Domenico Scarlatti composed some six hundred keyboard pieces, most of which have come to be called sonatas. Relatively few of these works were published during his lifetime, and were originally entitled ‘Essercizi’ (‘Exercises’). Despite this enormous output, the sonatas are a goldmine of varied musical riches. They exploit the full capacity of the eighteenth century keyboard and have a melodic, rhythmic and harmonic ingenuity that never palls. Scarlatti developed a great freedom of style, and introduced many technical innovations. This is music that still has the capacity to astonish and delight with its virtuosity and originality.