NEW ON NAXOS | OCTOBER 2025
Domenico SCARLATTI (1685–1757) Complete Keyboard Sonatas, Vol. 31 Martin Cousin, Piano
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No one redefined the limits of contemporary keyboard writing in the 18th century more radically than Domenico Scarlatti, whose formal innovation, harmonic daring and virtuosic brilliance set him apart from his contemporaries. In this selection of sonatas Martin Cousin presents a multifaceted portrait of Scarlatti’s full creative range. Along with scalic runs, extended trills, dramatic dynamics and playful syncopations, we also meet the impish, quasi-improvisational and introspective composer capable of great nobility and lyrical beauty, one who bridged Baroque traditions with the new Classical style. Key features: • Pianist Martin Cousin is regarded as one of the most outstanding pianists of his generation, having won First Prize at the 2005 Ettore Pozzoli International Piano Competition. • Two albums of Rubinstein’s piano music (8.574426/8.574427) were released by in 2023, gaining 5 stars in MUSICA magazine, 5 tuning forks from Diapason and 4 stars from Ritmo magazine. • For Somm he has recorded an album of Rachmaninov’s Études-tableaux and won a 5-star review from The Observer . Fanfare also commented that Cousin was ‘among the most distinguished Rachmaninov pianists of our generation’.
8.574686 Playing time: 76:26 Release date: 10 Oct 2025 Companion titles – Martin Cousin, Piano
Click to listen to Keyboard Sonata in G major, K.75/L.53/P.23
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INCLUDES WORLD PREMIERE RECORDINGS
William SHIELD (1748–1829) Complete Chamber Works, Vol. 1 Six String Quartets, Op. 3 The Dorrit Ensemble – Elizabeth Layton, Elizabeth Sellars, Violins Caroline Henbest, Viola • Edith Salzmann, Cello
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William Shield rose from relatively humble beginnings to become the ‘house’ composer to Covent Garden, for which he wrote stage works full of panache and tunefulness. He met and befriended Haydn who was to prove a lasting influence. In 1782 Shield published his Six String Quartets, Op. 3 , some of the most richly rewarding works of their type in 18th-century England. The transparency of parts, use of imitation, infusion of Sturm und Drang elements as well as the bucolic and folkloric writing, all demonstrate Shield’s art, as does the progressive writing of the last of the six, in C minor. Key features: • The Dorrit Ensemble has been performing regularly throughout Australia and New Zealand since 2019. •
8.574446 Playing time: 60:56 Release date: 10 Oct 2025 Companion titles – Recommended chamber music releases
Violinist Elizabeth Layton was winner of the UK Concert Artists Trust Competition and has performed as a soloist with major orchestras worldwide; her recordings include the complete Beethoven piano trios (nominated for a Gramophone Award) and violin and piano works by Schubert ( Daily Telegraph ‘CD Choice’). •
The Dorrit Ensemble
Violist Caroline Henbest was violist of the highly acclaimed Mistry String Quartet (resident at the University of York) and the Scottish Ensemble. Violinist Elizabeth Sellars ’ recording, in collaboration with pianist Kenji Fujimura, The Messiaen Nexus , was chosen as the 2014 Limelight Chamber Music Recording of the Year.
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Click to listen to No. 1 in B flat major: I. Aria con variazione
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