Alessandro Scarlatti: Opera Arias

“Scarlatti's concise yet detailed arias make an impressive impact...Serious Baroque opera lovers should devour this greedily.” --Gramophone Magazine, April 2012

“This disc gives new life to any attempt to see Alessandro Scarlatti for the monumental figure he was in Baroque opera, and opera lovers will come away wishing that di Lisa and his crew would record complete works by the composer. Hopefully, he will do so in what is surely a good future ahead for the Concerto de’ Cavalieri.” --FANFARE: Bertil van Boer

'The fam'd Italian masters'

Music for trumpets and strings from the Italian Baroque

'It comes as no surprise to have a well researched, well presented and beautifully played issue from this team of artists and recording company. The trumpeters, representing the pioneering and the newest generations of players, are well matched and sparkling in their duets and share the solo works equally. It scarcely needs it, but this gets the warmest of recommendations' --Early Music Review

'Fascinating … Crispian Steele-Perkins and Alison Balsom play with an assured virtuosity' --Daily Telegraph

'beautifully lyrical trumpet-playing' --BBC Music Magazine

'Steele-Perkins and Balsom play throughout this recording as robustly and as sensitively as one could wish … Buy this disc' --Early Music News

MP3 320 · 135 MB

Alessandro Scarlatti: Concertos and Sinfonias

Alessandro Scarlatti was among the most important Italian composers of opera from the late Baroque period. He is credited with establishing the Neapolitan school of opera in the eighteenth century, rapidly improving the predominantly provincial state of music in Naples into a sophisticated and enduring tradition. He composed over 600 cantatas, more than 100 operas, many oratorios, serenatas, sonatas, and other instrumental pieces.

Oddly, his historical position declined after his death and his reputation was not rehabilitated until the early twentieth century. His importance in music is further bolstered by the fact he was the father of Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757), who in the keyboard realm was among the most individual and influential composers of his day. Another son, Pietro, also became a composer of some distinction. 

2 CD · MP3 320 · 270 MB  

Alessandro Scarlatti: Sinfonie & Concertos

"Decca's sound is first-rate, with exceptional clarity and ensemble presence. Recommended." --ClassicsToday.com

Ottavio Dantone and the Accademia Bizantina have quickly established themselves as one of Italy's leading baroque ensembles and they made their Decca debut with Andreas Scholl on his album Arcadia. They will be touring that repertoire with Andreas in the Spring of 2004. This revelatory disc of music by Alessandro Scarlatti includes no fewer than six "new" Scarlatti harpsichord concertos — the result of a great deal of detective work inspired by manuscripts held in the British Library in London.

It seems likely that the keyboard parts held in the British Library are parts of concertos by Alessandro Scarlatti. The music is of such quality that Ottavio Dantone decided to reconstruct the complete works using information in the scores to recreate the missing parts for string orchestra. The resulting "new" concertos are the product of much intuition, logic and a deep knowledge of the styles and conventions of the period.

In addition to the six "new" concertos, Accademia Bizantina offer six rarely-heard sinfonias, also by Alessandro Scarlatti. These three-movement works are, in essence, overtures to his "musical dramas", a device he dreamt up and which soon became standard for all Italian operas.

The title of the disc is taken from the title of one of the Sinfonias "Il giardino di rose".

MP3 320 · 161 MB

A. Scarlatti: 6 Sinfonie di Concerto Grosso · 3 Concerti

Alessandro Scarlatti was among the most important Italian composers of opera from the late Baroque period. He is credited with establishing the Neapolitan school of opera in the eighteenth century, rapidly improving the predominantly provincial state of music in Naples into a sophisticated and enduring tradition. He composed over 600 cantatas, more than 100 operas, many oratorios, serenatas, sonatas, and other instrumental pieces.

Oddly, his historical position declined after his death and his reputation was not rehabilitated until the early twentieth century. His importance in music is further bolstered by the fact he was the father of Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757), who in the keyboard realm was among the most individual and influential composers of his day. Another son, Pietro, also became a composer of some distinction. --allmusic.com

MP3 320 · 155 MB