Appreciation of music is not static. It may differ with one’s mood. Suppose that your dog had to be put to sleep following a larynx dysfunction (it just happened to us). Would that have an impact on how you perceive music? Yes, it does.

Take for instance the four Scarlatti Sonatas in this new ARS Produktion release. We will never know what the composer felt when he put the notes on a sheet of paper, nor do I know the state of mind of Aniele Steiniger when she played them so elegantly under the encouraging supervision of Manfred Schumacher, engineering the result with his usual commitment. What I do know, however, is that it worked for me like a balm to my soul, especially the second one, K 213, “characterized by a meditative and melancholic mood” to the point that five stars wouldn’t be enough.

However, George Katzer, a serial and aleatoric reformist of the 70-ies, put me back where a reviewer should be, listening with an open and critical mind. Katzer’s miniatures “Small Works of Art and a Homage to Scarlatti” may not be everyone’s cup of tea - and I must admit that they weren't entirely mine either - but it diminishes in no way giving due respect for the ingenuity of the composer and to express my admiration for Steiniger’s interpretation with faultless precision.

It may for the record be noted that I have not been able to find any previous recording of these 5 miniatures, composed in 1971 and published in 2001; not even on the German Neos Music label. It would seem, therefore, that this release is a World Premiere and as such a valuable addition to the music library, no matter the format.

Aniele Steininger has decided to finish in style with ‘Vier Lieder für das Pianoforte’ by Mrs Mendelssohn, or rather Fanny Hensel. Pieces as short as the rest and played as well as the rest. A beautiful end to an interesting and thoughtfully composed programme.

Blangy-le-Château, Normandy, France.

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