Search - Scarlatti, Newman :: Harpsichord Sonatas

Newman First Rate Again

Phillip J. Rodgers | West Central GA USA | 11/26/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Anthony Newman is one of the most gifted keyboard artists recording today. His astonishing virtuosity makes the most gifted rival sound like an arthritic beginner. This CD is the best selection of Scarlatti available. Mr. Newman plays these sonatas with an ebullient brio that would doubtless make Scarlatti smile. If you own only one recording of Scarlatti this should be it."

Finally...harpsichord music played on the harpsichord.

Bank of America | Houston, TX | 04/10/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are indeed many cds that display Domenico Scarlatti's keyboard sonatas.With the exception of performers such as Virginia Black and Igor Kipnis, most of Scarlatti keyboard music interpreters are actually piano players eventhough the sonatas that he wrote were for the harpsichord. When there are cds that feature Scaraltti's keyboard music played on the harpsichord, the cd usually also contains harpsichord music from other composers (ie., Bach,Handel,ect).There are a handful of cds that only have Scarlatti's keyboard sonatas played on the harpsichord as it was intended to be. This is definately one of them. Mr. Newman has a superior technique when it comes to harpsichord performance. Most of these sonatas were written in Spain with the intention of having a spanish flavor to it. The ability that Mr. Newman has to make the harpsichord sound like as if it were actually a guitar being strummed is very difficult but rewarding when done correctly. Mr. Newman goes through the arpeggios and chord leaps as if he was strumming through plucked strings on an acoustic guitar with a pick in his hand.I highly recommend this cd to those whom have never heard what a harpsichord sound like and what it can do under very capable hands such as this virtouoso.The only quibble that I have with this cd (not Mr. Newman's playing), is that the Kirkpatrick numbers do not follow in order and that of course this cd does not contain all of his keyboard sonatas (dude wrote well over 500 sonatas). This is being very picky and a very minor detail. If I had my way, I would give this cd at least fifteen stars.Tracks I especially liked are 20 (K.380), 7 (K.175), and 12 (K.23).Anthony Newman, if you are by any chance reading this, you have definately earned yourself a new fan."

Well done, but unrefined.

Francisco Gonzalez | Santa Barbara, CA | 12/02/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Anthony Newman's harpsichord playing is technically flawless(probably edited) and the recording quality is excellent, but Newman's playing tends towards the dry side. His articulation is always either legato or staccato, and thus very pianistic. He refuses to take advantage of one of the most important harpsichord techniques: creating the illusion of loud and soft through varying degrees of short and long notes.
However, the triple manual harpsichord by Keith Hill has a very grand sound which is exciting to hear."