Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)
Complete Keyboard Sonatas – Volume 29
Emanuil Ivanov (piano)
rec. 2023, Bradshaw Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, UK
Naxos 8.574633 [73]

It’s Naxos’ aim to record Domenico Scarlatti’s complete keyboard sonatas, all 555 of them. This ambitious project was kick started with Volume 1, which was released in 1999. We’ve now reached volume 29. Naxos have enlisted different pianists for each volume. Over the years I’ve collected many of them and never once have I been disappointed. Whether you prefer Scarlatti sonatas on the harpsichord or piano is a matter of personal taste. My collection holds wonderful performances on the harpsichord by Scott Ross (complete cycle on Erato, originally released in 1988 and later re-released on Warner Classics), Colin Tilney, Pierre Hantaï, Trevor Pinnock and Ralph Kirkpatrick. On the piano, versions include Vladimir Horowitz, Lucas Debarge, Mikhail Pletnev, Ivo Pogorelich and Angela Hewitt.  At the end of the day, I do feel that the piano affords greater opportunity for more subtle nuance and opens up a greater dynamic range, but that’s just my personal taste.

Ivanov delivers stylish and idiomatic readings of the sixteen sonatas he performs. Each sonata sounds perfectly convincing and is tendered with care and attention to detail. The disc opens with the Sonata in C minor, K73, and this sets the trend for what is to follow. Articulation is crisp, and rhythms are tightly furnished. This sonata is interesting in that it has two Minuettos which add some satisfying contrast. Ivanov points up the bass line in the C major, K166, which is bouncy and is adorned with florid ornamentation. In the F major Sonata, K275, some diaphanous sonorities shine through. The G major, K103 is an absolute delight. It’s spiky, effervescent and brimming over with wit and good humour.  The precisely articulated trills and lightness of touch add a pellucid fragrance to K303, whilst K223 is carried off with such brilliance. The Sonata in E minor, K263 has a quality of stately nobility.

For those, like myself, collecting this cycle, this new addition will certainly not disappoint. As far as I’m aware, this seems to be Emanuil Ivanov’s debut CD, and mightily impressive it is too. He’s a pianist of unlimited technical resources and consummate musicianship which he harnesses for optimum expressive projection. Subtlety, dynamic variance and articulation are beyond reproach. His performances have been graced by a lovely instrument and the perfect responsive acoustic. All told, this release is a winner.

Stephen Greenbank

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Contents
Keyboard Sonata in A minor, K188
Keyboard Sonata in B flat major, K57
Keyboard Sonata in B flat major, K249
Keyboard Sonata in C major, K117
Keyboard Sonata in C major, K166
Keyboard Sonata in C minor, K73
Keyboard Sonata in C minor, K303
Keyboard Sonata in D major, K137
Keyboard Sonata in D major, K223
Keyboard Sonata in D major, K236
Keyboard Sonata in E flat major, K192
Keyboard Sonata in E minor, K263
Keyboard Sonata in F major, K85
Keyboard Sonata in F major, K150
Keyboard Sonata in F major, K275
Keyboard Sonata in G major, K103