Not for any reason beyond the fact that I was able to cobble together what I think is an interesting program, this Sunday night on “The Lost Chord,” the focus will be on Domenico Scarlatti.
The Baroque keyboard master, born in Naples in 1685 – the same year as Bach and Handel – composed some 555 keyboard sonatas, revered by artists from Frédéric Chopin to Marc-André Hamelin.
We’ll have tributes and arrangements by four different composers, including Charles Avison, Norman Dello Joio, Dmitri Shostakovich and Alfredo Casella.
Casella’s “Scarlattiana” (1926), a seven movement suite for piano and orchestra, draws its inspiration from dozens of Scarlatti sonatas. It was not intended for the dance, but since it unabashedly recalls Stravinsky’s “Pulcinella,” it’s hardly surprising that it was only a matter of time before some clown decided to choreograph it.
I hope you’ll join me for “Italian Dressing” – musical tributes to Domenico Scarlatti – tomorrow night at 10 ET, with a repeat Wednesday evening at 6; or that you’ll enjoy to it later as a webcast at http://www.wwfm.org.
PHOTO: Wladimir Skouratoff (levitating) and Jacqueline Moreau in a 1954 production of “Scarlattiana”
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