Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)

BACKGROUND TO…

Born in Naples, Scarlatti spent his early professional years as an organist. Aged 30 he moved to Venice to study with Gasparini, then relocated to Rome, taking his father’s place as music director for Maria Casimira – Poland’s exiled queen. He went on to become director of music at the Vatican’s Julian Chapel. Royal appointments continued with a move to Lisbon to work for the Portuguese royal family. Princess Maria Bárbara, later the Queen of Spain, is the dedicatee of the majority of his harpsichord sonatas and it is for these many works he is most celebrated today.