Lucas Debargue

July 2021
Since his remarkable appearance at the 15th Tchaikovsky Competition, the largely self-taught pianist, decried by some and praised by others, leaves no one indifferent. The album “Scarlatti” was recorded live at the Salle Cortot in Paris, Debargue’s first concert in his hometown after the competition. 

The four-disc set contains the 52 Scarlatti sonatas, performed on piano. Debargue clarifies though, that he used some nods to harpsichord technique to perform. For example, he uses almost no pedal on this collection.

Ethereal delicate Scarlatti opens this album.  The liveliness of the playing is coupled with great sensitivity. His masterful and colorful command of pacing is very remarkable: he perfectly balances elegancy and rhythm with dramatic turns, in order to create a powerful but yet very personal performance. 

Under the intelligent playing of this piano phenomenon, the sonatas reveal their capricious brilliance: Debargue underlines the angles, the colors, creates unexpected turns and astonishes us with every sonata that comes from his gifted fingers.  Each sonata is a world in itself and submerges us into a wide range of emotions which sometimes contradict, and other complement each other. The subtlety of the beginning of K.206 quickly gives way to an expression of force and agony, and the octaves of the left hand are thoroughly dramatic. 

Always looking for excellence, Debargue’s performance comes from the heart. It is exactly this sincerity in playing that makes him so controversial and so attractive. He’s constantly chasing renovation which in its unpredictable, unexpected playing sometimes even confusing, but always surprising. His playful side is very prominent and goes hand in hand with the very present experimental dimension. He experiments with music, tries new approaches, and reinvents the interpretations up to the point that we might have the false feeling of improvisation. 

Awarded at the Tchaikovsky Competition for “the pianist whose incredible gift, artistic vision and creative freedom have impressed the critics as well as the audience”, What sets Lucas Debargue apart from other pianists is his personality which is clear in each of his performances. The pianist imposes himself to the music, doming it with artistry and making us participants of his genial creations.

– Paul Thomas

Scarlatti – 52 sonatas
Lucas Debargue

Domenico Scarlatti
CD 1
1. Sonata K. 206 E major – Andante
2. Sonata K. 531 E major – Allegro
3. Sonata K. 404 A major – Andante
4. Sonata K. 405 A major – Allegro
5. Sonata K. 447 F-sharp minor – Allegro
6. Sonata K. 25 F-sharp minor – Allegro
7. Sonata K. 343 A major – Allegro andante
8. Sonata K. 113 A major – Allegro
9. Sonata K. 258 D major – Andante
10. Sonata K. 214 D major – Allegro vivo
11. Sonata K. 211 A major – Andantino
12. Sonata K. 212 A major – Allegro molto
13. Sonata K. 109 A minor – Adagio

CD 2
1. Sonata K. 6 F major – Allegro
2. Sonata K. 268 A major – Allegro
3. Sonata K. 443 D major – Allegro
4. Sonata K. 45 D major – Allegro
5. Sonata K. 27 B minor – Allegro
6. Sonata K. 244 B major – Allegro
7. Sonata K. 105 G major – Allegro
8. Sonata K. 260 G major – Allegro
9. Sonata K. 491 D major – Allegro
10. Sonata K. 414 D major – Allegro
11. Sonata K. 534 D major – Cantabile
12. Sonata K. 535 D major – Allegro
13. Sonata K. 32 D minor – Aria

CD 3
1. K 431 G major – Allegro
2. K 125 G major – Vivo
3. K 308 C major – Cantabile
4. K 461 C major – Allegro
5. K 196 G minor – Allegro
6. K 477 G major – Allegrissimo
7. K 115 C minor – Allegro
8. K 526 C minor – Allegro comodo
9. K 462 F minor – Andante
10. K 438 F major – Allegro
11. K 106 F major – Allegro
12. K 107 F major – Allegro
13. K 69 F minor

CD 4
1. K 468 F major – Allegro
2. K 469 F major – Allegro molto
3. K 302 C minor – Andante
4. K 242 C major – Vivo
5. K 521 G major – Allegro
6. K 14 G major – Presto
7. K 474 E-flat major – Andante cantabile
8. K 253 E-flat major – Allegro
9. K 172 B-flat major – Allegro
10. K 545 B-flat major – Prestissimo
11. K 192 E-flat major – Allegro
12. K 193 E-flat major – Allegro
13. K 247 C-sharp minor – Allegro