Scarlatti & Beyond

As the composer of over 500 revolutionary keyboard sonatas, Domenico Scarlatti is rightfully regarded as a towering figure in 18th-century Spanish music. His close ties to the Spanish Court granted him a wide network of influence among contemporary composers, while his innovative integration of Spanish folk elements played a crucial role in shaping the distinctive keyboard style of the era. However, the prominence of Scarlatti has unfortunately overshadowed the remarkable work of his contemporaries and immediate successors, whose compositions blend Italian, French, and Spanish traditions in unique ways. From Nebra's recently discovered Sinfonias to the enigmatic sonorities of Albero's Recercatas and the folkloric character of Maximo Lopez's Variations on the Spanish fandango, this project explores the rich diversity of 18th-century Spanish keyboard music and sheds light on an often-neglected chapter of the harpsichord repertoire.