosity here, on a disc dominated by lyricism and pleasantries. Scherbakov's playing, though, is excellent. He keeps things moving well enough but never tries to turn these pieces into anything too dazzling or vehement. If there's a problem with this disc, it's the arrangement of material. The Sonatas are offered in random order, with none of the Kirkpatrick pairings which Scarlatti apparently intended. Still, if what you want is an hour of Scarlatti played with elegance on the piano and beautifully recorded, here it is, at Naxos's usual bargain price.--Leslie Gerber