Calle de Doménico Scarlatti

Domenico Scarlatti (Naples, 1685 - Madrid, 1757) came to Spain following his pupil. He taught music to the Portuguese princess María Bárbara de Braganza, and when she married the future Ferdinand VI and became queen, the musician came after her and never left. In Madrid he wrote much of his 555 harpsichord sonatas, the work that made him famous the world over. Bold and fresh, they echo the boleros, fandangos and seguidillas heard in the streets, with sweeping arpeggios and hands crossing over the keyboard. He lived and died on the old Calle de Leganitos. The Calle de Doménico Scarlatti lies in Vallehermoso, in a part of Chamberí where several streets bear the names of musicians.