Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725) was an influential Italian Baroque composer known for his exquisite contributions to vocal and instrumental music. Born in Palermo, Sicily, Scarlatti is especially revered for his operas and chamber cantatas, often characterized by their expressive melodies and intricate harmonies. Scarlatti moved to Rome around the latter end of the 17th century, where he became maestro di cappella at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore and gained fame for his liturgical and secular compositions.

During his prolific career, Scarlatti composed more than 60 operas and over 600 cantatas, along with a wealth of sacred music, instrumental works, and over 555 keyboard sonatas that influenced subsequent generations of composers. His operatic style featured recitatives and arias that dramatically depicted the emotions of the characters, serving as a precursor to the Classical style. Scarlatti's legacy thrives through the renewed interest in Baroque music, with modern-day recordings and performances still highlighting his deep wealth of compositions as evidenced by recent releases such as "Alessandro Scarlatti: Baroque Influencer," "La sposa dei cantici," and his operatic works like "Griselda, Op. 114, R. 357/66 (Live)" showcasing his profound influence on the music of the Baroque period and beyond. His contributions to keyboard literature were also monumental, with the "A. Scarlatti: Opera omnia per tastiera" series celebrating his mastery in this domain.

Genres

Baroque

Classical

Early Music

Italian Baroque

Italian Opera

Related Artists

Antonio Vivaldi

Johann Sebastian Bach

Domenico Scarlatti

Arcangelo Corelli

George Frideric Handel

Henry Purcell

Giovanni Battista Pergolesi

Tomaso Albinoni

Claudio Monteverdi

Giuseppe Tartini

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

Latest Release

Prima d’esservi infedele. Alessandro Scarlatti: Cantatas for Solo Voice with Violins

Alessandro Scarlatti

Album - 37 Tracks - Released May 31, 2024