In his 555 sonatas for keyboard instruments, Domenico Scarlatti pushed back all the boundaries of the genre and those of playing techniques in the early 18th century. But you won’t get to see the nimble-fingered virtuoso this time. This portrait of the composer shows Scarlatti the vocal genius. The double voices of Missa Quatuor Vocum or the ‘Madrid Mass’ and the imposing Te Deum for double choir bear witness to the greatness of Scarlatti’s vision, which took form during his stay at the Spanish court. The spiritual climax of this concert is the Stabat Mater: a crossroads in sound where voices imitate, challenge and reinforce each other in a counterpoint rich in contrasts. With ten exceptional singers and an excellent continuo quartet, Bertrand Cuiller unravels the DNA of Scarlatti’s supreme play of voices.
Program
D. Scarlatti: Missa Quatuor Vocum, ‘Madrid’ | Te Deum for 8 | Stabat Mater for 10
Performers
Le Caravansérail | Bertrand Cuiller, artistic leader