»His Scarlatti is clean, polished and elegant,« wrote the music magazine Fanfare of pianist Emanuil Ivanov, who devoted an entire album to the sonatas of the Italian composer. With a clear artistic vision and the assurance of an accomplished interpreter, the winner of the prestigious Busoni Competition turns to these vibrant miniatures, bringing out the distinctive character of each sonata with great sensitivity.
In this programme, Ivanov explores Domenico Scarlatti’s role as a musical educator. Most of the composer’s 555 sonatas were written for his aristocratic pupils at the Spanish court, combining playful virtuosity with genuine musical substance. Diverse national styles, melodies from Italy, Spain and Portugal, and then-novel techniques such as hand crossing all testify to Scarlatti’s sparkling imagination and remarkable versatility.
Debussy offers a modern perspective on the étude in his two books of six studies each. Here, too, technique is not an end in itself; as in all his works, sound itself takes centre stage. Reflecting on the demands of these pieces, Debussy wrote with characteristic wit: »I could play these Études for you, which are enough to frighten your fingers. Rest assured that mine sometimes hesitate before certain passages as well. I have to stop for breath, as if I had just returned from a mountain climb. In truth, this music hovers on the highest peaks of performance.«
PERFORMERS
Emanuil Ivanov piano
PROGRAM
Domenico Scarlatti
Sonata in D minor, K 213
Domenico Scarlatti
Sonata in D major, K 96
Domenico Scarlatti
Sonata in G minor, K 450
Domenico Scarlatti
Sonata in G major, K 103
Domenico Scarlatti
Sonata in C major, K 303
Domenico Scarlatti
Sonata in C major, K 159
Claude Debussy
Douze Études, Volume 1
- Interval -
Domenico Scarlatti
Sonata in F minor, K 466
Domenico Scarlatti
Sonata in F minor, K 239
Domenico Scarlatti
Sonata in F major, K 107
Domenico Scarlatti
Sonata in A minor, K 188
Domenico Scarlatti
Sonata in A minor, K 3
Domenico Scarlatti
Sonata in A major, K 24
Claude Debussy
Douze Études, Volume 2
