October 26 is the birthday of Domenico Scarlatti. His crisp, modern-sounding style is surprising for a composer born in the same year as Handel and Bach (1685).

However, I must make an honest confession: unless I have exceptional playback equipment, I find it difficult to fully appreciate the sound of a harpsichord. (Just my opinion, lol.)

For this reason, I often listen to piano recordings, like the one by Pogorelić that I mentioned the other day.

The first time I heard Horowitz play Scarlatti as a student, I was totally shocked. This 1964 "super-performance" of Sonata K.33 is just too compelling.
https://youtu.be/pLA-W7VRr6o

Here is a playlist of his other Scarlatti sonatas as well.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-EbSmbfX83y3HSWnwXVUD5sc8s2-ZDi8

For me, the sheer dynamic power and color of a piano performance are irresistible.

I guess I'm just a piano person when it comes to Scarlatti.