Skilled on the keyboard from an early age, Scarlatti moved to Portugal in 1719 to become music master to Princess Maria Barbara; when she became Queen of Spain in 1729, he followed her there, where he remained until his death. Probably the greatest harpsichord virtuoso of all time, Scarlatti wrote some of the most original music composed for that instrument. He published a volume of thirty sonatas in London which became one of the world's most popular works at that time. Although Scarlatti did compose some operas, they are of little significance. His real love was the harpsichord, for which over 550 works are known to exist today. |
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