by Chang Tou Liang

True to Naxos style, the intrepid budget label has gone on a completist rampage to record all of Domenico Scarlatti’s 555 or so keyboard sonatas. The piano has be chosen as the medium, a wise choice given the relatively limited appeal of the harpsichord and a proliferation of pianists to pick from. The cycle has so far relied on Naxos house pianists (Jando, Frith and Scherbakov) and pianists who have worked on the label (Andjaparidze, Lewin, Long and Zarafiants). For this installation, a young prize-winning pianist has been given a chance to be heard by more than a few thousand people.

Korean pianist Soyeon Lee, winner of the 2004 Concert Artists Guild International Competition (New York) sounds like a fine pianist by all accounts on the thirteen sonatas she has chosen. There is enough flexibility, sensitivity and versatility to ensure that this collection does not come across like a routine run through. She also possesses the imagination to colour each sonata with the varied moods that present themselves - the main argument for playing these gems on the piano.

Lee gets to play some of the most popular sonatas, notably:

B minor, K.87: Beautifully shaped, this Horowitz favourite (which appears on his 1985 DG recording) sounds much more modern that it actually is.

D major, K.96 “The Chase”: Her repeated note technique and trills hold up well in this spirited number.

The best of the lot is the plaintive sonata in F minor, K.466, whose melancholy is milked for what its worth. There isn’t a dud in any of these performances, which makes a dip into this volume a worthwhile proposition.

 

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