Kate Molleson explores the life and music of Domenico Scarlatti

Domenico Scarlatti was well placed to build himself a glittering career in the music business. He was prestigiously talented and born into a family with powerful connections in the music business. His home city of Naples was a major centre for the fashionable new art form of opera. But there were challenges, too. Competition was fierce and musicians often found their fates helplessly tied to the fickle fortunes of their aristocratic patrons. On top of all that, Domenico faced another, distinctly personal, test to his career aspirations; he was working in the shadow of a much more celebrated Scarlatti – his own father! It would take several decades, and more than a few changes of direction, before Domenico finally found his right path, becoming one of the baroque period’s most significant composers. Today, he’s rightly revered for the extraordinary catalogue of over 550 keyboard sonatas he left to posterity. This week, Kate Molleson traces Scarlatti's story and looks at what else there is to discover in his legacy alongside his celebrated keyboard works.

Music Featured:

Sonata in D, K 96Sonata in Dm, K 9Sonata in E, K 20Antra, valles, divo plaudeantSinfonia in CSinfonia in GSonata in Am, K 109Sonata in A, K 279Sonata in G, K 425Amor d'un Ombra e Gelosia d'un'aura (excerpts)O qual meco: Sinfonia & Aria, ‘Per che non dirmial meno’Sonata in Dm, K 32Sonata in C, K 308Sonata in Gm, K196Sonata in G, K 284Messa breve 'La Stella': KyrieLa Dirindina (extract from Scene 1)Sonata in D, K 443Sonata in F, K 17Stabat MaterContesa della stagione: VIII. ‘Giorno felice’…‘Sia dolce e caro e grato’Sonata in A, K 39Sonata in A, K 208Sonata in Am, K 175Laetatus sumSonata in Eb, K 434Sonata in Eb, K 475Missa quatuor vocum, Gloria, Sanctus & Benedictus, Agnus DeiPur nel sonno almen tal’ora: (extracts)Avison: Concerto grosso after Scarlatti, No. 5 in Dm (extracts)Salve Regina in ASonata in Cm, K11Sonata in G, K547

Presented by Kate MollesonProduced by Johannah Smith

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001m56g

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z