Search - Domenico Scarlatti :: Landowska Plays Scarlatti Sonatas

Landowska's Scarlatti Recordings Complete.

John Austin | Kangaroo Ground, Australia | 12/27/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Recordings of the keyboard sonatas of Domenico Scarlatti come and go. Reissues of those made in Paris in the 1930s by Wanda Landowska seem to be always with us. A recent reissue of 26 of them quickly earned a rarely-bestowed rosette in a prestigious CD guide, and the comment, "her playing has more character than that of most modern players put together; it is electrifying in its sheer vitality and imagination". Now comes a 2 CD reissue of all Landowska's Scarlatti recordings from Pearl Records. It also includes some Bach and Handel items and a first release of a C P E Bach concerto, taken from a 1943 Toronto broadcast. 150 minutes in all. Extensive notes by Landowska's friend Denise Restout provide scholarly, eye-witness accounts of Landowska at work. For the original issue of 20 of these sonatas, Landowska provided notes, assessments, and some imaginative programs, and these are also included here. Recording of a further 20 was completed in Paris in March 1940. As Denise Restout writes, the take of K 490 was kept "as a testimony of those dangerous times". Anti-aircraft gunfire can be heard, alerting citizens to put on gas masks and run for shelter. Landowska, deeply absorbed in her playing, never faltered. No one in the studio dared to move, and the four minute recording was completed. Unlike some other recordings Landowska made at this time in Paris, all of the second series of 20 Scarlatti sonatas survived the German occupation, and were eventually released in 1947. Hearing the series in 1947 for the first time, Landowska wrote to a friend, "I listened to it with total joy". I feel sure 21st Century listeners will share her enjoyment."

An amazing proformance by the greatest harpsichordist of any

G. Lawrence | 07/12/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I own almost 90% of Meme. Landowska's recordings either on original 78rpm disc, I play them on a restored 1917 Victoria, or on cd. After buying the 78's of Landowska's first set of sonatas on eBay I decided to fill in my collection by purchasing this set. The 1940 2nd album of sonatas is impossible to find on 78! I was amazed at the second set; the recording of K490 with the anti-aircraft fire was very moving. One can almost feel a sense of defiance in her playing! I found K29 to be Landowska and Scarlatti at they're most joyful and daring-a true delight and highest form of Landowska's art. Also, although the sound quality has suffered somewhat, I found the C.E.P. Bach concerto amazing!--no Stunning!

Now for those out there who don't know, Meme. Landowska's Pleyel Harpsichord is not supposed to emulate an historical instrument and she has stated as much in her writings. Her instrument should be thought of more as the logical progression of what the harpsichord would have become if the Pianoforte had not supplanted it. Furthermore, a harpsichord and a piano are two ENTIREALY different instruments so they must be viewed separately in and of themselves. If one takes an open minded view when listening to Mem. Landowska it is easier to appreciate her work.



Buy this recording as your first introduction to Wanda Landowska. I also suggest her other works relased by Pearl as well as the comprihensive RCA 7 disc set. For a real treat buy Landowska: Uncommon Visionary if only for Footage of her 1953 interview and the intresting infromation provided by Denise Restout. All are available here at Amazon.com"