Joseph Moog: Scarlatti Illuminated – review

Great pianists have often been fascinated by baroque music, and have sought to bring it up to date through transcriptions. Until now I had not heard such versions of Scarlatti sonatas, however, and their full-blown orchestral textures are quite a shock. The young German pianist Joseph Moog makes the surprise greater (perhaps not to the benefit of the arrangements) by interspersing them with taut, concise original sonatas. He features versions by Carl Tausig and Ignaz Friedman, both of whom amplify Scarlatti rather stylishly, but Walter Gieseking's fantastical Chaconne is a nightmare. Moog's bright, sharp pianism sounds better in the originals: the arrangements need more gentle, rounded warmth.