Composer of the Month 5/2010: Alessandro Scarlatti   (selected by Peter van Dessel / Belgium)

Italy 14.11.1975 The Italian baroque composer Alessandro Scarlatti was born in Sicily on May 2nd 1660. In 1678 he became a church conductor in Rome. By queen Christine of Sweden living in the Roman exile he was given access to the Roman aristocracy. 1684 he became conductor of the "Cappella Real" in Naples. His time in Naples is marked by numerous brilliant opera productions at the Teatro San Bartolomeo. Between 1717 and 1722 Scarlatti stayed predominantly in Rome. His old age he spent in Naples, where he gave composition lessons to - among others - Johann Joachim Quantz and Johann Adolph Hasse. Scarlatti composed more than 100 operas, numerous oratorios, about 800 cantatas, masses and instrumental chamber music. His pioneering innovation was the "Sinfonia" with three movements from which the classical symphony known to us finally has developed. Alessandro Scarlatti died in Naples on October 24th, 1725. On May 2nd, 2010 his birth anniversary comes up again for the 350th time. The video shows the Italian pianist Chiara Massini (*1972) playing the Toccata IV composed by Alessandro Scarlatti. More composers in the members only section