Lo Cant Dels Aucells - Artist: Stefano Grondona. Label: Stradivarius

The vintage classical guitars performed upon here were built by the master luthiers of the 19th and early to mid 20th century. Six of these guitars are by Antonio de Torres. Other guitar makers represented here include: Enrique Garcia, Francisco Simplicio (Enrique Garcia's only disciple), Santos Hernandez, Domingo Esteso (whose foreman in the Manuel Ramirez shop was Santos Hernandez), Hermann Hauser I (who followed Torres' principles, much like Enrique Garcia & Manuel Ramirez), and Robert Bouchet. This two C.D. set includes Grondona's beautiful performances of works by: Mompou, Llobet, Granados, Tarrega, Mendelssohn, Schubert, Barrios, Ponce, Grieg, Segovia, Poulenc and Chopin.

Homenaje: Manuel de Falla, Miguel Llobet and their world - Artists: Stefano Grondona with Laura Mondeiello, Giuseppe Carrer, Roberto Da Barp, Alessandra Novaga, Paolo Bersamo (performing on vintage guitars by Antonio de Torres, Vincenti Arias, Enrique Garcia, Francisco Simplicio, Miguel Simplicio, and Ignacio Fleta ), Maria Jose Montiel (mezzo-soprano). Label: Stradivarius

Harmonie du soir - Artist: Raphaella Smits. Label: Accent Records

This is an exceptionally beautiful, musically compelling recording by the great Belgium classical guitarist, Raphaella Smits. Regarding the two 19th century guitars she uses on this recording and why she chooses to play certain works on one and not the other, Ms Smits explains: "The sounds which the Roudhloff guitar offers to the Haydnesque Giuliani Sonata or the more aggressive Tarantella of Mertz, with the typically compact bass sound and great contrasts, are difficult to achieve on the Mirecourt instrument of about 1827. On the other hand the Mirecourt guitar responds very well to the precise playing needed for the fast virtuoso cadenzas of Mertz or the operatic evocations of Giuliani. Likewise the seventh string presents possibilities from which the music can benefit. Both instruments are good teachers."

Manjon: Noveletta; Célebre Capricho Andaluz - Artist: Raphaella Smits. Label: Accent Records

Raphaella Smits performs here on an eight string Vicente Arias guitar built in 1899. About this magnificent instrument and its maker, Ms. Smits writes: "The instrument has been restored by Bernhard Kresse in Cologne, Germany. Vicente Arias (1840-1913) made guitars around 1870. He lived and worked in Ciudad Real, and at the end of his career he had a workshop in Madrid. His instruments display a remarkable mastery, comparable to those of Antonio Torres and Manuel Ramirez. Specialist makers acknowledge Arias for his innovations. Some famous guitarists like Francisco Tarrega played the guitars of Vicente Arias. According to an up-to-date census, there are twenty-four guitars by Vicente Arias in existence."

Gitarren von Richard Jacob Weissgerber (1877-1960) - Artist: Thomas Muller-Pering. Label: Raum Klang