[.ca] Pno Sons

From Amazon.com:
This two-disc set contains a dazzling assortment of music by the Baroque period's most original keyboard genius. There's no question that Scarlatti's music was conceived with the harpsichord in mind, and yet the greatest modern interpreter of his music, Vladimir Horowitz, was a pianist. Mikhail Pletnev certainly belongs in this elite company. As an interpreter, Pletnev has a reputation for willfulness and eccentricity--but then again if anyone can be called eccentric, it's Scarlatti. The secret of playing this music on the piano lies in making it sound as though it was written for the instrument. In other words, don't try to make the piano sound like a harpsichord. Pletnev doesn't. He brings the full range of pianistic resources to bear on each piece, and the results are staggeringly good. --David Hurwitz

Scarlatti emerging:
Everything ,according to Marcus Aurelius, is opinion. I suppose all pianistic translations of Scarlatti are opinions of some kind. To date, I have CDs by Horowitz (wonderful), Pogorelich (brilliant) and Pletnev (beautiful). Note that all three are Russians. I wonder what the sound would be like from a Spanish pianist like De Larrocha; didn't she record some Scarlatti in the past? Her CDs of Granados and Albéniz are "sui generis" miracles. The reason I mention Spanish pianists is that the 3 CDs mentioned above deal mostly with music below K400. The later sonatas tend to somewhat easier to play, but have a much more spanish flavor. I am really entranced by Pletnev's control and his command of his instrument. This whole CD is a work of art These are all 5 star (CD + pianist + music + composer)

Not for my taste:
I found these versions to be grossly distorted exaggerations of exceptional music. Pletnev, in my humble opinion, shows poor taste in over-interpreting Scarlatti. There are many splendid versions of this great composer's works to choose from on piano(i.e. Michelangeli, Pogerelich,di Bonaventura, Horowitz),or harpsichorcd (Hantai) which capture the beautiful simplicity of this music. Pletnev does not capture it for me.

Don't but this one:
There is another release of this exact same CD from Virgin Classics that is priced at only $11!!!! Look closely at the labels and save yourself the bucks. Otherwise, this is definitely a five star CD.

Another essential Scarlatti set:
Not much needs to be said. This set and the single disc by Mark Swartzentruber are two extremely fine piano collections of Scarlatti's wonderful sonatas. They both surpass even the justifiably classic Horowitz interpretations. With performances at this level, it hardly matters what music is being played or what instrument it's on. The music unfolds as a completely fresh experience, even if one already knows all the notes as a player or listener. In a performance this great, every moment means something, and every moment leaves the immediate impression that the music could hardly go any other way (even if it's been surprising). Pletnev takes bold liberties with the score, both in tempo fluctuations and in dynamics. "Anything goes" in the service of the expression, and it all arises directly and naturally out of the musical content; nothing seems pasted on or willful. No artificial colors or flavors. Thorough preparation, yet an improvisatory freedom. It sounds as if he's having a great time. If you like this declamatory approach, you'll also like Swartzentruber, plus Enrico Baiano, Edward Parmentier, and Pierre Hantai on harpsichord. Obviously these sonatas could also be played more strictly and objectively, for structure, but that's for others to do on some other day. Scarlatti's music is inventive enough that it works regardless of the approach. For the dramatic and directly communicative angle, full of intensity and joy and humor, it just doesn't get better than this.

A Truly Wonderful Interpretation-Like No Other:
Pletnev is a pianist that just keeps surprising me. He is usually associated with the Romantics, Tchaikovsky and other mostly-Russian composers. But on this CD he shows his talent for interpretation of late-Baroque music. His technique is flawless, as always and his tone conveys all the intricacies of Scarlatti's music. Pletnev also adds a little warmths that makes the sonatas sound rich and humorous. This recording brings the sound of the archaic clavier to life!! Cheers to Mikhail Pletnev for another fine recording.

• Sonata K443 In D Major - Mikhail Pletnev
• Sonata K1 In D Minor
• Sonata K283 In G Major
• Sonata K284 In G Major
• Sonata K27 In B Minor
• Sonata K380 In E Major
• Sonata K24 In A Major
• Sonata K247 In C Sharp Minor
• Sonata K519 In F Minor
• Sonata K17 In F Major
• Sonata K9 In D Minor
• Sonata K3 In A Minor
• Sonata K404 In A Major
• Sonata K213 In D Minor
• Sonata K214 In D Major
• Sonata K96 In D Major
• Sonata K146 In D Minor: Sonata K146 In G Major
• Sonata K87 In B Minor
• Sonata K520 In G Major
• Sonata K11 In C Minor
• Sonata K386 In F Minor
• Sonata K387 In F Minor
• Sonata K268 In A Major
• Sonata K141 In D Minor
• Sonata K113 In A Major
• Sonata K25 In F Sharp Minor
• Sonata K173 In B Minor
• Sonata K523 In G Major
• Sonata K8 In G Minor
• Sonata K259 In G Major
• Sonata K29 In D Major