Scott Joplin (1868–1917) occupies a fundamental place in the history of American music. Known as the “King of Ragtime,” he was the composer who more than any other transformed ragtime from a form of popular entertainment into a true art form, distinguished by formal elegance, harmonic refinement, and extraordinary rhythmic richness. Born during a period of profound cultural transformation, ragtime represented one of the first major American contributions to the development of modern music. Through the meeting of African-American rhythmic traditions and the solidity of European piano writing, Joplin created an original musical language, capable of combining rhythmic energy, melodic invention, and rigorous formal construction. Behind the apparent immediacy of his rags lies a carefully crafted compositional art. The balance of their structures, the attention to contrapuntal detail, the harmonic variety, and the expressive strength of their melodies reveal an artist of remarkable sensitivity. His works are not merely reflections of their time, but represent a fundamental step toward the new musical languages that would later find their fullest expression in jazz. Alessandro Simonetto approaches this repertoire with an elegant and thoughtful interpretation, avoiding both empty virtuosity and a purely nostalgic view of ragtime. His pianism highlights the refinement of Joplin’s writing through a clear sonority, natural phrasing, and a meticulous attention to tonal balance. His interpretation restores the rags to their most authentic dimension: music that is brilliant and vibrant, yet at the same time rich in poetry, depth, and complexity. Simonetto preserves the expressive freedom of the rhythm without losing the essential character of the pulse, revealing the wide range of atmospheres within these compositions, from the brilliance of the most energetic pieces to moments of greater lyricism. The result is a portrait of Scott Joplin that goes beyond the stereotypes of ragtime as mere entertainment, revealing instead a refined composer capable of blending tradition and innovation into a language of extraordinary vitality. Recorded on a Steinway D-274, this album further enhances the richness of the piano’s sound and the sensitivity of the performer, offering a natural and detailed listening experience. This album invites listeners to rediscover Scott Joplin from a new perspective, where rhythm, elegance, and musical depth exist together in perfect balance.