Since this 1994 recital, guitarist Edoardo Catemario has turned his attention almost exclusively to 20th century repertoire, recording three such CDs (including the complete guitar works of Astor Piazzolla) for the Arts label. While Catemario’s technically flawless, imaginative performances here testify to his talent and accomplishment as a musician likely to be comfortable in any period (he also has auspiciously dabbled in the 19th century) it’s a shame he hasn’t more frequently “attempted to speak about Naples, my home…” as he puts it in the notes, because, as a recital of Baroque keyboard transcriptions, this is as good as it gets.
Like Narciso Yepes (Deutsche Grammophon), who devotes a full disc to Scarlatti (whose works comprise the bulk of this program), Catemario offers his own transcriptions that also fully realize the essence of their keyboard models. Particularly in the swifter sonatas–such as the A major (K.533), D major (K.178), and A major (K.322)–Catemario’s lucid, richly detailed renderings emulate (if not often mimic) the harpsichord’s wider dynamic range and at times more complex registral contrasts. Unlike Yepes however, Catemario often heightens expression with more varied, animated tempos. Catemario’s transcriptions of the Sonatas in C minor (K.11), D minor (K.77), and again A major (K.322) are much more compelling compared to Yepes, and in turn are more stylistically akin to my reference harpsichord readings by Scott Ross (Erato). Also like Ross, Catemario has a remarkable affinity for the ebb and flow of Scarlatti’s melodies, especially how they’re inextricably dependent on the subtleties of momentum. Catemario’s performance of arguably Scarlatti’s most famous work–the Sonata in F major (K.380)–is as spontaneous, engaging, and lively as the finest harpsichord or piano counterparts available.
Arts’ sound also is quite good, with Catemario placed in an appropriately dry concert-hall acoustic. Catemario’s often-introspective liner notes are informative and entertaining. There is one important typo however that prospective buyers should note: Though the cover promises additional transcriptions of Durante, there is no mention of them in the contents listed only on the tray card. They are included within, though–wrongly attributed to Scarlatti as the final three selections. [7/21/2004]
