A. Scarlatti: Opera Overtures and Concertos

Well aware of the historical need to document as comprehensively as possible all the genres in which Alessandro Scarlatti shone, Marcello Di Lisa and Concerto de' Cavalieri dedicate the fifth stage in the Baroque Project to exploring the opera overtures of the Palermitan composer. These constitute distinct a stylistic ambience which does not represent Scarlatti as an inventor of forms, but clearly as a consummate arranger with a command of structure, opening the way to the worldwide success of the Neapolitan School. It is hardly surprising to find here no fewer than four world premiere recordings, nor ndeed to be struck by the superb musical quality of these hitherto hidden gems, as was only to be expected of one of the most sensitively inventive composers of all times.