The Essential Giuliani, Vol. 1 (2006)

One of the hardest classical composers to get a grip onto is Mauro Giuliani. His published output of more than 200 works contains no clear "hits," and although the Guitar Concerto in A major is often cited as the best introduction to his work, at first listen its straightforwardly classical, Italianate idiom doesn't seem like anything out of the ordinary. His larder is so stocked with opera paraphrases, potpourris, variation sets, and other pieces of the kind that publishing houses in his day that clamored for that one can ... Read More

One of the hardest classical composers to get a grip onto is Mauro Giuliani. His published output of more than 200 works contains no clear "hits," and although the Guitar Concerto in A major is often cited as the best introduction to his work, at first listen its straightforwardly classical, Italianate idiom doesn't seem like anything out of the ordinary. His larder is so stocked with opera paraphrases, potpourris, variation sets, and other pieces of the kind that publishing houses in his day that clamored for that one can't be blamed for wondering if Giuliani ever wrote anything of substance. For anyone who has ever been caught in this conundrum, there is Koch International Classics' The Essential Giuliani, Vol. 1, a carefully compiled account of some of the true highlights in Mauro Giuliani's trick bag.Naturally, Giuliani's instrument of choice was the guitar, and his substantive output for the instrument, considered a novelty in his time but not so now, is the main reason why Giuliani's name has... Read Less