Italian guitarist, composer and instrument maker Luigi Legnani performed widely throughout Europe and was admired by Paganini as the guitar’s “leading player” of his day. Legnani’s virtuosity was eminently suited to the 19th century fashion for transcribing and writing variations on famous opera themes that range from the romance of L’Italiana in Algeri to the drama of Armida. The ‘orchestral’ colours of the guitar are fully explored with breathtaking special techniques and imitative effects.

• Legnani: Gran sinfonia after Rossini's L'Italiana in Algeri
• Legnani: Introduction and Variations on 'Sorte Secondami' from Rossini's Zelmira, Op. 21
• Legnani: Variations on 'Cara, per te quest'anima' from Rossini's Armida
• Legnani: Variations on 'La mia spada, e la piu fida' from Rossini's La donna del Lago, Op. 24
• Legnani: Variations on 'Non più mesta accanto al fuoco’ from Rossini's La cenerentola, Op. 30
• Legnani: Variations on Rossini’s ‘Oh Quante Lagrime’ (from La donna del Lago)
• Rossini: Ai capricci della sorte (from L'Italiana in Algeri)
• Rossini: Guillaume Tell Overture: excerpts
• Rossini: Languir per una bella (from L'Italiana in Algeri)
• Rossini: Pensa alla patria (from L'Italiana in Algeri)