Now Hear This Season 1 Episode 3 Scarlatti: Man Out of Time

In season 1, episode 3 of Now Hear This, titled Scarlatti: Man Out of Time, host and renowned classical musician Scott Yoo takes viewers on a journey through the life and music of Italian composer, Domenico Scarlatti. Through interviews with scholars and performers and visits to important locations in Scarlatti's life, Yoo seeks to uncover the secrets behind the complex and innovative music of this enigmatic figure.

The episode begins in Naples, Italy, where Scarlatti was born in 1685. Yoo visits the city's historic streets and introduces viewers to Scarlatti's family background. His father, Alessandro Scarlatti, was a well-known composer in his own right, and Domenico seemed destined to follow in his footsteps. However, as Yoo explains, Scarlatti's music took a decidedly different path. He developed a unique and complex style of composition that was unlike anything that had come before.

To understand more about Scarlatti's music, Yoo and his team travel to Madrid, where the composer spent much of his life. Their first stop is at the Royal Palace of Madrid, where Scarlatti served as a music master for the royal family. Yoo speaks with scholars and performers who explain the challenges and innovations present in Scarlatti's music. One scholar explains that Scarlatti's pieces were often very technically difficult to play, even for the most accomplished musicians of the time. Yet, Scarlatti's music was also incredibly beautiful and filled with emotion.

Yoo also explores some of the more unusual aspects of Scarlatti's music, such as his use of certain chords and progressions that were not common in the music of the time. Through interviews with contemporary performers, viewers learn more about how these unique aspects of Scarlatti's music have influenced the development of classical music over time.

As the episode progresses, Yoo and his team visit a number of other locations associated with Scarlatti, including churches where he performed, and private homes where he composed his music. Viewers are given a nuanced and comprehensive understanding of the context in which Scarlatti lived and worked, and how this played a role in the development of his music.

Throughout the episode, Yoo is joined by a number of guest performers who play some of Scarlatti's most important pieces. These performances are interspersed throughout the episode and give viewers a chance to hear Scarlatti's music in a live setting. The performances are truly breathtaking and provide a glimpse into the magic and emotion present in Scarlatti's music.

Overall, Scarlatti: Man Out of Time is an incredible journey into the life and work of one of classical music's most enigmatic figures. Through interviews, performances, and visits to important locations, host Scott Yoo gives viewers a comprehensive understanding of the context and challenges surrounding Scarlatti's music. This episode is an excellent example of the high-quality, informative, and engaging content that viewers can expect from Now Hear This.