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The 19th century was a significant time for both opera and the guitar. Opera was everywhere, and its characteristics gradually began to appear in other styles of music as composers tried to encapsulate the expressiveness and flexibility of the voice into their works. At the same time, the guitar underwent major changes in construction; this disc showcases pieces that combine these two major elements of 19th-century music, all of which are played by Roch Modrzejewski -- praised in Les Cahiers de la Guitare as an 'extraordinary, demanding, gifted and clever guitarist'.

The collection begins with Coste's light and lively interpretations of Bellini's Norma and Il pirata, followed by Legnani's Cavatina from Ernani by Verdi, a simple piece that makes full use of all facets of the guitar. Then come the variations on a theme of Rossini's Otello, by the immensely important guitarist Giuliani, who shows off his skill by combining simple, natural harmonisation and texture at the outset and a brilliant vitality and vigour in the final section. Bobrowicz was known to his contemporaries as the 'Chopin of the guitar', and his Variations on Bellini's I Capuleti e i Montecchi display a romantic nostalgia and a regal finale. Mertz explores all sound colours of the guitar in the beautiful Marino Faliero after Donizetti, and the collection ends with the Variations on an air from Bellini's I Capuleti e i Montecchi by Regondi: a work full of innovative modulations and rich texture which transcended the boundaries of 19th-century guitar composition.

Other information:

- Recorded in 2012, Krakow.

- In the 19th century the classical guitar gained its independence and emancipation as a serious solo instrument. To show the instrument's possibilities and to entertain the general public guitarists often composed and played Fantasias on popular opera arias.

- Contains notes on the works by the artist.

- Contains first recordings (Nepomuk de Brobowicz's Variations and Polonaise on a duet from I Capulati e I Montecchi Op.30; Mertz's Marino Faliero from Opern-Revue Op.8).

This delightful double-album features two historic “Terz” guitars, from the first half of the 19-th century. The “Terz” guitar (read everything about it in the informative booklet) is smaller, with an intimate sound, and a higher register. It was much in use in the romantic era, and the repertoire features popular music from that time: Fantaisies and Divertissements of Fernando Sor, Rondo and Grand Pot-Pourri of Giuliani and works of Pettoletti and Caspar Joseph Mertz: all very pleasing, charming music, played with taste and delicacy by the Belgian Duo.

Probably one of the most extensive surveys of classical guitar on record, this 25 CD collection is a must for lovers of the instrument.

Starting with the lutenist composers of the 16th century such as Alessandro Piccinini, the collection then moves to the Barock period with music by J.S. Bach and his sons, plus the great Domenico Scarlatti’s sonatas. This survey then takes us through the early Romantic period with the three grand concertos for guitar and orchestra of Giuliani, a friend of Beethoven and Hummel, and the great Fernando Sor who was known as ‘the Beethoven of the guitar’. Giuliani’s rarely heard fantasias on themes by Rossini, and sinfonias on Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito and Bellini’s Il Pirata are also to be found here as well as his remarkable paraphrase of Rossini’s Semiramide which takes up CDs 16 and 17!

The world of transcriptions is also covered with examples of Chopin and Mendelssohn’s music for the guitar.

The 20th century CDs are dominated by the great Segovia whose influence on composers for the instrument cannot be underestimated. The most famous modern work, Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez of 1939 as well as music by his brother Eduardo is to be found on CD19. Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s famous concertos and the concerto of Ponce The present day is represented by Angelo Gilardino, Maximo Diego Pujol, and Leo Brouwer.