Evgeny Soifertis - Domenico Cimarosa: Keyboard Sonatas (2004)

Opera composer Domenico Cimarosa wrote nearly 90 keyboard sonatas that, until the late twentieth century, were ignored by musicologists as well as performers. It is easy to understand why, when they are compared to contemporary works by Mozart and Haydn. Cimarosa stuck to the one-movement sonata form that was used by Domenico Scarlatti. There is some evidence that Cimarosa considered using the three-movement structure, but no such sonata by him has been found, nor has there been found any indication that some of the single movements should be combined in such a way. The design of the sonatas is simple: two lines, with the melodic material in the right hand, usually in binary form, and sustaining one mood throughout. The texture is not usually very full, either, and most do not last much more than two minutes, if that. The attractiveness of the sonatas lies almost completely in the inventive melodies and the different character of each one, which Evgeny Soifertis brings out wonderfully in this collection. The 32 sonatas here are captured with excellent sound. He makes the most of these little works, varying their order to exhibit each one's character effectively. They range from the quiet, graceful, aria-like No. 55, to the jovial and energetic No. 15. Soifertis even manages to find hints of orchestral richness in No. 78 and No. 44, where the left hand is slightly more than just a harmonization of the melody. No. 30 and No. 27 are Baroque-sounding, as are several of the other sonatas, with rapidly repeating notes in the accompaniment, reminiscent of Vivaldi, and ornamentation reminiscent of Scarlatti. One of the best of the selections is also the longest one, No. 71. It is vivacious and even technically flashy in its happy bustling. Opposite in character is the melancholy No. 22, very lyrically and beautifully played by Soifertis. His sympathy for these sonatas and sensitivity in playing them shows them at their best.