The notes for this CD point out that Alessandro Scarlatti composed some 65 operas and 30 oratorios in his lifetime, indicating that he was quite prolific during his 65-year life span. When a composer writes so much music, it seems inevitable that much of it must be tossed off in a mechanical way. These sonatas strike me like that, exceptionally well crafted, yet almost entirely devoid of inspiration. Since the performances are quite good, it’s possible to recommend a listen to the CD simply to revel in the readings if not in the music itself. The recorded sound is intimate, clear, and well balanced, yet, in the long run, this CD is primarily for exponents of the flute and recorder as solo instruments, or for those who have already collected every other piece of Baroque chamber music in existence.
